Farmers will be clearing up the last of the winter wheat in the East and South of England this weekend, but showers continue to hamper progress elsewhere.

John Beslee finished combining winter wheat at Hook Green Farm, Southfleet, Kent, yesterday (20 August), leaving just winter beans to cut.

Wheat and spring barley yields had been pleasing, with good milling and malting quality to boot, he said.

But in Scotland showery weather meant Jim Whiteford had only managed to cut 11ha (26 acres) of spring barley since Monday.

Yields and quality had been excellent so far. “But we are in desperate need of good weather to get on with the job.”

Rain had also kept Meurig Raymond’s combine under wraps for the past two days in Wales.

But harvest was generally progressing well, and yields had been pleasing, he said. Harvest was about halfway through in the area, with very little wheat or spring barley cut yet.

In Berkshire, wheat yields were proving very disappointing at Charlie Edgeley’s Kensham Farm.

With mostly continuous wheat, the crops had suffered from terrible take-all this year, compounding problems of late establishment and a dry spring, he said.

Further North, in Yorkshire, Caley Sackur was combining wheat today, and was pleased with his harvest so far.

Harvest was between two-thirds and three-quarters through in the area, although one neighbour had recently finished, he added.