Defra released its first estimates of 2019 UK wheat and barley production this morning.

Wheat production at 16.283Mt has come as little surprise given the yields recorded and crop prospects. Yet this does cement the export requirement and ongoing need for UK markets to be globally competitive for the foreseeable future. 

However, UK barley production figures have come out higher than industry and our expectations for between 7.5-7.7Mt. At 8.180Mt, this would be the largest barley crop in at least 30 years, requiring significantly higher yield figures than our own harvest surveys had suggested. With domestic consumption of barley typically around 6Mt, this would create a 2Mt exportable in a year of potential trade disruptions.

Greater clarity as to the factors and data behind the larger than expected barley production figure will be released on Thursday, as will other crop production estimates and regional yield data.

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