Cereal and oilseed rape harvest - first estimates: 2018

Predicted falls in oilseed rape yield, production and area

Estimates of oilseed rape yield have indicated there will be a decrease in 2018. It is predicted that they will fall by around nine per cent. Oilseed rape estimates are not as reliable as those of other crops due to the small amount grown and limited data available at this early stage.

This decrease in yield, along with an estimated four per cent decrease in area, led to a 13 per cent decrease in estimated production.

Oilseed Rape accounts for 5% Total crop production and 7% Total crop area

Oilseed rape is not a cereal but is part of the cabbage family. Because it is grown and harvested in a similar way to other cereals it is included in our harvest estimates.

The majority of oilseed rape is the winter variety and mainly used for biofuels. A small amount is processed in Scotland for cooking oil.