UK farmers report 'disappointing' harvest as wheat yields fall 11% below the five-year average

From the Newshound archive · first published 26 September 2026.

Britain's cereal harvest has collapsed after record-breaking heatwaves in May and June and the driest July on record for England and Wales devastated crops. Wheat yields averaged 6.9 tonnes per hectare — 11% below the five-year average and well short of the 10-year national average of 7.9 tonnes. Spring barley fared even worse, down 17% below its five-year average, while oats dropped 14%.

The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board found enormous variation across farms, with wheat yields stretching from as low as 3.9 to as high as 11.5 tonnes per hectare.

Oilseed rape was the sole bright spot, averaging 4 tonnes per hectare — roughly 19% above the five-year average.

Winter barley matched its five-year average of 6.9 tonnes per hectare, making it the only cereal crop to escape the summer damage unscathed.