Weather favours harvest for farms

Thousands of pounds worth of crops farmers feared would be ruined have been saved thanks to a break in the summer washout weather.

Wrottesley Lodge Farm, Albrighton, looked set to lose £70,000 two weeks ago as constant downpours meant its wheat, barley and oats were too wet to harvest.

But thanks to a spell of good weather, the Johnston brothers, who have run the farm for 40 years, were able to bring in their crops.

A fortnight ago it was feared Britain would have its worst harvest in 40 years as more than a quarter of the country's grain lay in waterlogged ground.

But food prices could still soar on bread, cakes, biscuits and flour because of the harvest as much of the country's crops are not of the right quality.

John Johnston, 59, said today he and brother Jim, 57, had spent about £10,000 on drying nearly all of their crops.

And he said they had been working until 11pm each day over the last week to bring everything in.

He said: "We would normally stop working at 9pm, but we carried on to 11pm.

"We had to dry 97 per cent of the harvest. At £7 a tonne and 1,500 tonnes it was one of the most expensive harvests we have ever had.

"Now we have to catch up because we are late in sowing the crops for next year."

Michael Madders, from the National Farmers Union, said: "The problem is, if wheat is left out in the fields, there is a reduction in its quality and value, and, the crops will start to rot."