New international research comparing the overheads of wheat producers shows that there is a variation of around £900/ha between countries.

However when calculated on a per tonne basis the difference between nations diminishes.

The research by Ella Roberts at AHDB found that Canada, Spain, Ukraine, and the US had the lowest cost of production per hectare with efficiencies on labour and machinery.

The UK had one of the highest overhead costs per hectare but higher yields bring it down to £118.84/t. This is within £20/t of the lowest cost system, France was £103.14/t, and very similar to the US £115.51/t.

The research focused on labour, machinery, and land costs in Canada, Germany, Denmark, Spain, France, Ukraine, UK, and the US. These costs also included a mix of feed and milling wheat data and were averaged over 5 years between 2018 to 2022.

In the UK the cost of labour was calculated at £180.80/ha, which was much lower than France and Denmark, but much higher than the US, Canada or Spain.

Fewer fertiliser and crop protection passes meant the US spends just 2.43 hrs/ha and Canada 1.82 hr/ha, compared to 13.71hrs/ha in the UK.

Machinery costs for the UK were found to be £403.82/ha which is the highest per hectare of all countries within the comparison. Fuel was £87.70/ha, and the repair cost average £81.74/ha are particularly high for the UK, whereas contracting costs are relatively average within the comparison.

Canada, the US and Ukraine have the lowest total machinery costs at under £225/ha despite a tendency for large equipment size in these countries.

The UK land cost was £296.44/ha much lower than Denmark at £530.05/ha or Germany £465.31/ha.

France showed a surprisingly low land value at £169.97/ha with Ukraine the only country lower than this at £142.03/ha.