Crops are looking extremely well at J.V. Farming Ltd, Martinsdown, Dorchester, Dorset, but harvest is still at least a week away.

“We haven’t got any winter barley this year, so are waiting for the Catana rape,” said operations manager Tim Merry.

“It hasn’t been great harvesting weather this week, and I haven’t seen any barley cut around here yet.”

The 400ha (988 acres) of rape looked brilliant, he said. “On the back of one of the coldest winters and hottest, driest springs, it looks great.

“We’ve got nothing to complain about in Dorset, compared to farmers further east. The wheat looks fantastic, too. It’s all Scout and Einstein, and I think they will do equally well.”