What does England's worst harvest mean for food prices in Scotland?

Is this year’s harvest, the worst on record?

For many places across the UK, it is.

The Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit say the country’s harvest has hit a historic low because of drought conditions in England.

While parts of Scotland have seen more favourable conditions for growing, economists warn that won’t be enough to fend off rising food prices.

Paul Allan who owns Murdoch Allan Bakery in Aberdeenshire fears bread prices could rise.

“The drought down south will affect milling wheat availability,” he said.

“Harvest locally is looking very good, but I think as you go further south where there’s drought conditions, we could very well see an increase in prices for our milling wheat.”

England is on course for its worst harvest ever as the Met Office say 2026 was the warmest on record.

Parts of eastern Scotland have been dry too, with half as much rainfall as would usually be expected for July. But overall, the yields are much better than those seen down south.

Oliver Pirie farms with his father near Cumniestown, Aberdeenshire.

He said: “Last year was the driest harvest I’d ever seen. This year, the moisture is good so far with the crop.

“But there is some rain ahead, and fuel costs for drying are still very high.”

Some crops across the UK are more affected than others this year.

The potato industry body, GB Potatoes, say yields will likely be down when they’re harvested in the coming weeks.

Hot temperatures are also affecting salad production and limiting imports from Europe, where growers are facing similar conditions.

Aberdeenshire accounts for more than 20% of Scotland’s farming output, and this year the demand for cereal crops grown in the region is rising.

Jack Fowlie is a grain specialist at Harbro.

He said: “We’re going to be transporting wheat and barley from Scotland into England, various parties are looking at this option.

“This is to fill the demand that’s just not been satisfied by local markets down there.

“Going forward, Scotland will play more of a part if these weather patterns stay the same.”

The Scottish harvest isn’t quite finished. Some are just beginning, so it’ll be a few weeks yet before farmers know for certain what their total yields are like.

But with yields down across large parts of the UK and Europe, consumers are warned they could face higher food prices in the months ahead.