Cereal and oilseed rape harvest: final estimates - 2020

Large decreases for winter barley 

Winter barley accounts for 10% total crop production. 

The area of winter barley sown decreased by 12 per cent in 2020. This was due to wet weather conditions over the autumn winter months. 

This also led to a 11 per cent decrease in yield and a 21 per cent decrease in production. 

Industry experts have stated that while yields may be lower this year, weights have been good and better than those obtained for spring barley. 

Barley is a key ingredient for the Scottish whisky industry. 

In 2019, 53 per cent of Scottish barley was sold to merchants for malting. A further 36 per cent of barley was used as animal feed.