Crop development

Following the very dry spring weather this year, for most crops the primary issue over the last month has been water stress rather than the effects of diseases or pests.

Welcome rainfall at the end of May and beginning of June led to improvements in crop condition scores across all winter crops surveyed, as well as spring wheat. However, the condition ratings of spring barley and spring oats have declined since the end of May. All crop scores aside from winter oilseed rape are also below the same point last season.

The late May/early June rainfall did provide some relief to crops. However, the variability of rainfall both within and between regions means that there remain some highly water stressed crops, and some that are still green and coping well. For spring crops, the rain came too late to support establishment, and as such, their root systems were likely unable to seek out water deeper in the soil profile.

The yield impact of water stress remains uncertain. Grain size is good, but with lower tiller numbers the total number of grains will be reduced. The weather conditions in the final few weeks of grain fill can have a big impact on final yield, especially for crops that are still green and coping well.

Tillering is reduced compared to normal, with both winter and spring crops affected. Crop height is highly variable, and spring crops in general are very short. Stressed plants have lost a significant amount of leaf area, which is important for straw yield.

In the worst affected fields on heavy land, crops are dying off, with heads turning white. On lighter land, crops are dying and turning brown.

In water stressed locations, there has been early senescence that is likely to result in slightly earlier harvest dates. On lighter soils in the south and east, winter barley harvest is likely to start mid-July, with heavier soils following later in the month.

Please note that the information in this report was captured up to Monday 23 June 2025 for AHDB by RSK ADAS Ltd.

Crop condition definitions

Crop condition was assessed using the USDA approach. This classifies crops into one of five categories, from very poor through to excellent (see details below).

The values are given as the percentage of the GB crop area for that crop that falls in each of the categories – regional condition scores are available on the crop reporting dashboard at the bottom of this page.

• Very poor – Extreme degree of loss to yield potential, complete or near crop failure
• Poor – Heavy degree of loss to yield potential, which can be caused by excess soil moisture, drought, disease, etc
• Fair – Less than normal crop condition. Yield loss is a possibility, but the extent is unknown
• Good – Yield prospects are normal. Moisture levels are adequate and disease, insect damage, and weed pressures are minor
• Excellent – Yield prospects are above normal. Crops are experiencing little or no stress. Disease, insect damage, and weed pressures are insignificant

Data on UK crop conditions captured up to Monday 23 June 2025.

Source: AHDB, data captured by RSK ADAS Ltd

Note: Figures may not sum to 100% due to rounding.

Wheat

In late June, 38% of UK winter wheat crops were rated as being in excellent or good condition. This is up slightly from 36% at the end of May, but significantly lower than 56% at a similar point last season. There is wide variation in crop condition depending on soil type and regional rainfall differences.

At the end of this month, 51% of spring wheat is rated in good or excellent condition, up slightly from 50% at the end of May, but back from 60% at the same point last season. It is also well below 69% at this month in 2023.

UK growth stages for winter wheat typically range between GS70 (finished flowering) and GS75 (medium milk, while for spring wheat growth stages currently range between GS60 (start of flowering) and GS70 (flowering complete).

Winter barley

At the end of June, 50% of the winter barley crops were estimated to be in good to excellent condition, up from 48% last month, but well below the same point last season (69%).

Growth stages now typically range from GS75 (medium milk) to GS85 (soft dough).

Spring barley

Spring barley crop conditions have worsened since last month’s report, with 52% of the crop rated in good or excellent condition, versus 54% a month earlier. This rating is also significantly below 71% at this time last year.

Across the UK, most growth stages currently range between GS70 (finished flowering) and GS75 (medium milk).

Oats

By the end of June, the proportion of winter oats in good to excellent condition climbed slightly to 55% from 52% last month. This rating is just below the 58% rating at this point last year. However, the proportion of the crop in very poor or poor condition is at 8% as of late June 2025, compared to 21% at this point last year.

At the end of June, 38% of spring oats are in good or excellent condition, compared to 42% a month earlier. However, this is down significantly on 2024 ratings which reached 77% at this point last year.  

For winter oats growth stages are typically between GS75 (medium milk) and GS85 (soft dough), while spring oats see growth stages currently range between GS45 (flag leaf sheath swollen) and GS70 (flowering complete).

Winter oilseed rape

At the end June, the proportion of winter oilseed rape (WOSR) crop rated in excellent or good condition reached 55%, up from 52% last month, and 54% at a similar time a year earlier. However, this is below 2023 (63%) and 2022 (67%) levels.

Overall, the crop is performing better than cereals and pulses. For most crops, seeds are now full size and green.

• Use the drop down menu at the top of the first chart to view the crop conditions of a particular crop in each region
  
  
• Use the drop down menus at the top of the second chart to view the percentage of a crop at each growth stage. The drop down menus can also be used to show the information for a particular region

This is the last report on the 2025 crop.

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