UK wheat yields are 12% below average

Harvesting in the UK is nearing completion, but yields for most grain crops remain disappointing following a prolonged period of hot and dry weather. According to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board’s (AHDB) third harvest report, wheat yields are currently around 12% below the five-year average.

The five-year benchmark itself already includes the below-average harvests of 2024 and 2025. As harvesting moved further north, somewhat better yields in some areas slightly improved the UK average over the past two weeks, but this has not been enough to offset losses elsewhere.

Spring barley has performed particularly poorly, with average yields at just 4.6 t/ha, around 19% below average. Oat yields are estimated at 4.4 t/ha, down 17%. Meanwhile, the winter barley harvest is largely complete, with yields broadly in line with average levels.

Rapeseed has been a notable exception among the major crops. Harvesting is complete, with average yields 19% above the five-year average. However, AHDB reports considerable variation in both yields and grain quality between individual farms and regions.

Due to the significant variability in results, AHDB has not yet published estimates for total UK crop production. Soil type, drilling dates, the use of organic fertilisers and seed choice have all influenced final performance, while prolonged hot and dry weather has been the main negative factor this season.

Tags: weather conditions, UK, wheat, harvesting, wheat yields