This is the first of a new Agriculture Statistics Publication Series, which provides commentary and graphics on the latest annual changes and trends over the past 20 years.

These first estimates indicate that, compared with the 2009 harvest :

    * Cereal production remained relatively stable in 2010, with total production decreasing by 22,500 tonnes (0.8 per cent) to 2.763 million tonnes. Areas decreased by 23,000 hectares (5.2 per cent) while average yields increased by 4.6 per cent to 6.5 tonnes per hectare.
    * Total barley production decreased by 277,000 tonnes (15 per cent) to 1.628 million tonnes. This was caused by a decrease in spring barley area of 45,000 hectares (16 per cent) alongside a 3.5 per cent fall in spring barley yields. Winter barley production increased by 20,000 tonnes, due to a 6.2 per cent increase in area.
    * Wheat production increased by 247,000 tonnes (33 per cent) to 994,000 tonnes. Areas increased by 19,000 hectares (20 per cent) and average yields increased 11 per cent to 8.9 tonnes per hectare.
    * The production of oats increased by 7,500 tonnes (5.8 per cent) to 138,000 tonnes. This increase was due to a 2.5 per cent increase in area and a 3.2 per cent increase in yield.
    * Oilseed rape production increased by 31,000 tonnes (30 per cent) to 132,000 tonnes. This increase was caused mainly by an increase in area of 7,000 hectares, due to an increase in winter plantings.

Official statistics are produced by professionally independent statistical staff.