Cereal and oilseed rape harvest - first estimates: 2021

Winter barley yield and production expected to increase

Winter barley area has experienced a small increase compared to 2020 of 0.4 per cent.

However, winter barley yields are predicted to rise back to figures closer to those seen in 2019, resulting in an increase in production. A predicted ten per cent increase in yield is predicted to result in an ten per cent increase in production compared to 2020.

Winter barley accounts for

11% Total crop production

9% Total crop area

Barley is a key ingredient for the Scottish whisky industry, with 57 per cent of the 2020 crop sold to merchants for malting.

A further 35 per cent of barley was used as animal feed.