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Food and Farming - Feeding the nation - Crops - learn about the UK arable sector

Crops - learn about the UK arable sector

Harvest at Park Farm Thorney_17113

Whether it’s producing the grain for a plethora of British food and drink products, or nurturing of the natural environment across swathes of the iconic British countryside – the UK arable sector has a brilliant story to tell.

The UK has some of the highest crop yields in the world, largely thanks to our maritime climate. To this end, the amount of crop from 1 hectare in the UK equates to that of 2 hectares elsewhere in the world. However, it’s not just food that the crops sector can provide. Wheat can be turned into bioethanol for use in biofuel, helping to power cars and drive towards our climate change targets. This process also creates a very high protein animal feed. Crops such as oilseed rape create oil for cooking or can also be turned into biofuel for engines.

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About the industry | Sector and the economy | Support the arable industry 

    Did you know...

    • Every year the UK produces over 20 million tonnes of grain providing home-produced raw ingredients for our food and animal food
    • The UK produces over 4 million tonnes of flour every year
    • A hectare of wheat – about the size of a football pitch – produces an average of 7.5 tonnes of grain. That’s enough to make 11,500 loaves of bread!
    • A combine harvester can do the work of 1,000 men

    About the industry

    The crops sector represents all arable farmers. An arable farmer is a farmer who grows ‘cereal crops’. This includes wheat, barley and oats, which are all harvested using a combine harvester.

    Wheat, barley and oats are the most common arable crop. Wheat is the most widely grown arable crop in the UK producing almost 20 million tonnes each year. Wheat is ground into flour, which you will find in a huge range of food, from bread and cakes to biscuits and breakfast cereals. British barley growers produce around 6 million tonnes of barley, which is a key ingredient in beer and whisky, as well as the raw ingredient of malt vinegar. Some arable farmers also grow oilseed rape which is ground into cooking oil.

    This depends on the crop and time of year. Most cereals are harvested form the middle of July and run through August, but the weather can have a huge impact on this. A typical cycle for an arable farmer starts in September when the ground is worked and the seeds are sewn. In spring time the crops start to grow rapidly, and fertiliser is applied to give the crops the nutrition they need. Harvest then starts again in July time where the crops are harvested and brought into the grain store.

    Look out for the Red Tractor_59510

    Sector and economy

    The UK arable sector is worth £3.66 billion to the UK economy and provides over 100,000 jobs. In the past decade, UK beer exports contributed £500 million to the economy – this is all thanks to the British barley and malt. British barley is also a key ingredient in Scotch whisky which is worth £4.36 billion and equates for 20% of all UK food and drink exports.

    Supporting the industry

    Make sure you look out for the Union flag and Red Tractor logo on your packaging when shopping. Weetabix, McVities, Warburtons, Hovis and Nestle are just a few of the brands that you’d recognise that are made of British ingredients. British crops are produced to some of the highest standards in the world and supporting British produce is the best way to help your local farmers.

    Related categories: Crops
    Last edited:14 February 2019 at 10:18