The Government is not currently considering proposals for a “fodder aid” scheme, a spokesperson confirmed to Farmers Journal Scotland this week. This is despite the struggles caused by continuous wet weather over summer and autumn.

On Monday next week, NFU Scotland will be visiting its members in Ayrshire that have experienced difficulties with harvest, ploughing, planting and spreading slurry due to the weather.

“Changing weather patterns and extreme weather events are testing the resilience of Scotland’s farmers and crofters on a more regular basis than ever before,” NFU Scotland’s chief executive Scott Walker said.

“This year’s prolonged wet weather has left many farmers across Scotland desperately short of forage, bedding and unable to access sodden ground.”

Scott was speaking after the first meeting of the Weather Advisory Panel on Tuesday 5 December. The panel, announced by Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy at AgriScot, is designed to act as a taskforce for rapidly sharing information in the face of challenging weather conditions.

Storm Caroline

Meanwhile an area of low-pressure, named Storm Caroline, brought strong gales to parts of northern and western Scotland on Thursday this week.

As with any period of strong winds, the Met Office warned that there may be some short-term loss of power and effects on other services.

With the return of air from a northwesterly direction – with its origins in the Arctic – snow showers were expected to become increasingly frequent and heavy across northern Scotland during Thursday evening.