The UK's 2026 cereal harvest is now well underway, with continuing heatwave conditions driving maturity levels within all crops.

NFU Combinable Crops Board Chair Jamie Burrows commented: “Prolonged dry conditions have accelerated crop development and brought harvest forward across many areas, but results are differing significantly by crop, region and soil type.

“As I speak to growers across the regions, I can see combines working through the small hours to avoid the worst of the heat.

“With many of us close to finishing winter barley, yields are generally ranging from 7.0-9.0 t/ha, averaging around 8.5t/ha and typically slightly below last season.”

He added that where oilseed rape has reached harvestable condition, yields are between 3.5-4.75t/ha, including around 4.5t/ha in parts of the midlands.

According to Burrows, it has become apparent that early wheat yields are far more variable.

He said: "Some crops look excellent and are showing strong grain quality, with specific weights of 78-82 kilograms per hectolitre (kg/hl) and higher proteins than last year.

“Yet yields can still fall below the five-year average. I’ve heard of one first wheat that yielded just 7t/ha, around 2.5t/ha below the farm average, despite looking well and achieving 80kg/hl.”

Government action required

According to Burrows, Britain’s arable farmers are facing a combination of rising production costs, increasing climate pressures and continued uncertainty across global markets.

He explained: “At a time when food security and domestic production have never been more important, government has a clear opportunity to demonstrate its backing for the UK combinable crops sector.

"I’m calling on government to enact the recommendations set out in our Fertiliser Resilience Plan, ensuring farmers and growers have access to a stable, competitive and resilient fertiliser market.

The NFU representative also urged the government to publish the findings of the Fairness in the Supply Chain Review for the combinable crops sector and move quickly to implement its recommendations.

He said: “While I understand there have been delays, growers cannot afford for this work to drift further.

“Market restrictions are already being imposed at the point of sale, with some mills indicating they won’t accept wheat below 12% moisture and advising growers not to wet grain, effectively shifting commercial risk further onto producers.

“Greater transparency, fairness and consistency throughout the supply chain are essential if we’re to have confidence in the market and the ability to invest in our businesses.”