Harvest Wrap-up Sept 26

Harvest is all but complete in the UK.  At the time of AHDB’s final Harvest Report (up to 21^st September) there were only small pockets of crop left to cut in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The AHDB Harvest Report was produced with data compiled by The Andersons Centre.

The report shows large variation in crop yields not only across the UK, but within regions, and farms themselves.  Overall yields have been disappointing. Winter wheat was surveyed to be 11% below the (already low) 5-year average, at 6.9 tonnes per Ha.  The issue of reduced wheat yields is compounded by data published by Defra at the end of August (see table below) which suggests the English wheat area is 74,000 hectares less than AHDB data implied pre-harvest. That equates to more than half a million tonnes less wheat on the balance sheet.

In looking at where this missing wheat hectarage has gone, it is notable Defra report the maize area at a record 272,000 hectares, just a few thousand hectares below the rapeseed area, and up more than 31,000 hectares on 2025.  Notable also is the broader loss of arable acres, down more than 7% on the five-year average.

Spring barley yields were also poor, at 17% below the 5-year average. Slightly higher yields in Scotland and Northern England increased the average yield up from earlier harvest reports.  Winter barley yields were largely in line with the 5-year average.  This year’s poor yields are driven almost exclusively by limited rainfall since spring, and extreme temperature highs.

Winter oilseed rape was the standout performer. The survey recorded a yield 19% above that of the 5-year average. Again, the average has been low following poor harvests in recent years driven by the challenges of Cabbage Stem Flea Beetle.

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