Harvest progress report: 28 July 2025
For the next few weeks, each Monday we are sharing the first-hand accounts of farmers across the country during the UK harvest.
Harvest is gathering pace across the UK. Winter barley is mostly complete in the South and East, oilseed rape (OSR) is progressing in most regions, and the wheat harvest is beginning in more areas. Here’s the latest from around the country:
South
Across the South, many farmers have completed their OSR harvest. Reports on yield vary by location: some growers in Somerset have seen low yields, while others in Dorset report that their crops have performed well. While some are still waiting to cut wheat, others are preparing to harvest beans earlier than usual. Further north in the region, the wheat harvest is now underway in Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire.
East
In Essex, some growers report completing their entire harvest, including barley, OSR, peas, and wheat. While barley yields were fair, wheat yields have been described as poor, though quality remains good.
In Cambridgeshire, Ed Reynolds of R.I. Reynolds and Sons reports that OSR is complete and they are halfway through wheat and peas. Spring barley is next, although he notes that “persistent showers” have been slowing progress.
Midlands
Farmers in Herefordshire report they have finished OSR but have not yet started on wheat, with some feeling pessimistic about yield potential. In Worcestershire and Shropshire, the barley and OSR harvests are complete, and cutting is now underway for wheat.
North
The OSR harvest has started in Lancashire and the East Riding of Yorkshire, with farmers reporting reasonable yields. In the East Riding, some are also making a start on wheat.
Scotland
In the Highlands, the winter barley harvest is ongoing, though rain is causing delays. OSR is nearly ready in the region but also remains on hold due to the weather.
Winter barley is complete in Angus, with Perthshire and other regions now catching up. The wheat harvest is expected to follow OSR in the next couple of weeks.
