The latest data released by Defra reveals the total area under crop in the UK increased by 1.9 per cent in 2012 to just over 4.0 million hectares. The National Statistics, produced from the June survey of Agriculture and Horticulture reveal cereal plantings rose in 2012.

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The area under cereal production in the UK increased 2.3 per cent in 2012 to 2.6 million hectares. This reflects higher prices for cereals and oilseed rape. Less profitable crops including field beans, linseed and peas have suffered drops in production as a result.  

Wheat, barley and oat production all increased this year, and the area under oilseed crops rose to a record high of 742,000 hectares. Of this, oilseed rape production accounts for 713,000 hectares, an increase of 7.9 percent on the 2011 area.

During the summer, the record plantings of oilseed rape in the UK attracted large numbers of tourists from as far afield as Japan, who came to photograph the yellow blooms. However, the increased production also raised concerns about the amount of chemicals used in rapeseed production.  

The land area used to grow horticultural crops decreased by 2.3 percent this year, falling to 149,000 hectares. This trend runs contrary to the advice of food policy and sustainable farming advocates who warn the UK should put more of a focus on horticultural production, as opposed to more wasteful industries including less efficient livestock production, and chemically dependent rapeseed growing, to achieve socially just, environmentally acceptable food security.

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