Continued settled weather has seen combines out across the country, and quality of crops cut after the rain is better than many expected.

Wheat harvest was about 65% complete, according to research by ADAS for the HGCA, and yields were 3-4% below the five-year average.

“Some sprouting in wet crops has been reported but it is not widespread,” said the report. “Most crops are still meeting minimum standards.”

In Wales, contractor Glynn Jones was about 80% through harvest near St Asaph, and yields had been generally pleasing.

“I’m trying to cut some peas today (2 September) and they are as flat as a pancake. They’re doing about 2.5t/ha (1t/acre) – and are full of wild oats which have taken them down.”

Andrew Maddever hoped to finish harvest at Hall Farm, Whetstead, Suffolk, tomorrow, and was disappointed with yields.

“We got all the Gallant and Solstice milling wheat before the rain, and it all made over 13% protein, 79kg/hl and more than 300 Hagberg.

“But I don’t think we’ll quite manage 8tha (3.2t/acre) across all the wheats.”

In Northern Ireland, John Best had enjoyed a fantastic harvest at Acton House Farm, Poyntzpass, Co. Armagh.

“It’s going very well – it’s been as good a harvest as we’ve had in 20 years. We’ve had great growing conditions and we should finish tomorrow, which is well ahead of normal.”

But in Cornwall, there had not been many highlights to Charlie Watson-Smyth’s harvest at Tregirls Farm, Padstow.

“We finished two days ago – we’ve had the driest year since 1976 and yields to correspond.

“Quality was fine – the bushelweights were good, it’s just the crops were uniformly thin.”