Farmers in the West Midlands have about 30% of their wheat still to cut, according to Julian Walker of Shropshire Grain.

Further rain today (26 August) would continue to frustrate efforts to get combining, and milling wheat Hagbergs were starting to fall.

“Quality is better than last year, but it’s not top grade. The Hagbergs are not as high as we would want – and where they are borderline, with only a £20 milling wheat premium, there could be a lot to lose on fallbacks.”

Although most of the large scale farmers had almost finished, the smaller producers still had a lot of wheat to cut, said Mr Walker.

“Yields are outstanding – a lot would say, if they’re honest, that they’re not far behind last year.”

But with prices so low, very few were selling, he added. “It’s probably the quietest August we’ve had for years. The volumes going through are very low at the moment.”