UK wheat yields 12% below average, spring barley down 19%

UK grain yields remain below average in 2026 following prolonged dry conditions and hot weather. According to AHDB, the harvest moving into northern regions has brought some improvement in overall results, but not enough to significantly change the national picture.

Average wheat yields are currently around 12% below the five-year average. AHDB noted that the benchmark itself is already relatively low, reflecting below-average wheat harvests in 2024 and 2025.

Spring barley has been particularly disappointing, with average yields at 4.6 t/ha, around 19% below the five-year average. Winter barley yields, meanwhile, are broadly in line with the five-year average. Oat yields are averaging 4.4 t/ha, down 17%.

Rapeseed has been a notable exception among the major crops, with harvesting already complete. Average yields were 19% above the five-year average, contrasting sharply with the weaker performance of cereal crops.

The UK harvest is entering its final stages, with most remaining activity concentrated in Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England, where wetter weather has slowed progress. Due to significant regional variation in both yields and crop quality, AHDB has not yet published overall crop production estimates.