The condition of many UK cereal crops unsurprisingly worsened considerably throughout May as the dry weather continued for much of the month.
This is the main trend emanating from the latest Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board (AHDB) crop development report.
It confirms that the very dry spring this year is “likely to have caused damage to many crops”.
Indeed, winter crop condition ratings have dropped notably from the end of April, while spring cereal ratings are lower than a year ago.
The proportion of winter wheat and barley rated as good or excellent is now much lower than this time last year.
The good and excellent rating means crops have ‘normal’ or ‘above normal’ yield prospects.
Winter wheat
In terms of winter wheat, 36% of the crop is currently rated as being in good or excellent condition.
This is a significant deterioration from 60% at the end of April and 55% at this time last year, and is only slightly above the 31% recorded in late May 2020.
Nitrogen uptake has been suppressed by the dry conditions, and growers need to decide whether to apply more to milling wheat.
The combination of deterioration in winter wheat crop conditions in the UK and higher nitrogen prices than last year could hinder the production of milling-quality wheat.
At the same time, milling wheat premiums for the new crop are lower than those for the 2024 crop at this point last year.
Winter barley
An estimated 48% of winter barley crops are in good to excellent condition at the end of May – well below last month’s 68% figure and 61% at this point last year.
However, the figure remains above the 25% recorded in May 2020.
Winter oilseed rape
The winter oilseed rape (WOSR) crop prospects have worsened overall since April, when 59% was in a good to excellent condition, which fell to 52% at the end of May.
This is still slightly above the 49% seen at this point last year, but below the levels seen in May 2022 (70%) and May 2023 (66%).
Winter oats
Over the past month, the proportion of winter oats in good to excellent condition has dropped from 72% to 52%.
This rating is level with this point last year, after being well above in March and April. However, only 9% of crops are rated as in poor or very poor condition as of late May 2025, compared to 21% at this point last year.
Spring cereals
After a promising start with rapid spring drilling, dry weather conditions have affected the condition of UK cereal crops such as spring wheat, barley and oats.
Currently, the proportion of crops in good to excellent condition in May is lower than it has been in the last three years.
