Planting and Variety Survey
The Planting and Variety Survey provides the UK planted area estimates for the upcoming harvest. Broken down not only into crops but also by UK flour miller group and malting or non-malting approved barley.
Overview of 2025 results
The 2025 Planting and Variety Survey provided planted area estimates for the UK with a regional breakdown.
For the UK
- The total wheat area is estimated at 1,623 Kha, a 6% increase from last year’s four-year low. However, this remains slightly below the five-year (2020–2024) average of 1,648 Kha.
- Estimated at 207 Kha, the oat area is up 13% year-on-year, and the highest level since 2020.
For GB
- The total area of barley is down 6% compared to last year, at 1,101 Kha. This is 6% below the five-year average of 1,176 Kha. Both spring and winter barley areas have declined year-on-year.
- The oilseed rape (OSR) area has dropped sharply, down 19% to 236 Kha. It is the smallest area since 1983 and is 32% below the five-year average of 346 Kha.
- Despite mixed changes for individual crops, the total cereals area edged up by 1% from 2024 to 2,918 Kha in 2025. It is still below the 2023 level of 2,991 Kha.
- The combined area of cereals and oilseeds remains virtually unchanged, down just 0.5% to 3,154 Kha. This is still below the ten-year average of 3,498 Kha, largely due to the sharp decline in OSR planting.
This year’s Planting and Variety Survey also asked growers across the UK about their involvement with agri-environment schemes; this data will be released in the coming weeks.
Wheat
The UK wheat area is projected to recover in 2025, rising 6% to 1,623 Kha. Improved weather in late autumn allowed slightly more wheat area than growers intended in the Early Bird Survey (EBS). But the total area remains below the 2023 level of 1,720 Kha reflecting the challenging start to the planting window.
Most parts of the UK saw a rebound in wheat area due to the improved planting conditions compared to the extremes of autumn 2023. This is except for the South West (-6%) where wet weather again hampered planting, and the South East (-1%).
Yorkshire and the Humber, and the East Midlands, which experienced some of the sharpest percentage declines in 2024, saw strong recoveries in 2025. Meanwhile, Northern Ireland and Scotland record above-average increases in area.
In terms of varieties, UK Flour Millers (UKFM) Group 1 varieties account for 19% of the 2025 GB wheat area, down five percentage points from last year. The Group 2 area has also declined to 17% from 19% in 2024. The Group 1 and 2 areas also declining in hectare terms. So with crops in poorer condition than a year ago, GB production of wheat suitable for bread-making could be lower than last year; final yields and quality will be key.
In contrast, the share of Group 3 wheat varieties has risen sharply from 2% to 7%, potentially driven by the introduction of a new higher-yielding variety.
Group 4 varieties (combined hard and soft) now account for 53% of the total wheat area, the largest share since 2016. KWS Dawsum, a Group 4 variety, remains the most widely grown wheat in GB, occupying 15% of the area.
For Group 1 wheat, Crusoe and Skyfall remain popular, with 7% and 6% of the area, respectively. Group 2 variety KWS Extase has seen its area fall by four percentage points to 10%.
Bamford, a Group 3 variety added to the 2024/25 AHDB Recommended List, covers 7% of the area in 2025.
Wheat area estimates ('000 ha)
Region | Final 20241) | 2025 estimate | % change |
---|---|---|---|
North East | 58 | 60 | 5 |
North West | 27 | 28 | 7 |
Yorks and Humber | 194 | 226 | 16 |
East Mids | 267 | 302 | 13 |
Eastern | 398 | 409 | 3 |
South East | 188 | 187 | -1 |
South West | 135 | 127 | -6 |
West Mids and Wales2) | 158 | 164 | 4 |
North Scotland | 20 | 21 | 8 |
South Scotland | 79 | 88 | 11 |
England & Wales | 1,425 | 1,503 | 6 |
Scotland3) | 98 | 109 | 11 |
Northern Ireland | 8 | 11 | 37 |
GB | 1,523 | 1,612 | 6 |
UK4) | 1,531 | 1,623 | 6 |
Barley
The total barley area is down 6% from last year’s elevated levels at an estimated 1.101 Mha. This represents a smaller year-on-year decline than growers intended (AHDB’s Early Bird Survey), though the headline hides a bigger fall in winter barley and smaller drop in spring barley area than previously expected.
Very wet weather in September limited the area of winter barley across England and Wales and meant a poor start for some crops. In addition, the area faced pressure from the crop economics and the fall in OSR plantings, reducing the need for an earlier harvested crop to precede OSR.
Conversely, the good planting conditions this spring and changes to English farm policy likely encouraged growers to expand their spring cropping compared to earlier intentions.
The share of malting, brewing and distilling varieties is 65%, down from 68% in 2024. This change in varieties, together with the overall year-on-year fall in barley area, indicates a smaller area of barley suitable for malting, brewing and distilling. It places more emphasis on yields and quality to support availability for the malting, brewing and distilling sectors in the 2025/26 marketing season.
For the fifth year in a row, Laureate is the most prevalent barley variety with its popularity again rising from last year. Laureate accounts for 43% of the GB barley area in 2025.
Winter barley
After falling notably for harvest 2024, the GB winter barley area is down a further 7% on the year to an estimated 352 Kha in 2025. This is the smallest GB winter barley area since 2020.
Most areas show year-on-year declines, with the largest falls in the South East (-19%), East Midlands (-17%) and South West (-12%).
Only the North East and North West of England record larger winter barley areas than 2024, with a stable area overall in Scotland. Rainfall in these areas was closer to or below average during the key planting period.
Spring barley
In GB, the spring barley area fell 6% from 2024 to an estimated 750 Kha in 2025. However, this would still be the third largest spring barley area since 2006.
The largest declines in area are seen for Yorkshire and The Humber and the East Midlands, which also record some of the largest recoveries in wheat cropping.
On the flip side, the West Midlands and Wales, North West and South West all record year-on-year rises in spring barley area to varying degrees.
In key producer Scotland, the spring barley area is estimated to decline by 3% from 2024 to 251 Kha but remains above the level seen in 2023.
Total barley area estimates ('000 ha)
Region | Final 20241) | 2025 estimate | % change |
---|---|---|---|
North East | 38 | 37 | -3 |
North West | 40 | 44 | 10 |
Yorks and Humber | 128 | 106 | -17 |
East Mids | 143 | 115 | -20 |
Eastern | 205 | 184 | -10 |
South East | 107 | 100 | -7 |
South West | 130 | 143 | 10 |
West Mids and Wales2) | 81 | 79 | -3 |
North Scotland | 157 | 157 | 0 |
South Scotland | 144 | 136 | -5 |
England & Wales | 873 | 809 | -7 |
Scotland3) | 300 | 293 | -3 |
Northern Ireland | 20 | * | * |
GB | 1,173 | 1,101 | -6 |
UK4) | 1,194 | * | * |
Oats
The UK oat area is likely to have been supported by improved weather in the latter part of last autumn and good spring planting conditions this year. Changes to English farm policy potentially also contributed. The oat area is expected to be 207 Kha, up 13% from last year and the largest area since 2020 (210 Kha).
Spring oat varieties account for an estimated 66% of the area, up slightly (1 percentage point) from 2024, with a corresponding decline in the share of winter oat varieties.
Most of the UK sees larger areas in 2025, with the strongest rises in Northern England, West Midlands and Wales, and Scotland. Meanwhile, Yorkshire and the Humber, and Northern Ireland, which have some of the largest recoveries in wheat area, see a year-on-year decline in oat area.
WPB Isabel remains the most prevalent oat variety with 27% of the area, followed by Mascani at 21%, Merlin at 16% and Canyon at 14% of the total area.
Oats area estimates ('000 ha)
Region | Final 20241) | 2025 estimate | % change |
---|---|---|---|
Northern5) | 14 | 18 | 28 |
Yorks and Humber | 11 | 10 | -12 |
East Mids | 25 | 28 | 9 |
Eastern | 27 | 29 | 10 |
South East | 27 | 29 | 8 |
South West | 24 | 26 | 7 |
West Mids and Wales2) | 24 | 33 | 36 |
North Scotland | 8 | * | * |
South Scotland | 19 | * | * |
England & Wales | 153 | 173 | 13 |
Scotland3) | 28 | 32 | 16 |
Northern Ireland | 2 | 2 | -1 |
GB | 180 | 205 | 14 |
UK4) | 182 | 207 | 13 |
Oilseed rape
The OSR area in GB is estimated to fall by 19% year-on-year, to 236 Kha, the smallest cultivated area in over four decades. This represents a further reduction from the EBS estimate of 244 Kha, with some farmers reporting crop losses from pest damage.
The yearly decline is likely driven by a combination of variable weather and alternative options under the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) scheme in England. In addition, variable crop performance in recent years and ongoing cost pressures from pest control continue to strain profitability.
All areas recorded declines, except for the South East, where a modest 3% recovery is estimated. The most significant reduction occurred in the East Midlands, down 46%, followed by a 27% decline in the South West.
For the fourth consecutive season, Aurelia remains the most widely planted variety, although its share has fallen from 18% in 2024 to 10%. It is followed by Ramses at 8% and Ambassador at 7%. Other varieties covering more than 5% of the area include Crome, Acacia, Attica, and the newly introduced Pi Pinnacle.
Oilseed rape area estimates ('000 ha)
Region | Final 20241) | 2025 estimate | % change |
---|---|---|---|
Northern5) | 19 | 14 | -25 |
Yorks and Humber | 39 | 37 | -7 |
East Mids | 48 | 26 | -46 |
Eastern | 51 | 42 | -16 |
South East | 36 | 37 | 3 |
South West | 28 | 21 | -27 |
West Mids and Wales2) | 36 | 28 | -23 |
North Scotland | 13 | * | * |
South Scotland | 23 | * | * |
England & Wales | 256 | 204 | -20 |
Scotland3) | 37 | 33 | -11 |
Northern Ireland | 1 | * | * |
GB | 292 | 236 | -19 |
UK4) | 293 | * | * |
Additional information
Planting and Variety Survey FAQs
The survey had 1,192 valid responses which cover approximately 5% of the UK total cereals and oilseeds planted area in 2024. Growers were asked to submit intended harvest areas and the area harvested last year. Data for this survey was collected from 07 April to 16 May 2025.
The following footnotes are used:
- Final 2024 Defra and Scottish Government area data. Please note, the North Scotland and South Scotland oilseed rape figures include 48.6 hectares of linseed. As a result, the Scottish, GB and UK figures differ slightly from the Defra published statistics.
- West Midlands and Wales have been combined for all crops due to confidentiality.
- The total Scotland figures are derived from the North and South Scotland breakdowns. As a result, the totals may differ slightly from the Defra published statistics due to rounding.
- The UK figures are derived from the regional figures. As a result, the totals may differ slightly from the Defra published statistics due to rounding.
- North East and North West have been combined for oats and oilseed rape due to confidentiality.
* Insufficient information to produce robust figure.
Regional breakdowns are based on the Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics (NUTS) regions. North Scotland consists of the Highlands & Islands and the North East regions. South Scotland consist of Southern, Eastern and West Central regions.
Please note breakdown at regional levels are based on smaller sample sizes than at the national level and are therefore subject to more uncertainty.
Historic Spring Planting and Variety Survey results
2025 Planting and Variety Survey Results
2024 Planting and Variety Survey Results
2023 Planting and Variety Survey Results
2022 Planting and Variety Survey Results
2021 Planting and Variety Survey Results
2020 Planting and Variety Survey Results
2019 Planting and Variety Survey Results
2019 Variety breakdown by crop
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