UK Cereal Farmers Face Third Consecutive Poor Harvest Amid Drought

Cereal farmers in the UK are facing their third poor harvest in a row due to high temperatures and drought, which have affected yields across the southeast. The combines have been rolling up and down the country for several weeks now, but the results have been disappointing, with wheat harvests finished early due to weather conditions.

Yields in Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire are around 6.5 tonnes per hectare, lower than expected, and grain prices have improved slightly, but remain volatile due to global events such as the Iran war and Black Sea issues. Analysts fear that if these conflicts were resolved, prices would be lower.

Root crops like potatoes and sugar beet are suffering from lack of water, with evapotranspiration rates reaching 8mm a day in some areas. Irrigated crops have also struggled, straining even the best irrigation systems due to hot temperatures and long days.