Revenue hit for arable farmers over poor harvest

> Prolonged dry weather earlier in the year hit UK harvests hard

- GRAEME WHITFIELD Journal editor [e-mail]

RABLE farmers in the UK are facing a reduction in revenues of more than £800m following one of the worst ever harvests, analysis suggests.

The Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) think tank released the estimate on Thursday after crop production was hit this year by the hottest spring and summer on record as well as drought conditions.

To estimate how much farmers may have lost, the researchers examined “per hectare yield” figures for wheat, spring and winter barley, oats and oilseed rape along-

side the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board crop area estimates for the UK.

They then compared current farm gate prices to Government figures for the 10-year average for production volumes from 2015-2024.

The analysis found revenues from the five staple crops were 20% less in 2025, compared with what they would have earned if they produced in line with the 10-year average - or £828m.