Harvest is going disastrously at Lour Farms, Ladenford, Angus, with endless rain proving horribly similar to last year.

A further 7mm of rain today (20 August) meant the combine would be under wraps again, said Mike Cumming.

He managed to cut 18ha (45 acres) of oilseed rape yesterday, after almost a week of being rained off.

“It’s just horrendous – I’m up to the top of my boots in mud. It is absolutely saturated – it’s like trying to combine in October.”

The remaining 20ha (50 acres) of rapeseed had been desiccated and was now starting to shed, he said. “It won’t stand any more wind.”

Few people had started spring barley in the area, and prospects for the 238ha (500 acres) of Oxbridge, Optic and a high nitrogen variety were dire, said Mr Cumming.

“They’re not spoiling at the moment but I don’t know when it’s going to clear up.”

Winter barley performed reasonably well, although Saffron yielded about 1.5t/ha (0.6t/acre) less than Sequel. “It’s not going to get a second chance.”

The 133ha (330 acres) of winter wheat looked fine, and was still a little way off ripening. “It’s in no danger at the moment.”

The farm’s new continuous flow dryer was likely to be in constant use once the combine got rolling again, he added.