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UK wheat area set to fall following heavy rains

The UK wheat area for this summer’s harvest is expected to be its smallest since 2020 following heavy rainfall during autumn and winter, Britain’s Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board said on Friday.

The AHDB planting survey showed the UK wheat area would be down 15%, compared with the previous summer, at 1.46 million hectares.

“All parts of the UK have suffered. The East Midlands, and Yorkshire and the Humber are reported as the worst affected, with notable flooding in these areas,” the AHDB said.

Other predominately winter planted crops declined, with rapeseed seen falling by 28% to 280,000 hectares – the smallest area since 1984.

Winter barley was expected to be 22% smaller at 355,000 hectares.

“Understandably, there is a clear intention to plant more spring crops, though the intended areas are lower than in 2020. Grain and oilseed prices have fallen more than input costs for the 2024 crop, which is likely deterring farmers from maximising their spring crop areas,” the report said.

The spring barley area was expected to increase by 29% to 881,000 hectares and the amount of arable land left fallow by 79% to 558,000 hectares.
Source: Reuters (Reporting by Nigel Hunt; editing by Barbara Lewis)

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