This year’s wheat harvest is likely to be smaller than last year in the face of extreme weather, farmers have warned.
If the experts are to be believed and extreme weather is to become more frequent over the coming years, we must look at ways of supporting the industry
The overall harvested area on farms polled by the British National Farmers’ Union is set to be almost 30 per cent lower than in 2012. Figures have already shown that the area planted with winter wheat was down by a quarter on the previous year.
The reduction comes after bad weather, including flooding and severe snowfalls, since autumn 2012 battered crops, the NFU said.
If the results of the snapshot poll, which quizzed 76 farmers covering 16,000 hectares of land, are repeated nationally, wheat production will be below average for the second year in a row, the farming organisation said.
Last year’s wheat harvest had lower volumes and quality because of weather extremes, with months of drought followed by downpours and flooding.
A separate NFU survey revealed nearly half of arable farmers (45 per cent) are less confident about the prospects for their farm businesses in the next 12 months compared with last year.
NFU combinable crops chairman Andrew Watts said: “A myriad of factors have hit arable farms this year, from the extreme weather through to news that there will be restrictions on neonicotinoids (neuro-active insecticides) to come in the future.
“Our poll is a snapshot but it is extremely worrying that planted area remaining viable for 2013 harvest on those farms looks set to be 29 per cent smaller than last year. If this plays out nationally, we will be below average production for the second year in a row.
“The saving grace in past years has been crop protection technology which can help maintain yield potential and all important grain quality by guarding against pests and ensure crops are more drought and flood resistant.”
But lobbying has forced restrictions on the use of pesticides known as neonicotinoids, which are being banned over concerns about their impact on bees, and fungicides known as triazoles are also facing potential restrictions, he said.
It is “hardly surprising” that short-term confidence is so low under those circumstances, he said.
“If the experts are to be believed and extreme weather is to become more frequent over the coming years, we must look at ways of supporting the industry.”
The NFU called for measures such as pesticides, which protect crops, to be embraced to safeguard harvests in future years and for the UK Government to support English farmers in reforms of the system which pays farming subsidies to ensure they are not at a disadvantage compared with other EU farmers.