Now it's 20t/ha.

So what happened with the UK Wheat harvest?  Well it was completed in record time with the AHDB final report being published 26th September 2025.

The report ESTIMATES the UK average farm yield at 7.6 t/ha, which is 0.3 t/ha more than 2024.  Practically you should expect a 10% error on such figures which means the range is 8.4 - 6.8 t/ha.

Researchers at Rothamsted Research Station estimate a theoretic potential in most wheat growing regions of the UK of 20 t/ha. Reports from the Yield Enhancement Network (YEN) estimated farmer field potentials of 22.0 t/ha. However, in 2024 they stated the average yield was 10.3 t/ha with the very best of crops reaching 14.0 t/ha; in line with the best of this year’s trials results. 

While 20 t/ha is a theoretical potential, achieving this in large-scale commercial farming is challenging.  The issues of managing water and nutrient supply and dealing with pests and diseases are areas we are familiar with.

We also know that if crops increase interception of solar radiation and in so doing achieve a higher radiation use efficiency, yield increases.

One practical issue is that of disease control, maintaining green leaf area.  Is the current UK fungicide policy correct?  Are the fungicides we use able to perform the task required of them?

What has not received attention is that wheat is a C3 plant and with day time temperatures exceeding 30 degree centigrade during the month of June some crops stood little chance of getting anywhere near their theoretical potential.