Richard Burt still had 20% of his wheat to cut at Rotherdale Farm, Throckmorton, Worcs, but he was better off than some in the area.

“It is horrendous – we have real problems with travelling in the fields in this area – in nearly any field there’s water lying on the surface.”

Wheat was sprouting in the field, and farmers still had about 30% to do in the area, said Mr Burt.

“It’s way too wet for the combines and the dryers to cope,” Cutting at 27-29% had caused all sorts of breakages, so he was now waiting for moisture contents to come down.

“I’m confident of getting the harvest – it would have to be really atrocious before we abandoned it.” However, some in the area were talking of topping wheat to get rid of it.

Yields at Rotherdale Farm had been excellent, and all the Solstice was of milling quality, despite slightly low proteins, said Mr Burt.

It had averaged 8.5-10.5t/ha (3.4-4.3t/acre). The Alchemy had produced a solid 10t/ha (4t/acre).

Mr Burt had managed to drill most of his rape after winter barley, but was now worried about doing further cultivations due to the wet conditions.

He had 243ha (600 acres) of wheat and 162ha (400 acres) of beans still to cut.

Crop: Winter wheat
Variety: Solstice
Area: 290ha (716 acres)
Yield: 8.5-10.5t/ha (3.4-4.3t/acre)

Variety: Alchemy
Area: 867ha (2141 acres)
Yield: 10t/ha (4t/acre)

Crop: Winter barley
Variety: Spectrum
Area: 165ha (408 acres)
Yield: 8.5-9t/ha (3.4-3.6t/acre)

Crop: Oilseed rape
Variety: Castille
Area: 172ha (425 acres)
Yield: 1.2-3.7t/ha (0.5-1.5t/acre)