Seed Area Stabilises

It would seem that the recent decline in the area of the Scottish seed crop has been halted.



Since 1999 when 14,760ha were classified there has been 17% reduction in area classified with the 2001 crop at 12,270ha.



The area entered in 2001 was actually 12,645 ha. Provisional figures from SEERAD for the 2002 crop are 12,648ha indicating that the decline has been, at least temporarily, halted. It is to be hoped that the improved returns from the 2001 crop can be sustained even where the total area is not reduced. For some varieties there will be marketing challenges e.g. Desiree is up by 28%, King Edward by 19% and Nicola by 35%.