AS MOST farmers have experienced, the UK has been hit by a deluge of wet weather in recent weeks, leading to frustration and a deterioration in crop quality.

Many will be relieved to hear that some much needed settled weather is forecast for the coming week.

This should bring the opportunity for farmers to finish, or at least make significant progress in what has so far been a very slow harvest.

Scots farmer Mike Cumming  is impressed with his Optic spring barley yielding 6.18 t/ha (2.5 t/acre) on his farm near Forfar, Angus. But says: “We‘re on a knife edge. We simply can‘t have any more rain.”

James Dean , in Wiltshire, grows Malacca, Claire, Soissons, Solstice and Einstein, saying they have all yielded roughly 9.88 t/ha (4 t/acre) with Einstein being the highest yielding so far.

“It‘s been an alright year so far, apart from the massive drying bill. It would definitely be nice if we could harvest at 16% moisture for a change.”

Whereas Philip Ashton in Lincolnshire  said: “Normally we would be panicking if we had an inch of rain and this year we‘ve had four times that amount.”

He is worried that with it being so late on the year, days are shortening and the dews are becoming heavier; wheat will have to be taken off the field very soon.

Essex farmer Tom Bradshaw  is hoping for at least five days dry weather to finish his remaining wheat and beans. He is fairly pleased with yields so far, but quality deterioration in standing and laid crops is a big concern.

Andrew Craig  says he‘s “been tootling along quietly” and if given a settled week, he will finish the harvest on his farm near Telford, Shrops.

While for Paul Cooper  “it‘s a bog in places” in Yorkshire. He has had 6.5 inches of rain so far but has still managed to cut 100ha (250 acres) of wheat.

According to FWi weather services there will be dry weather tomorrow (Aug 28) over most of the UK with only Western Scotland having chances of showers.