UK Oilseed Plantings 2009/10

Strategie Grains are forecasting the UK oilseed rape acreage for the 2009/10 crop at 551,000 ha, down 8% from 599,000 ha in 2008/2009.

Influential Midlands grain broker Robert Kerr, says that he expects that the final reduction will be substantially more than that, and that he anticipates a crop "at least 15% lower, quite possibly 20-25% lower."

Meanwhile, Strategie Grains see a significant increase in feed bean plantings for 2009/10 to 160,000 ha, up more than 35% from 118,000 ha in 2008/09.

Feed pea plantings will be 34,000 ha, they say, up 21% from 28,000 ha in 2008/09.