ADAS data shows 90% of UK wheat crops are nutritionally limited

Data from ADAS has revealed that around 90% of UK wheat crops are still nutritionally limited, despite evidence that wheat yields of 15 t/a are achievable across the UK. These findings highlight the significant opportunity growers have to improve nutrient management and crop performance, particularly as climate variability continues to influence nutrient uptake and grain filling.

‘The reality is, most yield loss is invisible without grain analysis,’ said Alli Arden, NRM’s Agronomy Manager. ‘The data highlights a new risk: climate stress is shortening the grain-filling period and disrupting nutrient uptake. The key question for growers is no longer how much fertiliser they should be applying. It’s: what’s actually holding crops back and preventing them from reaching their yield potential? NRM’s GrainCheck service helps farmers answer this question.’

Grain analysis identifies which nutrient is limiting yield, confirming how effectively a crop converts nutrients into yield under stress. Testing not only reveals how crops performed during challenging weather conditions, but also how farming systems can adapt nutrient strategies and build resilience to better handle future extremes.

‘As weather patterns become increasingly unpredictable, understanding nutrient use efficiency is becoming an essential part of nutrient management planning,’ continued Arden. ‘Grain analysis not only helps explain why yields may have fallen short of expectations, but also helps growers make more targeted fertiliser plans for the following season.’

Turning grain analysis into practical nutrient management

NRM’s innovative grain analysis service, GrainCheck, helps growers measure nutrient offtake and evaluate the effectiveness of their crop nutrition strategy.

Suitable for winter and spring cereals, GrainCheck:

• Gives growers a good indication on how well they are managing nutrients for future adjustments
• Identifies hidden nutrient limitations that may have restricted crop yield or quality
• Allows farmers to use NRM’s nutrient offtake calculator alongside soil analysis results to adjust next season’s nutrient management plans accordingly, if offtake levels are smaller or larger than expected
• Comes with specialist insights by our team of expert agronomists
• Helps to finetune the following crops’ nitrogen requirement and next season’s fertiliser inputs, if used alongside soil and plant tissue testing

Every GrainCheck order includes a FREE sampling kit, containing everything needed to collect and submit grain samples after harvest.

With harvest in full swing, now is the ideal time to order a free sample kit so you’re ready to assess this season’s crop and use the results to improve nutrient management decisions for next year. Contact your agronomist or advisor or contact NRM directly for your kit now.

Watch our insightful GrainCheck videos here to learn more about NRM’s innovative grain analysis service and how to interpret your reports.