The present disclosure provides a method and apparatus for use in a flue-cured barn. The apparatus comprises a combustion chamber for burning fuel; an exhaust pipe for allowing combustion gases to leave the combustion chamber; and a fan for drawing the combustion gases along the exhaust pipe away from the combustion chamber and for generating a negative pressure within the combustion chamber and exhaust pipe compared with the pressure outside the apparatus.

The dryer comprises a dryer receptacle having an inner space for receiving herbaceous material, an access assembly providing access to the inner space of the dryer receptacle, and a heating system comprising at least one access heating element for actively heating the access assembly. The access assembly comprises at least one of an inlet conveyor for supplying herbaceous material into the inner space of the dryer receptacle and an outlet conveyor for removing herbaceous material from the inner space of the dryer receptacle. The at least one access heating element comprises a conveyor heating element incorporated into the conveyor.