Drought bringing autumn harvest two weeks early, Waitrose says

Farmers that supply supermarket are already harvesting wheat, oilseed rape and oats amid dry conditions

Harvests are coming two weeks early because of drought, Waitrose has said, as it prepares to stock autumnal fruit in summer.

Farmers that supply the supermarket are harvesting wheat, oilseed rape, oats and malting barley a fortnight before they generally would, according to the supermarket. A lack of rainfall coupled with the hot weather has caused the crops to race through their growing stages and mature early.