The Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board (AHDB) confirms that the majority of winter barley crops are looking good in most areas of the UK.
In terms of development, crops range from the tillering stage to the growth stage 31.
Growers uniformly report that crops are generally clean with good levels of establishment achieved.
Winter barley
Yellowing is common in winter barley, largely due to nitrogen deficiency.
In eastern England, crops initially improved after fertilizer was applied, but have since lost some of their color again.
Meanwhile in Scotland, deficiency symptoms are more pronounced than in wheat.
Northern Ireland reports mixed responses, with some crops showing strong recovery after early nitrogen, although plant growth regulators (PGR) will soon be needed.
In south-east England, most growers have completed or are about to make their second nitrogen application.
Weed control in winter barley is generally good, with residual herbicides working strongly across the UK.
Autumn treatments have been particularly effective in Northern Ireland, and East Midlands farmers have reported excellent weed control after using cinmethylene.
Pest pressure increased slightly, with BYDV symptoms becoming more pronounced and some patchy plant losses where gout fly and virus stress combined.
Redness due to cold weather and aphid activity is visible in some places. Gout fly has been reported in the West Midlands and Scotland, while eastern regions have observed milder activity compared to wheat.
Disease levels remain relatively low overall, although brown rust, clear spot and rhyncosporium are present at varying levels, depending on the variety and local conditions.
Brown rust is most noticeable in hybrids in Yorkshire and the East Midlands; It is also found next to the Clear Spot in eastern England.
Meanwhile, south-west England is also seeing some clear spots, with most crops now receiving T1 fungicides, while Scotland recorded only low levels of Rhyncosporium.
As with winter wheat, the outlook for winter barley for 2026 is reported to be very good, with 85% of the crop rated as good to excellent.
This is down from 89% in November but significantly higher than last March, when just 70% of the crop was rated good to excellent.
Winter oats
Winter oats grow well, and yields range from tillage to GS31. Most of them have recovered significantly from the previous wet period and now show good and even development in various areas.
Nitrogen applications are now being made to winter oats, at rates and times that vary by region.
In southwest England, about 50 kg N/ha was applied at tillage to support early growth, while in Northern Ireland, growers delayed first applications due to concerns about lodging on robust, advanced crops.
Weed pressure remains very low in winter oats, with no significant problems from broadleaf weeds reported.
Pest activity is minimal, although some redness due to cold stress and aphids has been observed.
In the West Midlands, there are aphids, but no symptoms of BYDV.
Disease pressure is also generally low, with only mild levels of powdery mildew seen in some crops including reports from Scotland, and no major problems identified to date.
Prospects for winter oats for 2026 are reported to be very good, with 88% of the crop rated as good to excellent, compared to 87% in November.
Furthermore, the crop improved compared to last March, with 73% of the crop rated good to excellent.
