British farmers are fighting the harvest conditions of stop-starts as heavy rains progress, but early oilseed rape yields provide a bright spot that is unusual for otherwise mixed seasons.
The second harvest report of 2025 from AHDB, released on July 25, paints a complex picture of this year’s UK harvest, promoting oil-type rape yields and pronounced variability in grains.
The season started quickly, but recently progress has stalled. The latest slowdown is due to continued rain over the weekend of July 19th and 20th.
Many regions have not resumed combinations since Friday, July 18th, with further delays expected following a strip of fresh rain that swept Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland earlier this week.
Some farmers are anticipating more wet weather and are beginning to cut crops at higher moisture levels, raising concerns about their potential impact on quality (particularly wheat grinding) and yield (particularly oil seeds rape and pulse).
“We are pleased to announce that Helenplant, a senior serial analyst at AHDB,” said: “The photos are mixed together and there are different results across the country. So far, fat rape and winter barley yields are encouraging, but early winter wheat yields are below average.
“But, like oats and spring barley, winter wheat harvests are still in the early stages. The weather is very different so it’s very difficult to predict the final outcome at this stage.”
So far, oily rape has been working powerfully, with 54% of UK crops currently being harvested. The average yield is estimated to be 3.76 tons (t/ha) per hectare. This is 21% higher than the five-year average of 3.11 t/ha.
Although the quality has been reported to be good, recent rainfall has led to early sowing of crops next year.
The winter barley harvest is 92% complete, with Scotland and Northern Ireland still the only areas active. Yields have changed significantly from 29% to 19% above the five-year average, but the national average yield is 6.7 t/ha, reported in line with five-year standards.
Grain quality is generally good, but is attributed to high nitrogen levels, hot, dry spring and early summer, but may prove to be problematic for some rotten barley markets.
Winter wheat, oats and spring barley harvesting is ongoing, but is relatively early on. That is, the data is not yet sufficient to estimate national photos. The early samples show good quality, but early reports suggest disappointing wheat yields.
The third harvest update from AHDB is scheduled for Friday, August 8th. By then, it becomes clearer as you harvest your harvest resumes across the UK.
