Rain has halted harvest nearly completely in the UK. Some areas have been hit hard by heavy downpours, most noticeably in the south-east and east of England.

With these heavy downpours, most combining will have to be stopped for at least two days, but as unsettled weather continues to be forecast, this delay could be longer. 

Oilseed rape continues to be variable as nearly all farmers are underway or have finished combining the crop.

Reports from east and south England are rather poor, while north England and Scotland are experiencing more positive results.

Many farmers are becoming anxious by the threat of falling hagbergs in wheat, as much of the wheat is nearly ready or ready.

Paul Wilson  has harvested 188 ha (465 acres) of wheat on his farm in Warwickshire with good results, despite high moisture levels before rain.

“I harvested the Malacca at 26% moisture, while nearby farmers were questioning my sanity, but in the end it was the best thing we could have done.”

Mr Wilson has also found traces of orange blossom midge in his Malacca, this wasn’t as bad as first feared.

“Earlier in the year I went to look at the crop and I was worried to death – it looked like it could cause some serious damage.”

Carl Juhl  combined 40 ha (100 acres) of Claire with good results before the weather halted his progress. Yields were at 10 t/ha (4.05 t/acre) on his farm in Essex.

Durham farmer Michael Manners, and Martin Boulden  from Kent, are frustrated by the bad weather.

Mr Manners brands the conditions “desperate” while Mr Boulden says the poor weather “just never seems to end.”

Chris Bean  from UAP in Kent said a combination of factors led to the variable oilseed rape harvest.

He also warns farmers that wet weather might affect the establishment of next year‘s crop as well as this year‘s harvest.

According to FWi weather services , Wales and the southern half of England will have dry sunny spells in the morning.

Showers will advance from the south-west in the afternoon.

Southern Scotland and northern England will be cloudy with outbreaks of rain while northern Scotland will be windy but dry.