Cereal and oilseed rape harvest: final estimates - 2018

Large drop in winter barley area and production

Area and production of winter barley experienced a large decrease in 2018, while yields saw a smaller decrease. Expert advice indicated that the quality of winter barley has been good this year which may have helped yields to remain similar to those in 2017.

Winter barley area dropped by a fifth due to poor weather conditions. This, along with a four per cent drop in yield resulted in production decreasing by 24 per cent.

Winter barley accounts for

10% Total crop production

8% Total crop area

Scottish barley has a strong association as a key ingredient for the Scottish whisky industry; however, around 40 per cent of Scottish barley is actually used as animal feed.