Yield Enhancement Networks for Cereal and Oilseed end on a high with a new OSR world record
Oilseed success celebrated
Oilseed success celebrated at the UK Yield Enhancement Network (YEN) Conference in Peterborough, with Lincolnshire grower Tim Lamyman re-claiming the world record for his 2025 oilseed rape yield of 7.7t/ha.
“The fact that three British OSR growers surpassed 7.5 t/ha during one of the driest growing seasons on record is a testament to their skill in exploiting weather extremes”, said ADAS Head of Crop Physiology Dr Pete Berry, adding that a warm Autumn in 2024 had set many OSR crops off to the ideal start:
“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 need to be ready to exploit them.”
Consistency in pulse yields commended
Pulse yields in 2025 were down on average due to the drought, but some farms still achieved incredible yields of 6.7 t/ha for peas and over 8t/ha for beans. Charlotte White, Senior Consultant at ADAS, was keen to commend those pulse growers who have achieved stable high yields over a run of years.
“Stability of pulse yields is one of the most sought-after performance metrics for farmers,” explained 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 has helped thousands of growers in the UK and North-West Europe to benchmark their crop performance and identify their yield potential.
YEN founder Prof. Roger Sylvester-Bradley, reflected:
“The YEN has proved hugely successful – by highlighting, creating and equipping a community of enthused growers and their supporters, by deducing the most successful growing conditions and the most telling metrics for each crop, and by crystallising the vital challenges that farmers, technologists and scientists must still resolve to close those big yield gaps.”
“Considering the UK Government’s mission to ‘spare land’ whilst still securing food supplies, we need to encourage, rather than deter, all these yield enhancement enthusiasts, to better understand the factors they can control and to minimise the impact of factors they cannot.”
Although this was the last 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.
Pulse growers interested in learning about maximising their crop’s potential can enter pea or bean YENs by contacting yen@adas.co.uk.
YEN Awards 2025 winners
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 16.9 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
Best Oilseed Yield (gross output – seed yield adjusted to a standard oil content)
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
- 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.
About the YEN
The principal aims of the YEN are to identify and support arable innovators to drive understanding of crop performance and inspire initiatives across the industry. Through its multiple sponsors, the YEN has increasingly provided a platform for effective communication and synergy between farms, industry and academia.
Since it was first founded in the UK, it has expanded internationally with YENs now in Canada, the US, and New Zealand.
A special thank you to the YEN sponsors in 2025: Askew & Barrett, BASF, Bayer, Dalton Seeds, Met Office, Lancrop Laboratories, NPZ UK, NFU, NIAB TAG, Rothamsted Research, The James Hutton Institute, The Andersons Centre, PGRO, Premium Crops, Senova, University of Lancaster, and University of Lincoln.
Visit The Yield Enhancement Network