The AHDB’s final harvest report shows the full impact of last season’s dry weather. Average yields for several key crops were below both recent and longer-term averages. Quality was also highly variable.
Overall, the final report reinforces a familiar theme from throughout the season: another highly variable harvest shaped by limited rainfall from spring onwards.
While some farms further north have achieved results close to, or above, their long-term averages, the extent of the reductions across the national averages for wheat, spring barley and oats confirms how challenging harvest 2026 has been for the UK.
As harvest moved north, it helped push the wheat average up from earlier forecasts to 6.9 t/ha but the national average is still 11% below the five-year mean. Highlighting the considerable variation seen across the country, yields ranged from 3.9 t/ha to 11.5 t/ha.
Winter barley yields were broadly in line with their five-year average at 6.9 t/ha. However, even with some decent late-harvested northern crops, UK spring barley yields were 17% below the five-year average at 4.8 t/ha.
Oat yields also improved as harvest progressed in Scotland, reaching 4.6 t/ha, but still around 14% below the UK five-year average.
The one bright spot was oilseed rape. AHDB survey data shows an average yield of 4.0 t/ha, approximately 19% above the UK five-year average, although results varied widely between farms.
Helen Plant, AHDB Lead Analyst, Cereals and Oilseeds, said: “This final report reinforces just how variable harvest 2026 has been. While yields for wheat, oats and spring barley improved slightly as more crops were harvested in Scotland and northern England, the overall picture remains challenging for many growers.
“Average yields only tell part of the story. We have seen huge differences between farms, with factors such as soil type, drilling date, previous cropping, local weather conditions and moisture availability all appearing to influence final performance.
“Despite some late improvements, average yields for several key crops remain below both recent and longer-term averages. Quality has also been highly variable, which will create additional challenges when storing and marketing grain over the coming months.”
Case for support
NFU Combinable Crops Board Chair Jamie Burrows added: “The report paints a picture that many of us will be familiar with; a hugely difficult and deeply challenging harvest, with yields in many crops falling short of expectations and significant variations being reported from region to region and farm to farm.
“Weaker commodity prices and rising costs, exacerbated by the Middle East conflict, mean profitability remains under severe strain for growers, leaving many facing an immediate cashflow crisis. The debacle this week with the SFI26 has created even more uncertainty and financial pressure for farming businesses.
“As farmers begin planning for next season, urgent action is needed. We are calling for a government-backed, interest free loan, linked to the losses caused by this summer’s drought and extreme temperatures, which would give arable farming businesses the working capital to produce next year’s food.
“The focus must be on creating the conditions to build sustainable and profitable businesses. With the UK facing more extreme weather, we need long-term investment in resilient crop varieties that are more able to withstand drought and disease and have greater yield consistency. This kind of innovation would help to deliver domestic food security and strengthen our resilience against a changing climate.”
