Cereal and oilseed rape harvest - first estimates: 2020

Initial estimates of area, yield and production for winter and spring barley, wheat, oats and oilseed rape, for the 2020 harvest.

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4. Winter barley yield and production expected to decrease

A chart shows area, production and yield estimates of the winter barley harvest from 2011 to 2020.

Winter barley area has decreased in 2020 due to wet weather conditions experienced over the autumn and winter months, making it harder to plant and grow barley. This is predicted to result in a 10 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. 

Winter barley accounts for

  • 10% Total crop production
  • 9% Total crop area

Barley is as a key ingredient for the Scottish whisky industry, with 53 per cent of the 2019 crop sold to merchants for malting.

A further 36 per cent of barley was used as animal feed.

Contact

Email: Jay.Gillam@gov.scot

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