Wheat quality is bearing up well in the middle and east of the country, but crops further west and north are starting to deteriorate.

“Where most of the wheat is grown quality is pretty good,” said Simon Ingle of Grainfarmers.

“But the bulk of the wet weather has come from the west side and Hagbergs there are deteriorating.”

Mr Ingle reckoned harvest was about 50-60% complete in East Anglia, and 70% done in Kent, but only around 20% through further west.

“If the drier weather stays until the weekend I think a lot of farmers will get themselves squared up in the East.”

With so much of the crop having to be dried, harvest pressure in terms of sales and movement was not really a problem. “Demand for trucks might peak next week,” he said.

Although wheat prices were still drifting along with the US market, the outlook remained positive due to having a milling quality exportable surplus rather than having to compete in the feed grade sector.