Combines have been rolling on apace in the drier weather, and many farmers hope to finish harvest by the weekend.

Wheat harvest was about 70% complete across England by Tuesday (31 August), and Hagbergs had dropped sharply this week, said Openfield’s Mark Worrell.

“Wheat quality is a mixed bag – we are very happy with the quality pre-rain, but post-rain it is very variable, depending on location and variety.”

In Kent, harvest was about 80% complete, according to Weald Granary director John Smith.

“Most of the wheat is in.” Over the weekend Hagbergs had dropped slightly, with hard milling wheat holding up better than soft varieties, he said.

Jonathan Tipples had finished harvest at Reed Court Farm, Marden, Kent, and yields had been about average.

“We finished a week ago – we were combining at 19-20% moisture just to get it in the shed.”

The Einstein had averaged 8.6t/ha (3.5t/acre). “The extraordinary thing is how close the second wheat yields were to the first.”

Spring barley quality was holding up well in Scotland, but yields were about 0.6t/ha (0.25t/acre) down, said Bruce Ferguson at Aberdeen Grain.

“This period of settled weather will make a huge difference to us – it will hopefully preserve the quality.

“A lot of the spring barley wasn’t ready up here, so it has been alright so far.”

In Gloucestershire, Ian Branstone was combining today at Bourton Hill Farm, Bourton-on-Water, but wheat quality had deteriorated.

“Yields have been massively inconsistent – in this one field the meter is ranging from 11t/ha (4.5t/acre) to 6t/ha (2.4t/acre), where it is heavy at the bottom and brashy on the top of the hill.”

Beans in the southern half of England had been badly affected by Bruchid beetle, but those in the North and Scotland should be better off, said Salvador Potter at the Processors and Growers Research Organisation.

Crops in the South had up to 50% infestation, with an average of 20-30% damage. But cooler weather further north meant later crops should be better quality.