Country diary: Harvest time has arrived - and it's three weeks earlier than 20 years ago | Colin Chappell

Brigg, Lincolnshire: It'll take six weeks to cut it all, starting with barley and likely ending with beans. Thank goodness the combine has air-conditioningThe crops have managed to survive winter flooding (almost) and two heatwaves, but another hot spell of weather is on the way as we embark on the enormous task of harvesting our crops.Winter barley for seed is usually first, followed by oilseed rape (OSR), then probably wheat. Beans are nearly always last to be cut, often in September, but even these are heading towards the exit now in early July. Harvest 20 years ago would start around the third week in July, but has crept forward by three weeks since then. Continue reading...