The British summer never fails to catch us out during harvest. One minute it’s bright sunshine and the combines are kicking up dust, the next minute it’s engines off. Rain stops play.

Whatever the weather though, the harvest photos are always striking as these picks from our gallery show.

Come rain or come shine the work goes on as farmers race to beat the weather.

See also: Photos – harvest 2015 from the skies

It’s almost time to choose the harvest cover photo. Don’t miss your chance to take part in the competition and get your photo on the cover of Farmers Weekly magazine. Upload your photos to the Harvest 2015 gallery.

The warmth to swell the grain

© Alan Hopps

I do like to be beside the seaside

Old Cullen Farms combining spring barley at Findochty (pronounced by the locals as Finechty) with the Moray Firth in the background. Photo uploaded by Odds against

Kicking up dust

A Lexion 770 combining in Great Munden. Photo uploaded by NickBay

Sunshine and the Whipsnade lion

Harvesting spring barley in front of the Whipsnade lion. Photo by J Taylor Photography

Pot of gold

“Guess what happens next?” asks Natash. Rain, we guess. Photo uploaded by Natash.

There’s a storm brewin’

Photo uploaded by Hitch

Gathering bales up as storm clouds loom

Photo uploaded by Mxu 115 driver

Beating the rain

Photo uploaded by Jackflash

Stormy skies over wheat

Photo uploaded by Quadtrak