The Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board (AHDB) has published its latest crop development update.

The report reflects the growth rates achieved for cereals and oilseeds up to the end of April.

Winter wheat crops are picking up in regions that had rainfall. Overall, pest and disease pressure is low, with the exception of yellow rust where T0 fungicides were not applied. Growth stage (GS) profiles typically range between GS31 and GS32.

At the end of April, 60% of the winter wheat crop in Great Britain is in excellent or good condition.

This is down from 67% at the end of March, but still well above the 45% reported a year ago (end-April 2024). But the proportion in excellent or good condition is still below the 88% recorded in April 2023 and 83% in April 2022.

Spring wheat drilling was completed in April, but dry weather has resulted in slow early development. Most growth stages currently range between GS20 and GS29.

Winter barley is developing rapidly, with flag leaves emerging when plants are still only around two feet tall. Growth stages typically range from GS33 to GS37.

An estimated 68% of winter barley crops are in good to excellent condition at the end of April, down slightly from 70% last month and notably below April 2023’s 90%.

However, the rating is still well above the 56% recorded a year ago.

While an estimated 1% of crops are still to emerge, 74% of crops were in good or excellent condition at the end of April.

Comparisons to previous years are not meaningful due to the larger areas that were yet to be planted or emerge. Dry conditions are beginning to impact crop development. 

At the end of April, 72% of winter oats were in good to excellent condition, down only one percentage point from the end of March. It is also still well above last year’s 53%.

While the proportion in good or excellent condition is below April 2022’s 85% or March 2023’s 81%, it is by a smaller margin than other winter cereals. Growth stages are typically between GS31 and GS32.

Spring oats are growing well. Most crops (73%) are tillering, though there a few crops at GS30 and GS31.

Most winter oilseed rape crops have now reached the yellow bud stage and are starting to flower, with the most advanced already at mid-flowering.

Crop condition is variable, but in general crops look very good in the absence of feeding damage. Overall, 59% of winter oilseed rape is in a good to excellent condition at the end of April, up slightly from 57% at end-March.

This is also notably above the 47% seen at this point last year, but below the levels seen in April 2022 (70%) and April 2023 (66%).

For spring oilseed rape, most of the crop has only recently emerged, and there remains a notable proportion of crops still to be planted or emerge.

There are reports of farmers substituting spring oilseed rape with spring linseed, and remaining unplanted areas are likely to be replaced with alternative spring crops.