AHDB: Rise in UK's oat planted area as animal feed demand grows
Spring oat varieties account for an estimated 66% of the area, up one percentage point from 2024, with a corresponding decline in the share of winter oat varieties.
Most of the UK sees larger areas in 2025, AHDB noted, 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.
According to AHDB, this upward trend in oats is set to continue.
Oats have become an increasingly attractive crop for UK farmers due to their compatibility with low-input, environmentally friendly rotations and their rising value in food markets.
The UK's potential production of oats for the 2025/26 season could range from 1-1.2Mt.
On the demand side, 2024/25 human and industrial (H&I) consumption of oats was 5% below the previous five-year average, according to data recently released by AHDB.
This is partly due to reduced usage by millers driven by higher extraction rate because of better quality oats.
However, demand for oats in animal feed is on the rise, due to greater availability.
With another year of strong production likely, and higher than average carry-in stocks expected for 2025/26, the UK oat balance could be looking well supplied this season, especially with muted H&I uptake from the previous season.
However, there are signs H&I demand could pick up as the season progresses.
Earlier this year, Danone announced that Alpro, a leading plant-based drink manufacturer, will be using 100% British oats for its long-life oats drink and chilled oat drinks, with plans to expand this sourcing to its barista range in the future.
This follows a significant investment by the company aimed at supporting UK agriculture and expanding its plant-based product range.
Alpro's oat drink production appears geared primarily toward the UK market, although further expansion or export opportunities could arise in future.
Producing oat milk requires about 90–100g/Lof oat flour, meaning Alpro's planned 58 million litres would need around 5,800t of flour.
After processing to make flour, 28-32% of raw oat weight is lost as hull and around 10% can be lost during milling.
This means producing 5,800t of flour could require 8,000-9,500t of raw oats, depending on quality.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RTÉ News
27 minutes ago
- RTÉ News
Northern Ireland 'absolutely crucial' to UK growth, says British Chancellor
Northern Ireland is "absolutely crucial" for the UK's growth prospects, the British Chancellor has said during a visit to Belfast. Rachel Reeves made her first trip to the North as chancellor and was asked whether she considers Northern Ireland to be an "economic basket case". As part of her trip, Ms Reeves visited the filmmaking facilities at Studio Ulster and also paid tribute to Northern Ireland's defence sector. Studio Ulster, which sits on the shores of Belfast Lough, was officially opened in June in what have been termed the world's most advanced virtual production facilities spanning 75,000 square feet. Speaking at the studios, Ms Reeves said: "Northern Ireland is absolutely crucial for the United Kingdom, including for our growth prospects. "We've got here, at Studio Ulster, not just the best facilities in the UK, but the best facilities in the world, for a part of our economy that is globally growing at such a fast rate. "This is the best place in the world to make those investments, to start a business, to grow a business, whether that's in video games, or TV, or film. "That's really exciting and we benefit hugely from the thriving creative industry sector in Northern Ireland." She continued: "As we step up that defence spending to 3%, and then 3.5% of GDP in due course, that will mean more good jobs, paying decent wages in Northern Ireland. "My economic belief, my strong belief, is that all parts of the country should be able to contribute to economic growth and prosperity, and all parts of the country should benefit from economic growth and opportunities. "That has not been the case for far too long in the UK." Ms Reeves was greeted by deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and Finance Minister John O'Dowd. She described the relationship between the British Government and the Northern Ireland Executive as a "partnership approach". The chancellor told reporters she wants Stormont to spend its funding "wisely" to get the best value for money for taxpayers. This includes growing the economy and creating good jobs that are well paid, Ms Reeves said. "The UK Government, the Northern Ireland Executive have got a joint commitment to improve the lives for people here," she added. "We have made the record settlement at the spending review just a couple of months ago. "Three-year settlement for day-to-day spending, a five-year settlement for capital investment and that means that the money we need for our public services in Northern Ireland and across the UK is now available. "Now spend that money wisely to get the best value for money for taxpayers. "We also need to grow the economy and create more good jobs, paying decent wages here." Ms Reeves also referred to Thales, a defence firm in Belfast, which is manufacturing equipment to be sent to Ukraine. She said this is creating more jobs and bringing in higher salaries. The Chancellor also said that farmers with agricultural property worth more than £3 million "should make a contribution". Asked whether she had "sympathy for farmers who are now facing an inheritance tax bill", Ms Reeves told reporters: "We didn't increase taxes that ordinary working people paid. "Their national insurance, income tax, VAT, fuel duty did not go up in the way the previous Tory government had in their plans, so protecting the incomes of ordinary working people. "And since we came into office, real wages have been rising at a faster rate than inflation, and specifically on agricultural property relief (APR), if you've got agricultural property worth less than £3 million and you own it jointly with a partner, you'll pay no inheritance tax when you pass that farm on. "But I do believe that if you do have agricultural property worth more than £3 million, you should make a contribution, but the APR, the inheritance tax on that is half the rate that anybody else pays, just 20%, and it's payable over 10 years interest-free."
RTÉ News
4 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Northern Irl 'absolutely crucial' to UK growth
Northern Ireland is "absolutely crucial" for the UK's growth prospects, the British Chancellor has said during a visit to Belfast. Rachel Reeves made her first trip to the North as chancellor and was asked whether she considers Northern Ireland to be an "economic basket case". As part of her trip, Ms Reeves visited the filmmaking facilities at Studio Ulster and also paid tribute to Northern Ireland's defence sector. Studio Ulster, which sits on the shores of Belfast Lough, was officially opened in June in what have been termed the world's most advanced virtual production facilities spanning 75,000 square feet. Speaking at the studios, Ms Reeves said: "Northern Ireland is absolutely crucial for the United Kingdom, including for our growth prospects. "We've got here, at Studio Ulster, not just the best facilities in the UK, but the best facilities in the world, for a part of our economy that is globally growing at such a fast rate. "This is the best place in the world to make those investments, to start a business, to grow a business, whether that's in video games, or TV, or film. "That's really exciting and we benefit hugely from the thriving creative industry sector in Northern Ireland." She continued: "As we step up that defence spending to 3%, and then 3.5% of GDP in due course, that will mean more good jobs, paying decent wages in Northern Ireland. "My economic belief, my strong belief, is that all parts of the country should be able to contribute to economic growth and prosperity, and all parts of the country should benefit from economic growth and opportunities. "That has not been the case for far too long in the UK." Ms Reeves was greeted by deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and Finance Minister John O'Dowd. She described the relationship between the British Government and the Northern Ireland Executive as a "partnership approach". The chancellor told reporters she wants Stormont to spend its funding "wisely" to get the best value for money for taxpayers. This includes growing the economy and creating good jobs that are well paid, Ms Reeves said. "The UK Government, the Northern Ireland Executive have got a joint commitment to improve the lives for people here," she added. "We have made the record settlement at the spending review just a couple of months ago. "Three-year settlement for day-to-day spending, a five-year settlement for capital investment and that means that the money we need for our public services in Northern Ireland and across the UK is now available. "Now spend that money wisely to get the best value for money for taxpayers. "We also need to grow the economy and create more good jobs, paying decent wages here." Ms Reeves also referred to Thales, a defence firm in Belfast, which is manufacturing equipment to be sent to Ukraine. She said this is creating more jobs and bringing in higher salaries. The Chancellor also said that farmers with agricultural property worth more than £3 million "should make a contribution". Asked whether she had "sympathy for farmers who are now facing an inheritance tax bill", Ms Reeves told reporters: "We didn't increase taxes that ordinary working people paid. "Their national insurance, income tax, VAT, fuel duty did not go up in the way the previous Tory government had in their plans, so protecting the incomes of ordinary working people. "And since we came into office, real wages have been rising at a faster rate than inflation, and specifically on agricultural property relief (APR), if you've got agricultural property worth less than £3 million and you own it jointly with a partner, you'll pay no inheritance tax when you pass that farm on. "But I do believe that if you do have agricultural property worth more than £3 million, you should make a contribution, but the APR, the inheritance tax on that is half the rate that anybody else pays, just 20%, and it's payable over 10 years interest-free."
The Irish Sun
6 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Legendary carmaker is launching new range of cheapest ever EVs boasting enough energy to ‘power a house for 6 DAYS'
PLUGGED IN Legendary carmaker is launching new range of cheapest ever EVs boasting enough energy to 'power a house for 6 DAYS' A LEGENDARY carmaker is launching a new range of its cheapest ever EVs. The cars are being created using a "revolutionary" process following a three-year project. 1 Ford's new EVs will be built at the company's Louisville plant in the US but are expected to be offered globally This scheme allows the cars to boast enough energy to "power a house for six days", according to the boss of the company. Ford is releasing the Universal EV Platform for a mid-size, double-cab pick-up truck that will be on sale in 2027, priced at $30,000 (£22,000). While the new EVs will be built at Ford's Louisville plant in the US, the vehicles are expected to be offered globally. It comes after the recent signing of trade deals between the US and the UK. The UK Government has also revealed a £650 million grant could knock up to £3,750 off the price of low-priced EVs. Ford CEO Jim Farley said more models using the process will follow, as first reported by Autocar. These will reportedly include a hatchback, crossover, van and a three-bench SUV. These are likely to start at around the same price. The new range is also being used to boost sales in the US market, and is likely to be seen as an endorsement of Donald Trump's policy to focus on domestic manufacturing to boost the US economy. Iconic British car brand to begin 'new era' with 'urban SUV' to be launched next year Farley said the process uses battery cells made at Ford's new Blue Oval Battery Park in Michigan. He said there were "no guarantees" with the project, and added: 'It is a bet. There is risk. I cannot 100% say this will work. There is an automotive graveyard full of projects that have not worked.' In his statement, Farley highlighted the fact that Ford will create its new EVs in the US. He said competitors "build their vehicles in Asia and import them from abroad. This is not what we are doing. We took on the challenge that others have stopped doing. 'This project is bigger than Ford motor cars. It is about our country."
