EU Wheat Close

22/12/11 -- EU grains ended with Jan 12 London wheat up GBP1.25/tonne to GBP145.75/tonne and Jan 12 Paris wheat EUR1.50/tonne higher at EUR195.25/tonne.

Defra issued it's final estimate of the 2011 UK wheat harvest which came in at 15.3MMT, an increase of 2.5% on 2010.

The highest domestic yields came in at 8.1 MT/ha from the North East and Yorkshire and the Humber. The lowest were 6.5 MT/ha from the North West and Merseyside. The Eastern region was the only one to see a decreased yield between 2010 and 2011, they added.

Barley production was pegged at 5.5 MMT, up 4.8% on last year and OSR output was said to be a record 2.8 MMT, a whopping 24% increase on 2010.

"On a regional basis, the highest yields for barley were in Yorkshire and the Humber with an average of 6.3 MT/ha. The lowest yield of 4.4 MT/ha was in the Eastern region, highlighting that the spring drought has had more of an impact on this region. Dry soils in the East of England earlier in the year led to poor tillering and delayed nitrogen uptake resulting in lower barley yields as barley has less ability to compensate for reduced tiller numbers later on in the season," they said.

"In England OSR production increased from 2.1 million tonnes in 2010 to 2.6 million tonnes in 2011. Winter sown production increased by 24% and spring sown increased by 35%. Winter oilseed crops established well in autumn 2010 and disease control continues to improve. Prices have also proved attractive for growers with an increased demand for biodiesel. Early indications from autumn 2011 plantings indicate this upward trend in oilseed production is set to continue," they added.