The UK is set to face the worst harvest on record, analysis has found.
In the latest crop numbers from AHDB, spring barley is down by 17% compared to the UK five-year average, while oats are down 14% and winter wheat 11%.
AHDB said the harvest was “rapid and straightforward but with very disappointing yields”.
It follows warnings from the National Drought Group that there is a 25% chance the UK will still be in drought next year.
Glebe Farm MD Philip Rayner said the current situation was “incredibly concerning” as “farming is already on its knees”.
“There are some critical times for rain though, so hoping we get some after drilling winter crops next month and a bit in April, May, and June,” he added.
He also raised concerns around the Sustainable Farming Incentive, the second window of which closed after six hours last week.
This is “possibly one of the biggest crimes or at least hypocrisies going on”, he said.
It is not only cereals that have been impacted with glasshouse growers also experiencing a “challenging year” according to Lee Stiles, secretary of the Lea Valley Growers Association.
”The heatwaves have damaged many greenhouse grown plant roots resulting in reduced yields,” he told The Grocer. ”Once again growers have been overlooked for government support.
”This on top of increasing employer taxation, energy costs and standing charges have combined to make this a year to forget.”
The Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit said the cereals yield was the worst on record and highlighted that four of the five worst harvests on record have now occurred this decade following extreme weather.
“Our farmers are on the frontline of climate change, with the impacts of ever-worsening extreme weather now there for all to see,” said farming analyst Tom Lancaster. “More can be done to adapt to these extremes, including addressing problems with the sustainable farming schemes that are so important to building resilience.
“But there are limits, and reducing emissions to net zero is now a clear priority for future food security.”
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