A – is for abattoirs. The year 2018 has so far seen the closure of the abattoir in Elgin as well as Orkney’s only abattoir. The main avenue for pig slaughter in Scotland was shut last year with the fire at Brechin abattoir.

B – is for bans. An extended ban on the use of neonicotinoids was approved earlier this year by EU member states. The new rules are set to come into force later this year.

C – is for convergence. The review into the £160m in CAP funding owed to Scottish hill farmers continues to rumble on with the announcement that the review has been delayed.

D – is for DNA. Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) is currently undertaking a study looking into the feasibility of DNA tracing in order to guarantee the authenticity of Scotch Beef PGI.

E – is for the environment. Farmers are finding new ways to ensure their businesses are environmentally friendly and sustainable, with mounting pressure on farmers to reduce emissions while increasing production.

F – is for fallen stock. With the prolonged wet and cold weather throughout winter, many farmers suffered heavy losses of their livestock. The Scottish Government announced a fund of £250,000 to help farmers offset the cost of having fallen stock retrieved.

G – is for gross margin. Showing hard work pays off. One year on from the start of the Farm Profit Programme (FPP), the gross margin was up £115/cow across the focus farms.

H – is for help. Rural charity RSABI has been working tirelessly to help farmers and their families through the difficulties and hardship that the long winter brought to many farms. Its helpline is available 365 days a year for those who need someone to talk to.

I – is for in-depth. Farmers Journal Scotland has undertaken various in-depth looks at farms across the country and policies affecting farmers over the past year. Including examining those farms that are trying out new environmental initiatives and discovering that, for example, one in three cattle inspections incur a penalty.

J – is for Joyce Campbell. Farmers Journal Scotland has been helping to celebrate women in agriculture with a series focusing on women involved in the industry. In particular, we spoke to chair of the Women in Agriculture taskforce, Joyce Campbell, about her work and the role women play in the sector.

K – is for Kintyre. This year saw First Milk announce the sale of its creameries on Arran and in Campbeltown. First Milk said the decision was made to allow more focus to be put on the development of other major creameries.

L – is for lynx. The debate on the possible re-introduction of lynx to Scotland is continuing. With concerns raised over the potential impact on sheep flocks, as well as the impact on the Scottish wildcat.

M – is for more dairy cows. There are 5,622 more dairy cows but 39 fewer herds in Scotland at the start of 2018, compared with 2017. The average herd size has risen by 14 to 195 cows, with the total number of cows at 178,928 – the highest number since 1997.

N – is for new entrants. Farmers Journal Scotland has caught up with various new entrants to farming and looked at some of the challenges facing new entrants, including access to land and to funding support.

O – is for one year and beyond. As Farmers Journal Scotland celebrates the work carried out over the past year, we are committed to seeking out new ways to help farmers become more profitable.

P – is for programmes. Farming has been a popular topic on TV more recently, with various programmes looking at farming life across the UK. We interviewed Landward’s executive producer to discuss what it is that the public enjoys about farming.

Q – is for questions. With Brexit negotiations continually ongoing, there are many questions still up in the air for the agriculture sector. Many farmers and organisations across the industry are calling for clear answers to be given, allowing farmers to know what they are aiming for post-Brexit.

R – is for Royal Highland Show. As the Royal Highland Show celebrates its 178th year, it continues to be one of the most important dates of the year for many farmers and farming organisations alike.

S – is for straw. The lack of straw and the subsequent rise in prices has been felt by many farmers throughout this year and at the end of last year.

T – is for three-crop rule. Following on from the wet winter, Scotland, among other countries, has been granted a much-welcomed exemption to the three-crop greening requirement for this year.

U – is for union. NFU Scotland has continued its hard work this year on many diverse projects, including providing evidence on the high standards of the live export of livestock in Scotland. Last year Andrew McCornick was elected as president of the union.

V – is for vets. We have been speaking to various vets more recently, to try and understand why there might be shortages of vets working across Scotland, as well as looking at some of the diseases and pests that farmers need to be aware of, such as liver fluke.

W – is for winter weather. The past winter was long, cold and wet across the country, with many farmers suffering fodder shortages, fallen stock, little or delayed grass growth, declining mental health and wasted milk, as well as other difficulties which the Beast from the East brought to farms this winter.

X – is for xtra LFASS funding. At the end of last year the Scottish Government abandoned cuts of £12m to the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (LFASS) grants for 2018. Farmers and crofters began to receive LFASS payments at the start of April this year.

Y – is for young farmers. The year 2018 is the Year of Young People and earlier this year we ran a series looking at the Young Farmer of the Year candidates. The winner will be announced later this month, coinciding with the Royal Highland Show.

Z – is for zero. The number of weeks where we haven’t learned something new here.