Wheat Yields Improve as UK Harvest Nears 50% Completion

With nearly half of the UK wheat harvest now complete, yields are showing improvement. According to the AHDB yield report, the first 10% of winter wheat crops harvested were down 11% compared to the five-year average. However, the overall picture is more positive, with average yields reaching 7.66 t/ha, only 1% below the five-year average. Results vary significantly across farms.

Farms on lighter soils, particularly in the East of England, have seen yields impacted by a lack of rainfall, with reductions of up to 16%, while the South East reports yields 24% above average. Grain quality remains high, with an average specific weight of 79 kg/hl. Protein levels in Group 1 wheat samples average 13.5%, indicating strong quality.

The spring barley harvest is progressing well, with initial yields showing a 21% increase over the five-year average, averaging 6.98 t/ha (ranging from 5.08–7.37 t/ha). The most progress has been made in the East of England, where 93% of the crop has been harvested, though greater variation is expected as harvesting continues in other regions. Some farmers report yields 20–30% above average.

The UK winter barley harvest is now complete. Yields were highly variable, ranging from 4.09 to 8.27 t/ha, with the national average estimated at 1% below the five-year average. Overall grain quality is good, with an average specific weight of 65 kg/hl. Nitrogen levels in winter barley average 1.7%, which may pose challenges for some markets, as malting barley typically requires nitrogen levels between 1.66–1.85%.

The winter oilseed rape harvest has been completed slightly ahead of last year’s schedule. Yields this season have been encouraging, averaging 3.98 t/ha across the UK—the highest for winter-sown crops since 2011. Oilseed rape quality is excellent, with oil content averaging 44–45%.

The UK oat harvest is 48% complete, ahead of last year’s 22% at this stage. Early oat yields are 5% below the five-year average of 5.07 t/ha. However, this figure includes both spring and winter crops, so the average may not fully reflect the performance of winter oats.

Tags: wheat, harvesting, UK