UK: Fresh calls for action on food security as drastic crop reduction is forecast

Wheat

Nuts & Seeds

Published Mar 23, 2024

Tridge summary

A survey by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) has warned of a significant reduction in crop yields such as wheat, winter barley, and oilseed rape this year due to wet weather, particularly in the East Midlands, Yorkshire, and the Humber. While this may not directly affect consumer prices, it could lead to increased wheat imports and exposure to global price fluctuations. The National Farmers' Union (NFU) has highlighted the vulnerability of British food businesses due to lower commodity prices and reduced direct payments, and has called for better water management, more funding for the Environment Agency, and a commitment to an agricultural budget that addresses climate change and supports sustainable British food production.

Disclaimer: The above summary was generated by a state-of-the-art LLM model and is intended for informational purposes only. It is recommended that readers refer to the original article for more context.

Original content

A survey by the AHDB has shown that yields of crops such as wheat, winter barley, and oilseed rape are likely to be significantly reduced this year due to the wet weather. The AHDB survey revealed: Helen Plant, AHDB senior analyst, said that the next few weeks will be crucial for arable farmers, and the wheat reduction could be greater, depending on the planting of spring wheat. Ms Plant added: “Farmers still have the chance to plant crops such as spring barley and oats – but if heavy rain continues, crops will be planted at a point where they may become economically unviable. “We are heading to the point where spring-sown winter wheat varieties will not be able to develop sufficiently to provide a viable crop. “There is a clear intention to plant more spring wheat, but the persistence of wet weather means there is uncertainty about whether this can be done. “While the area of spring wheat is small in comparison to the total wheat area, any areas that can’t be planted would ...

Source: UKFarmersguide