NFU forecasts 30% fall in harvest yield

28 September 2001




NFU forecasts 30% fall in harvest yield

THE NFU has released its first harvest estimate, putting wheat production 30% down on last year.

A lower area and reduced yields gives a total production figure of 11.6m tonnes – below most traders expectations and about 0.5m tonnes below the HGCAs bottom line.

"The NFU is usually pretty accurate," says the HGCAs Julian Bell. "This will leave the UK with about 0.5-1m tonnes to export."

Winter barley production is pegged at 2.7m tonnes, about 1m tonnes down, while spring barley is 40% higher at 3.9m tonnes.

The loss to farmers is compounded by the strong £, says the NFU. There is £57m of agrimoney aid available to offset this, but the government has only 30 days to apply.

NFU president Ben Gill intends to pressurise ministers this weekend. &#42

will present a document outlining the plight of arable farmers to DEFRA minister Margaret Beckett at the Labour Party Conference on Sunday.


See more