Cereal and oilseed rape harvest - first estimates: 2023

Initial estimates of area, yield and production for winter and spring barley, wheat, oats and oilseed rape, for the 2023 harvest.


First estimates suggest an average year for the overall 2023 harvest

Total cereal production is predicted to decrease by 5% to 3.0 million tonnes in 2023, compared to 3.1 million tonnes in 2022. Overall, 2023 has been an average year for the cereal harvest, and production is predicted to be in line with the ten-year average.

The total area of cereals in 2023 is predicted to be similar to the area in 2022, at around 410 thousand hectares. The average yield for cereals is predicted to decrease by 5% to 7.2 tonnes per hectare.

Weather conditions in 2023 led to one of the more challenging harvests in recent years. Industry experts report that the harvest was mixed, with very good wheat yields for some while others saw below average spring barley yields and quality.

Figure 1: Total cereals production and average production from 2014 to 2023

A line chart showing cereals production and average production from 2014 to 2023

Contact

Email: agric.stats@gov.scot

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