Cutting it fine? Why we are urging farmers to order early for Harvest 2026

With the 2026 harvest season fast approaching, we are urging the UK agricultural community to prioritise machinery maintenance and secure lubricant stocks early.

We want to warn our customers of severe supply disruptions currently being experienced by manufacturers reliant on Group III base stocks from the Middle East. These stocks are critical for manufacturing lubricants for agricultural machinery.

“While fuel price increases are immediate and visible, the effect on lubricants is more complex and potentially more disruptive,” our MD Nigel Bottom explained. “Lubricants are derived not only from base oils linked to crude, but also from highly specialised additives and chemical feedstocks. These supply chains are heavily dependent on Middle Eastern production and global shipping routes. Industry analysis highlights that the real risk lies in the ongoing potential of 3-to-6-month disruption to additive and chemical supply chains, not just crude oil pricing.”

In practical terms, we caution that this volatility translates to continued increased raw material costs, extended lead times, greater price fluctuations for finished lubricants, and potential shortages of certain specialist products. For sectors entirely reliant on maximum uptime, such as agriculture during harvest, this creates a significant operational risk.

Consequently, we are advising businesses across the UK to take a proactive approach to lubricant management. With oils and associated products already facing surging upward price pressures, reviewing current lubricant specifications, usage patterns, and stock levels ahead of peak seasonal demand is essential.

High Demands for Harvest

Harvest conditions place tractors, combines, balers, and telehandlers under continuous strain in hot, dust-choked environments. We want to highlight that modern maintenance goes far beyond a standard oil top-up, requiring a targeted approach to fluid choice:

• Engine & Hydraulic Reliability: High-performance engine oils are vital for maintaining component reliability under heavy loads, while premium hydraulic fluids keep lifting, steering, and braking systems responsive.

• The Power of Specialist Grease: Standard multi-purpose greases can fail under extreme pressure. High-temperature, water-repellent specialist greases are highly recommended to seal out abrasive harvest dust from bearings and pivot points.

• Cooling & Emissions Stability: Long running hours put cooling systems under immense pressure. Ensuring radiators are maintained with the correct specification coolants prevents premature engine wear, while securing high-quality AdBlue stocks prevents costly electronic performance overrides.

Free Workshop Support Launched

To help farming businesses and workshop teams identify potential points of failure before they cause a breakdown in the field, our technical team has launched a comprehensive, free Handy Harvest Maintenance Checklist.

The resource is completely free to download for all farmers, contractors, and workshop managers looking to help their fleets hit the ground running this season.

[Click here to view our Handy Harvest Maintenance Checklist]

We always advise getting the recommended lubricants for individual machine specifications. As agricultural specialists, we offer a free, personal Technical Lubricant Survey for customer fleets, helping to rationalise and cut down on unnecessary products for the machinery and vehicles you use.

“These are unprecedented times in terms of pricing and supply challenges for farmers, and the whole allied to the agriculture industry,” Nigel added. “We are here to help and advise all businesses to think carefully about what they will need over the weeks ahead.”

For more information or advice, please get in touch with us: withamgroup.co.uk