The 2026 UK grain harvest is now well underway, with continued heatwave conditions pushing maturity levels across all crops.
Jamie Burrows, Chairman of the NFU’s Combinable Crops Board, commented: “Prolonged drought conditions have accelerated crop growth and pushed forward harvests in many areas, but results vary widely by crop, region and soil type.
“As I talk to farmers across the regions, I can see harvesters working during late hours to avoid the worst of the temperatures.
“With many of us nearing completion of winter barley production, yields are generally between 7.0-9.0t/ha, averaging around 8.5t/ha and usually slightly lower than last season.”
He added that when oilseed rape reaches harvestable condition, productivity ranges between 3.5-4.75 tons/ha, including about 4.5 tons/ha in parts of the central lands.
“This is a positive sign for the crop, and fits with the gradual recovery we have seen in the national region over recent years.
According to Burroughs, it has become clear that early wheat yields are much more variable.
“Some of the crops are looking excellent and showing strong grain quality, with specific gravity between 78 and 82 kilograms per hectoliter (kg/hl) and higher proteins than last year,” he said.
“However, yields can still fall below the five-year average. I have heard of the first wheat producing only 7t/ha, about 2.5t/ha less than the farm average, despite looking good and achieving 80kg/ha.”
Government action is required
According to Burrows, arable farmers in Britain face a combination of rising production costs and increasing… Climatic pressures Continuing uncertainty in global markets.
He explained: “At a time when food security and domestic production are more important than ever, the government has a clear opportunity to show its support for the UK’s compostable crops sector.
“I call on the government to operationalize the recommendations set out in our Fertilizer Resilience Plan, ensuring farmers and growers have access to a stable, competitive and resilient fertilizer market.
The NFU representative also urged the government to publish the findings of the supply chain equity review of the compostable crop sector and move quickly to implement its recommendations.
“Although I understand there are delays, farmers cannot afford for this work to continue,” he said.
“Market restrictions have already been put in place at the point of sale, with some mills indicating they will not accept wheat with moisture below 12% and advising farmers not to wet grain, effectively shifting commercial risk to producers.
“Greater transparency, fairness and consistency throughout the supply chain is essential if we are to have market confidence and the ability to invest in our business.”
