Scotland’s chief statistician has launched first estimates of the 2023 Scottish harvest – revealing that the entire cereal manufacturing is predicted to be round 3 million tonnes.

The statistics, launched right now (Thursday, October 12), predict that cereal manufacturing will stay consistent with the ten-year common regardless of “vital challenges” throughout the yr, the Scottish authorities mentioned.

These challenges embody excessive enter prices and poor climate situations.

Early estimates for yields of barley, oats and oilseed rape are under 2022 ranges, however just like the ten-year averages.

Whereas the yield for oilseed rape is predicted to lower by 6%, the manufacturing is to succeed in its highest worth in 20 years.

A predicted improve of round 13% in rising space could lead to manufacturing values “properly above” the ten-year common, the federal government mentioned.

The anticipated yield for wheat can also be under final yr’s determine, however is increased than the ten-year common.

“Nonetheless, trade specialists reported farmers are noticing various high quality within the spring barley harvest because of the poor climate situations,” the Scottish authorities mentioned.

Harvest figures

Harvest estimates are based mostly on first soundings of the 2023 harvest on the finish of September.

The ultimate outcomes might be launched in December after the harvest has completed in Scotland.

Estimates are based mostly on harvest yields given by a panel of specialists at a Crop Report Assembly and provisional land use areas from the June Agricultural Census.

Remaining land use areas might be revealed within the Outcomes of the June Agricultural Census.