Showers have halted any possible harvesting for Alistair Pinkerton of Blackbirds Farm, Aldenham in Hertfordshire.  “I just can’t get started – it’s frustrating,” he said.

With 60ha (150 acres) of oilseed rape (mainly Castille) and 52ha (130 acres) of winter oats to start on, it remained a matter of waiting. He was worried about his winter oats, he said. “It will be very serious if it stays wet.”

Mr Pinkerton said the forecast for the next five days was changeable. No other combines were moving  in the locality, he reported. It was just a case of waiting for the weather.

*Harvest Highlights 2007 is sponsored by RAGT