Wheat yields are expected to be down 12% this year.
More than a quarter of British wheat crops are in a very poor condition, according to the latest crop condition report from agricultural consultancy Adas.
The report, which covers crop conditions until the middle of May, reveals 26% of winter wheat crops are rated as very poor or poor by growers – up from 5% at this point last year and 18% in March.
Only 31% of growers rated their winter wheat crops as being good or excellent – down from 83% in 2019.
Conditions for barley and oilseed rape were also less favourable.
Growers rated 27% of winter barley and 13% of spring barley crops as poor or very poor – as against 1% and 3% respectively last year.
Only 25% of growers said their winter barley crop was excellent or good – down from 89% in 2019 – and the proportion of spring barley rated as good or excellent decreased to 48% from 75% before.
Growers rated 41% of winter oilseed rape as poor or very poor – as opposed to 21% last year.
Commenting on the results, Anthony Speight who works as an analyst with levy body AHDB, said: “The weather has been against the grower throughout this season.”
