Harvest continues to progress between the showers, but with so much wheat having to be dried, very little is coming to the market.

“No-one can keep up with the drying on farm,” said Grainfarmers’ Mike Fowler. He reckoned about 40% of the crop was still in the field in Hampshire and Sussex.

Harvest was about finished in Kent, 50% complete in Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire, 70% done in Shropshire and 80% finished in Warwickshire, said traders.

In Scotland, James Grant-Suttie had made a start on winter wheat at Balgone Farms, and was pleased with yields so far.

Fine weather last week meant he finished off the spring barley, which had scraped in for malting despite some sprouting in the ear.

Paul Temple finished harvest near Driffield, Yorkshire, on Monday (1 September) and was very pleased with yields.

“I’m not going to put any yield estimates on the wheat until it’s gone – we’ve got days and days of drying ahead of us,” he said.

“But we have been exceptionally pleased with both the Alchemy and the Claire.”

Harvest was almost finished at Clive Apps’ farm near Romney, Kent, after a disastrous combine breakdown and frustrating weather.

“Nothing has gone quite according to plan this year,” he said.

In Hampshire, Tim Sykes was about 80% through harvest, and quality was holding up well.

“The quality has been fantastic so far – it’s surprising how there’s been no sprouting – it’s certainly holding on in there,” he said.

Mr Sykes had drilled 75% of his rape for next year, and just had the wheat and 18ha (45 acres) of linseed to finish combining.