UK wheat production is seen up 1.7 percent this year at 15.1 million tonnes, boosted by higher yields, Britain's National Farmers Union said on Monday.
"This (higher production) is largely due to increased yields offsetting lower plantings, with yield estimates showing an increase in all regions in England," the NFU said, adding yields were seen 3.8 percent higher.
UK wheat plantings this year fell 2.9 percent to 1.70 million hectares, according to data issued last week by Britan's farm ministry. "The drop in planted area...reflects the continuing difficult economic conditions farmers have faced for the past three years with increasing energy costs and particularly the rising price of fertiliser," NFU combinable crops board chairman Arthur Hill said in a statement.
UK spring barley production was seen down 10.2 percent at 2.7 million tonnnes mainly due to a 10 percent drop in plantings, the NFU said. Winter barley production was 7.5 percent lower at 2.3 million, largely reflecting a drop in average yields of 6.3 percent, it added.