Oilseed rape yield for Gloucestershire farmer Tim Morris had been severely affected by hedge mustard (Sisymbrium officinale). He said: “There has been a general epidemic in the area.”

He claimed some people in the area had sprayed Round-up (glyphosate) early on their crops, so managed to finish harvest the week before the rain. He sprayed his Winner oilseed rape later and had now been stopped by rain for seven days.

“We’ll be lucky to do 3t/ha, but that’s fairly normal for the Cotswolds.”

Mr Morris added his wheat crop looked better than average, and said everything would be ripe at the same time.