As weather conditions approach full-on drought by Irish standards, The Dealer came across some unhappy livestock in the sunny southeast at the weekend.

Snails due to be turned out in April were still indoors. Ireland’s burgeoning snail farming industry relies on spring forage rape to graze its herds (flocks?), and there simply has not been enough rain for the crop to grow.

Judging by the forecast, the high-value molluscs will stay in moisture-controlled polytunnels for another while.

You can make up to €20,000/acre from snail farming in Ireland, don’t you know.