Country’s spring barley acreage remains at 10-year low

The amount of spring barley being grown by Scottish farmers remains at a 10-year low, according to AHDB Cereals and Oilseeds.

Figures from the levy body’s annual planting and variety survey reveal the estimated area for spring barley remains virtually unchanged from 2016 at 590,000 acres.

AHDB said the reduced acreage in 2016 was partly in response to large carry-over supplies from previous years and a temporary decline in malting demand in some areas during the 2015-16 season.

It said the final output for 2017 would depend on yields, however even average yields would result in an increase on production from last year.

Figures for this year’s wheat acreage reveal a 5% reduction in the area planted to 257,000 acres.

Winter barley acreage is up 6% to 126,000 acres, while the area of oats planted is up 12% to 86,000 acres.

Oilseed rape production is also set to be up thanks to a 6% boost in the planted area to 81,500 acres.

AHDB said figures for farms south of the border revealed English growers had chosen to grow 9% more spring barley in a bid to tackle black grass issues and also as a result of reduced oilseed rape plantings.

Delving more closely into the Scottish data, the levy body said: “Overall, malting barley varieties with full approval from the Institute of Brewing and Distilling for harvest 2017 account for 57% of the total Scottish barley area.

“This is down from 2016 when varieties with full approval for that harvest accounted for 64%.”

Of the area of wheat planted, Scots farmers chose to grow more nabim Group 3 varieties, with plantings up to 14% from 8% previously, largely instead of soft Group 4 varieties.

The levy body said the area of oats planted was at its highest level since 1989.

However, unless yields are above average, production may decline on 2016 levels.

This is down from 2016 when varieties accounted for 64%