The 2018 UK wheat crop is down 5.1% on last year, while barley production fell by 7.9%, according to provisional Defra figures.

It is estimated that the total wheat crop is just under 14.1m tonnes, below the five-year average for 2013-2017 of 14.8m tonnes.

The total barley crop is forecast to be 6.6m tonnes, again below the five-year average of 7m tonnes.

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The drop is being attributed to the high spring rainfall, followed by the long, dry summer, which caused a wide range in yields across the UK.

Results of an NFU survey, released last week, pointed to average wheat yields falling to 7.7t/ha, the first time it has dipped below 8t/ha in the past five years.

Fuller results, including yield and area data for wheat and barley, along with details of the size of the oilseed rape crop, will be published by Defa on 11 October.

The AHDB is also expected to release its first official 2018-19 balance sheet estimates within the next few days, which will provide commentary on the factors influencing supply and demand.


fwi.co.uk