Cereal and oilseed rape harvest - first estimates: 2021

First estimates suggest a good year for the overall 2021 harvest

Overall, 2021 has been another good year for the cereal harvest. Total production is predicted to be similar to total cereal production in 2020 at around 3.1 million tonnes.

Wet conditions in 2020 led to decreases in the area used to grow winter-planted crops and affected yields. Favourable conditions for the 2020-21 sowing season and harvest have resulted in recovery of winter planting, reflected in increased areas and yields for wheat and winter barley and decreases for spring crops.

Commonly used terms

Hectares: the official measurement of agricultural land. One hectare is 10,000 square meters or roughly the same as a full-size rugby pitch.

Production: the total amount of crops that are produced measured in metric tonnes.

Yield: the amount of produce, weighed in tonnes, that is harvested per hectare of land.