Wheat harvest is only about 30-35% complete, and quality is starting to suffer in places.

“It is very frustrating,” said Masstock agronomist David Neale. “Some wheat is going grey and I should think that quality is on the move.

“It is very concerning, and the forecast this week is catchy to say the least. But until we get the crop off after the rain we won’t know.”

Camgrain members had cut 95% of their Group 1 and 2 milling wheats, but 50,000t of Group 3 and 4 wheats were left to cut, said store manager Philip Darke.

“Everything so far has got big Hagbergs, but what is left out there is at serious risk of losing Hagberg.”

Farmers should do their utmost to keep good quality milling wheat separate from feed wheat this year, warned David Sheppard, managing director of Gleadell Agriculture.

“Much of the wheat combined to date is of good quality and will be needed at some stage this season at good premiums over feed.

“We strongly urge farmers to do their utmost to keep wheat already in the barn separate from whatever is combined the next time you are able to access fields.”

In Yorkshire, farmers had cut about half their wheat, and yields were extremely variable, said independent agronomist Patrick Stephenson.

“We’ve had some very big yields and we’ve had some very average yields – it just depends how deep the soil is.

“I would think the wheat is nicely mature now, so after this week it will start to lose quality.”

Harvest in Scotland was looking worryingly similar to last year’s wash out – but quality remained solid and better prices were keeping farmers’ spirits up.

Independent agronomist Allen Scobie said all the winter barley and most of the rape was now cut in the Dundee area.

“Some people have started spring barley and the odd bit of wheat. I haven’t seen any wheat sprouting yet – but I wouldn’t like to see this rain go on for a week or 10 days more.”

Spring barley harvest was about 10-15% through in the Angus area, according to Trevor Harriman at Scotgrain.

“The quality is fine, but yields are light, as we had expected for the early crops. Nothing has come to harm in the rain because it’s only just fit.”