Harvest 2008 - Production And Price Forecasts

Prices rose, so plantings have increased. But market movements and weather volatility increase the uncertainty of the crop size.

Higher prices have encouraged larger cereal plantings in the UK. Defra's December 2007 Surveys of Agriculture shows double-figure percentage increases on the previous year (Figure 2) for all winter cereal.

The situation in the UK is mirrored on a global scale. The International Grains Council expects 2008 wheat production to increase by 42m tonnes to 646m (7%). But usage will also increase, so stock levels will only rise by 16m tonnes. Total grain production (wheat and coarse grains) is forecast at 1,694m tonnes, up 32m on the 2007/08 record crop. This is just under a 2% increase (less than the wheat figure because global maize production is predicted to fall).