Could UK have the lowest oilseed rape planted area since the 80s?

Published Nov 22, 2024

Tridge summary

AHDB's survey predicts a decrease in the planting areas for winter and spring barley, as well as oilseed rape (OSR) for the next year, with OSR seeing a significant 17% drop, potentially reaching its lowest level in the UK in 42 years. The winter barley area is expected to slightly decrease by 1%, while spring barley is projected to fall by 13%. In contrast, the area for oats is set to rise by 3.5%. The total barley area could fall below the 2024 crop, with the final figures depending on pest damage and weather conditions. Additionally, the survey notes a rise in uncropped arable land, but it is unclear if this is due to decisions still to be made or land intended for agri-environmental schemes in England.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

Winter and spring barley, as well as oilseed rape (OSR) areas, are seen to be falling. A 17% decline in the oilseed rape planted area is forecast for next year. This could be its lowest area in the UK for 42 years. The final area could be even lower depending on damage from pests, particularly cabbage stem flea beetles, and weather conditions between now and harvest, AHDB’s survey predicts. The area of oats is projected to rise by a modest 3.5%. At 189 Kha, the 2025 projected area would be slightly above the 2019 to 2023 average but below 2021’s 200 Kha. The winter barley area is estimated to have fallen by just under 1%, potentially limited by the wet conditions in England in September. Spring barley looks like it will fall by 13%, after rising sharply in 2024. The spring barley projection at 704 Kha would still be above 2022 and 2023 levels, but with the winter barley area edging lower again, the falls in spring barley would mean the smallest UK barley area since 2014 at 1,084 ...

Source: UKFarmersguide