The area of oilseed rape looks set to recover for harvest 2018. This is probably the most notable trend in cropping as data starts to come in from autumn plantings. United Oilseeds is predicting an increase in area of 7% compared to harvest 2017, increasing the UK crop from 563,000 Ha to 603,000 Ha. The wheat area will probably be largely unchanged whilst the trend of the last couple of years of less winter barley, but more spring will be maintained. Pulses are likely to take a hit with the change in the Greening rules. More information will be available when the AHDB’s ‘Early Bird’ Survey is released shortly.
