Cereal planting is down on 2002.

The total area sown to cereals fell 6pc last year in the UK, to three million hectares, according to planting survey figures released by HGCA.

Both wheat and oats fell in terms of planted area, with only spring barley showing an increase.

This is partly the result of an increase in oilseed rape plantings, up by 76,000 ha, but also because of an increase in the amount of set-aside, up by 12pc to 676,000 ha.

Based on returns from 3,100 farms, the survey compares plantings for harvest 2003 to the June Census 2002 area estimates.

HGCA economist Rupert Somerscales said: "The survey results point to a 6pc decline in total area sown to cereals against 2002 plantings. GB wheat area is 8pc lower, spring barley 7pc higher, winter barley is down 11pc, with oats 7pc lower. The area planted to oilseed rape is 21pc higher than 2002 and land put under the set-aside scheme is 12pc higher."

Problems were encountered during planting winter crops, particularly in some eastern counties where rainfall was unusually high. This, combined with low prices during the autumn, led to a reduced winter wheat and barley area.