United Kingdom: Scotland’s total barley production grows by 15.7% in 2008

In 2008, Scotland’s total barley production increased by 260,000 tonnes, or 15.7%, to 1.981 million tonnes, with average yields unchanged at six tonnes per hectare, the Herald posted the first official estimate on October, 24.

Production of spring barley increased by 197,000 tonnes and winter barley production was up 63,000 tonnes.

Experts said this was mostly due to increases in spring and winter barley areas, as average yields for spring barley remained similar to last year at 5.6 tonnes per hectare, while average yields for winter barley increased by 6.6% to 7.8 tonnes per hectare.

That puts Scotland’s grain producers among the most productive in Europe. Output has again increased faster than changes in plantings and could have been higher had the weather been more favourable.

Peter Logie, NFU Scotland's cereals policy manager, said: "Although yields have increased, the Scottish government figures do not refer to the actual quality of the crop. For many, this will have deteriorated as the wet weather endured. Rather than achieving premiums, these producers are getting less for their crop as it goes for animal feed."

28 October, 2008