THE WEATHER is often the bane of farm life.

Yet, this last week must surely have tested the patience of the steadiest of farmers.

With 314.4 mm of rain, or 12.3 inches falling in 24 hours in the North-west of England, which caused rivers in southern Scotland and Borders region to burst their banks, ruin bridges and close roads – with the obvious devastation around Cockermouth, as illustrated on all the TV news – making the headlines.

This rainfall was the most since records began in 1914 and quoted as only ever happening once in 1000 years. In South-east Scotland, we have recorded rainfall for 19 out of the 23 days so far in November – that’s totalling 105mm or four inches. But, for this part of the Borders there has only been some localised flooding, with no significant damage to winter-sown crops.

In fact, many crops in the eastern Border are as green and healthy as they have ever been. But, there must be great sympathy for those who have seen wide swathes of crops and even land, disappear.