UK Cereal Harvest Hit Hard by Heat and Drought

The UK's cereal harvest was marred by heat and drought in 2026, leading to subpar yields for wheat, barley, and oats. The average winter wheat yield stood at 6.9 t/ha, falling short of the 10-year average of 7.9 t/ha.

This represents an 11% decline from the five-year average, with results varying significantly by region and farm. Winter wheat yields ranged from a low of 3.9 to a high of 11.5 t/ha.

Spring barley was one of the most challenging crops, with average yields at 4.8 t/ha, around 17% below the five-year average. Oat yields averaged 4.6 t/ha, down 14% from the same period.

However, winter barley performed better, averaging 6.9 t/ha and matching the five-year average. Rapeseed showed the strongest results, with yields of around 4 t/ha, approximately 19% above the five-year average.