James Fuggle is hoping to start combining winter barley at Chessons Farm, Wadhurst, Sussex, this week.

“We were going to start on Friday (15 July), but it wasn’t fit. It rained over the weekend, and we just need the sun to shine now.”

With no oilseed rape this year, Mr Fuggle just had the Cassia winter barley to cut, before moving on to wheat.

“The barley looks decent, but you just can’t tell until you get the combine into it.”

The Met Office was forecasting further unsettled weather this week, with only limited bright and sunny spells.