The UK Yield Enhancement Networks for Cereal and Oilseed have ended on a high with a new OSR world record.
Announced at the recent (YEN) conference in Peterborough, Lincolnshire grower Tim Lamyman re-claimed the world record with his 2025 OSR yield of 7.7t/ha.
“The fact three British OSR growers surpassed 7.5t/ha during one of the driest growing seasons on record is a testament to their skill in exploiting weather extremes,” says ADAS head of crop physiology, Dr Pete Berry.
“October 2024 was warmer than average for almost all of the UK. This was followed by a winter without excessive rain and a very sunny March and April. Looking at weather data and yields dating back to 1976, this seasonal pattern has been conducive to higher-yielding years for OSR, but growers have to be ready to exploit them.”
Cereal crops
He adds that the same can’t be said for cereal crops, with warmer conditions in 2025 shortening all growth phases. Drought stress at flowering reduced the number of grains set, and Pete estimates that for every 1oC increase in temperature, grain-filling phase shortens by two days.
“With the wheat crops submitted into YEN every year, we’ve seen the average grain fill period decrease by several days since 2013 as a result of warmer conditions, often compounded by factors such as a lack of water, insufficient nutrients, and incomplete disease control.
“More frequent, prolonged wet and dry periods, together with the warming climate, have made for highly variable grain yields in recent years,” he points out.
Pulses
Pulse yields in 2025 were also down on average due to the drought, but some farms still achieved yields of 6.7 t/ha for peas and more than 8t/ha for beans.
Charlotte White, senior consultant at ADAS, commends pulse growers who’ve achieved stable high yields over a run of years. “Stability of pulse yields is one of the most sought-after performance metrics for farmers,” explains Charlotte.
“The Pea and Bean YENs have demonstrated that high pea and bean yields are achievable, and YEN data has highlighted aspects which are worth exploring, such as nutrient applications or varying flowering dates to manage the risk of heat stress.”
Yield potential ‘left unrealised’
This YEN conference marks the final chapter for the Cereal and Oilseed YENs, which for the past 13 years have helped thousands of growers in the UK and North-West Europe to benchmark crop performance and identify their yield potential.
YEN founder, Professor Roger Sylvester-Bradley, says considering the UK government’s mission to ‘spare land’ while still securing food supplies, yield enhancement enthusiasts should be encouraged, rather than deterred.
Although the final year of Cereal and Oilseed YEN, Pea and Bean YENs – in collaboration with PGRO – will continue as normal for Harvest 2026, with PGRO taking on leadership in 2027 and beyond.
YEN awards
Cereal YEN
Cereal yield
- GOLD: David Passmore of Oxfordshire, Sponsored by BASF 14.34 t/ha
- SILVER: Martin Justesen of Kettinge, Denmark, Supported entry 13.45 t/ha
% of potential cereal yield
- GOLD: David Passmore of Oxfordshire, Sponsored by BASF 117% of 12.2 t/ha
- SILVER: Annabel Hamilton of Berwickshire, Independent entry 102% of 12.5 t/ha
Regional awards
For the highest cereal yield
- Scotland: Jack Carnegy of Angus, Independent entry 12.94 t/ha
- East Midlands: Mark Popplewell of Lincolnshire, Supported entry 12.62 t/ha
- East Anglia: Ed Salmon of Norfolk, Independent entry 11.92 t/ha
- South East: Richard Budd of Kent, Sponsored by BASF 13.23 t/ha
- Outside UK: Lars Riis of Denmark, Independent entry 11.73 t/ha
For the highest % of potential cereal yield
- Scotland: Jack Carnegy of Angus, Independent entry 77% of 13.4 t/ha
- East Midlands: Mark Popplewell of Lincolnshire, Supported entry 70% of 18.0 t/ha
- East Anglia: Ed Salmon of Norfolk, Independent entry 70% of 17.0 t/ha
- South East: Matthew Attwood of Sittingbourne, Supported entry 70% of 18.6 t/ha
- Outside UK: Martin Justesen of Denmark, supported entry 70% of 13.4 t/ha
Oats
Yield
- GOLD: John Anderson of Thurso, Independent entry 10.09 t/ha
% of potential yield
- GOLD: John Anderson of Thurso, Independent entry 61% of 16.5 t/ha
Spring barley
Yield
- GOLD: Dyson Farming of Lincolnshire, Independent entry 10.39 t/ha
- SILVER: Paul Spinks of Norfolk, Supported entry 9.35 t/ha
% of potential yield
- GOLD: Dyson Farming of Lincolnshire, Independent entry 81% of 12.8 t/ha
- SILVER: Simon Budden of Hampshire, Independent entry 71% of 12.0 t/ha
Oilseed YEN
Oilseed yield (gross output)
- GOLD: Tim Lamyman of Lincolnshire, Supported entry 7.71 t/ha
- SILVER: Richard Budd of Kent, Supported entry 7.61 t/ha
% of Potential Oilseed Yield
- GOLD: Annabel Hamilton of Berwickshire, Independent entry 89% of 8.4 t/ha
- SILVER: Richard Budd of Kent, Supported entry 63% of 12.1 t/ha
Pea YEN
Pea yield
- GOLD: Ed King of Lincolnshire, Sponsored by PGRO 6.70 t/ha
- SILVER: Matthew Beech of East Yorkshire, Independent entry 6.31 t/ha
% of Potential pea yield
- GOLD: Ed King of Lincolnshire, Sponsored by PGRO 69% of 9.72 t/ha
- SILVER: Heathcote Farms Ltd of Bedfordshire Sponsored by NPZ 44% of 8.00 t/ha
Pea yield stability
- GOLD: David Pickering of Norfolk 7.20% deviation from an average yield of 3.81 t/ha
Bean YEN
Bean yield
- GOLD: William Dakin of Northumberland, Independent entry 8.15 t/ha
- SILVER: John Seed of Dunns, Supported entry 7.38 t/ha
% of potential bean yield
- GOLD: Richard Budd of Kent, Sponsored by Origin Enterprise 64% of 11.48 t/ha
- SILVER: William Dakin of Northumberland, Independent entry 63% of 12.90 t/ha
Winter bean yield stability
- GOLD: Richard Budd of Kent 14.50% deviation from an average yield of 7.29 t/ha
Spring bean yield stability
- GOLD: Andrew Gentle of West Sussex 13.60% deviation from an average yield of 6.51 t/ha
The YEN particularly seeks to celebrate innovators, through its YEN innovator of the year awards:
- Tim Lamyman of Worlaby Farms & Richard Budd of Stevens Farm (Hawkhurst) Ltd
For their innovative ideas and use of data and trials for enhancing yield, nutrient management and crop sustainability.
