Drought cuts wheat yields on 90% of UK farms

The United Kingdom is facing one of its most challenging grain harvests in recent years. According to the first 2026 Harvest Report released by the AHDB, 90% of surveyed farms reported winter wheat yields below their five-year average. The poor performance follows an exceptionally hot and dry growing season after a waterlogged winter.

The average winter wheat yield is currently estimated at 6.8 t/ha, 13% below the five-year average. Farm results vary widely, ranging from 3.9 to 11.5 t/ha. Despite the lower yields, grain quality has been strong, with test weights of 76–85 kg/hl and protein levels often exceeding 14%.

Winter barley has also performed poorly. The average yield stands at 6.8 t/ha, 2% below the five-year average, although some farms reported yields as low as 3.4 t/ha. As of July 26, about 95% of the UK winter barley crop had been harvested, marking the earliest harvest completion since AHDB records began in 2006.

Oilseed rape has been the positive exception this season. According to the survey, the average yield reached 3.9 t/ha, 17% above the five-year average. However, yields remain highly variable across regions, ranging from 2.4 to 4.9 t/ha, while oil content has generally been reported at 42–45%.

According to AHDB Cereals and Oilseeds Director Anthony Hopkins, several consecutive years of adverse weather combined with rising production costs have placed increasing financial pressure on arable farms. CLA President Gavin Lane described this as one of the worst harvests in years and called on the UK government to invest in drought resilience, water storage infrastructure and other measures to help farmers adapt to increasingly frequent weather extremes.

Tags: barley, UK, wheat, drought, rapeseed