What should I do if unseasonal rain is forecast just before harvest?

If the crop is mature or close to it and reliable rain is forecast in two or three days, harvest early and protect the produce rather than risk it lying in the rain. Once you see a rain warning at harvest, act fast. If the crop has reached or nearly reached maturity, advance the harvest and bring the produce to a covered, dry place. Arrange tarpaulin sheets and dry storage before the rain, not during it. If the grain is still a bit moist, spread it thin and dry it as soon as the weather clears to avoid mould and sprouting, which both cut your price. Do not heap wet grain, as it heats and spoils. For crops already cut and lying in the field, cover the windrows or stack and raise them off wet ground. If only light rain is forecast and the crop is not yet mature, it may be safer to wait, since forcing an immature harvest also lowers quality. Use the 3 to 5 day forecast and your KVK advisory to judge how heavy and how certain the rain is, and keep tarpaulins ready every harvest season.