It's a race against the clock this afternoon as the Islay farmers race to get the harvest in  before the gale expected overnight. Already the winds are picking up and cloud cover looking more threatening. 10 combines are out - all but one of the whole island stock - the eleventh having blown it's engine yesterday in all the excitement. 12 Islay farms have grown barley for us this year. Ian Mckerroll has already got all his in as has Will Downie  and Mark French. Alistair Torrence, Gilby McCormick, Ivor Warren, Hunter Jackson and Peter McMillan are hurtling around the fields at a rate of knots - I can see them across the loch from here with Binos - as they race to beat the incoming Atlantic gale.

The weather next week looks to be pretty good for the unripe barley that still needs a few more days yet. And with yields higher than anticipated so far it is all looking encouraging - so far.