AHDB's third harvest 2025 report, published today (8 August 2025), shows yields improving as harvest continues - particularly for winter wheat - despite stop-start progress over the last couple of weeks, caused by short spells of often heavy rain.

AHDB's last report captured the first 10 per cent of the wheat total crop, with yields 11 per cent down on the five-year average. With close to half the crop now cut, the yield picture looks more positive (down one per cent on average), although this is still highly variable from farm to farm.

The winter barley harvest is now complete, with the final hectares cut this week. Yield is one per cent down on the five-year average. Oilseed rape harvest has also finished, with yield averaging its highest since 2011 for the winter sown crop, at 3.98 t/ha. The quality is good, with oil content also extremely high.

The oat harvest is also 48 per cent complete (on 6 August). The early oat yield is back by five per cent on average - but this is not representative, as it mainly accounts for winter, while the usual UK average includes spring data.

The winter wheat harvest is 48 per cent complete. Yield is 7.66 t/ha (one per cent below average). Wheat quality is good – Group 1s average 13.5 per cent protein. Some crops have lower Hagberg Falling Numbers because of recent rains, with moisture ranges from 12.2 per cent to 17 per cent.

The spring barley harvest is 19 per cent complete. Early yields are encouraging; up 21 per cent on the five-year average. However, more data is needed to draw precise conclusions, as the areas harvested are mostly in eastern and southern regions, so not representative of the UK.

Pulses are 13 per cent complete.

The fourth harvest 2025 report will be published on Friday 22 August.