Cereal and oilseed rape harvest: final estimates - 2018

Falls in oilseed rape area, production and yield

The area, production and yield of oilseed rape yield have all decreased in 2018 due to bad weather. Area fell by four per cent and yield by eight per cent, leading to a 12 per cent drop in production.

Forty two per cent of oilseed rape is grown in Eastern Scotland and this was the only region to see an increase in yield and production of oilseed rape, four per cent and one per cent respectively.

Oilseed rape accounts for

5% Total crop production

7% Total crop area

Oilseed rape is not a cereal but is part of the cabbage family. Because it is grown and harvested in a similar way to other cereals it is included in our harvest estimates.

The majority of oilseed rape is the winter variety and mainly used for biofuels. A small amount is processed in Scotland for cooking oil.