“Barley is still up around 18-19%, so everyone‘s still holding back.

“We‘re very behind where things stood last year.”

Wet and windy weather last week (July 5-9) has put the harvest in the area on hold, agrees independent fertiliser consultant Neil Taylor.

“It all looked as though things were going well and farmers around here have been getting excited.

“The crops are looking fit, but it‘s just been raining every day.”

There are also concerns over oilseed rape crops.

“Some of the rape needs desiccating, but contractors just can‘t get out in these high winds.”