Report shows wheat yields below average on 90% of farms

The high cost of the exceptionally hot and dry weather on arable crops is becoming clearer, with the first AHDB harvest report showing that 90% of surveyed farms are below their five-year average for winter wheat.

Likewise, winter barley yields are also poor in the earliest harvest since AHDB records began in 2006. However, the one positive is that oilseed rape yields are starting to recover, with an average of 3.9t/ha.

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Anthony Hopkins, the new director of cereals and oilseeds said: “While it’s encouraging to see oilseed rape yields improving on average, cereal yields have generally been below the 10-year average so far, with some farms experiencing significant reductions.”

For winter barley, reports ranged from as low as 3.4t/ha and, 3.9t/ha for winter wheat. Consequently, the poor harvest is adding pressure to many arable businesses.

“Following successive years of difficult weather and rising costs, the financial pressures are becoming increasingly acute for those businesses hardest hit,” said Mr Hopkins.

CLA president Gavin Lane agreed that the drought was having a huge impact on arable farms.

“Farmers are telling us this is the worst harvest in years. A sodden winter followed by drought has left wheat at half its usual height and some crops not worth harvesting.”

He also pointed out that it is the third drought in five years.

“What was once extraordinary is becoming part of farming in Britain, and government must start planning for it. We know that proper government investment in resilient farming systems, from reservoirs to wildfire prevention, could help farmers cope with these new extremes.”

Highlights from the report

Winter barley

The winter barley harvest is now largely complete across the UK, with an estimated 95% cut by the week ending 26 July 2026. Most of the remaining area is located in Yorkshire, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Yields: Winter barley yields have been highly variable this season. Based on the survey sample, the average yield is 6.8t/ha, 2% lower than the UK five-year average.

There has been a wide range in farm performance with reported yields ranging 3.4-11.0t/ha.

Quality: Specific weights are reported to be between 63 and 66kg/hl. Screening levels have been variable with figures of between 80-95% retained by a 2.25mm sieve.

Winter oilseed rape

The oilseed rape harvest was estimated to be 73% complete by 26 July 2026. Harvest progress has been most advanced in southern England, where the crop is largely cut, although some small areas remain to be harvested.

Further north, progress has been slower, particularly in Scotland, where only 8% of the crop had been harvested by 26 July. This reflects the later harvest window and differences in crop maturity across the UK.

Yields: The average oilseed rape yield from the survey is 3.9 t/ha, up 17% compared to the UK five-year average.

As with other crops this season, yields have been highly variable. Regional reported yields ranged from 2.4-4.9 t/ha.

Quality: Oil content has generally been reasonable ranging from 42-45% for the typical sample.

Wheat

The winter wheat harvest was 54% complete by 26 July 2026. Progress has been most advanced in the South West, where 96% of the crop had been harvested according to the survey sample.

Harvest conditions have generally been favourable, allowing growers to make rapid progress where crops have reached maturity.

Across southern England, many farms expect to complete wheat harvesting within the coming week, provided the settled weather continues.

Yields: Based on the survey sample, the average yield is 6.8 t/ha, down 13% compared to the UK five-year average.

However, the report points out that this benchmark is already relatively low, having been influenced by the below-average harvests recorded in 2024 and 2025.

Yield performance has also been highly variable between farms, reports ranging from 3.9t/ha to 11.5t/ha.

However, only 10% of farms surveyed have reported yields above their five-year average, underlining the widespread impact of the dry conditions experienced during the growing season.

Quality: Specific weights have been exceptional so far this year. For Group 1 samples, specific weights have ranged from 76 kg/hl to 85 kg/hl.

Protein content is also high, with averages above 14% not uncommon in samples. An average of 13.5% is given although this is variable.

Spring barley

The spring barley harvest is now under way across the UK and was estimated to be 8% complete by 26 July 2026.

Yields: The spring barley harvest is still at an early stage, and yield reports received so far have been highly variable. The average yield reported by the survey sample is currently 5.3 t/ha.

However, with only a small proportion of the crop harvested to date, this figure is unlikely to be representative of the final national yield.