More wheat has been sown in England this year. Larger wheat acreage, about 1,807,000 hectares, mainly at the expense of barley acreage. This was reported by the Agricultural and Horticultural Development Agency (AHDB).

Total barley area decreased by 4 percent to 1,103,000 hectares compared to 2021. The 10 percent increase in winter barley area (447,000 hectares) did not exceed the 12 percent decrease in summer barley area to 656,000 hectares.

Acreage of rapeseed is also grown in England. That is expected to reach 336,000 hectares this year and 9 percent higher than in 2021. High prices are encouraging farmers to grow crops this pause. In some areas, the increase in rapeseed occurs at the expense of wheat, such as know how to report AHDB. The total area of ​​oats fell 9 percent to 183,000 hectares. That’s still a historically high level in the UK.

More wheat in the north

Wheat acreage has increased mainly in the northeast (+19 per cent) and north west (+23 per cent) of the UK. The largest amount of wheat has been sown in the northeast since 1999. This is due to high wheat prices.

Overall, AHDB expects high yields in 2022. Crop conditions are better than 2021, so the export surplus is expected to be larger. In the midst of the Ukraine conflict, which is increasing scarcity worldwide, the AHDB sees this as a positive development for British farmers and in the interests of the world’s food supply.

By 2022, KWS-Extase will be the most popular wheat variety with 14 per cent of the UK’s total wheat acreage, followed by Gleam with 11 per cent. For barley, Laureate is the most popular variety among fertile British farmers, accounting for 32 percent of the total barley area. RGT-Planet followed deep in second place and accounted for 11 percent.