GB rapeseed plantings down on 99

By FWi staff

BRITISH growers have planted 20% less commercial rapeseed than last year.

According to the HGCA planting survey, a total of 334,000ha were planted, compared with 417,000ha in 1999.

Adding some 70,000ha non-food rapeseed brings the total area to just over 400,000ha.

Using last years yield of 3.2t/ha, this would reduce the 2000 UK rapeseed crop to 1.3 million tonnes, compared with 1.7m last year.