Mounting snow combined with arctic weather conditions are already eating into valuable feed stores with many fodder merchants reporting an unprecedented demand which, if the weather does not improve soon, could result in the vast majority of Scottish hay being sold out by the end of January.

Furthermore, with demand soaring to an unprecedented level, prices have soared to new heights, with a shortage of good quality hay selling at more than £100 per tonne delivered while barley straw falls just short of that at £90 per tonne delivered.

“Last year we were selling good hay at £120-£125 per tonne delivered, but this year prices have already risen to £130 for quality 4 x 4 round bales which is the highest it has ever been at this time of year,” said Stanley Johnston, Perth.

“Barley straw was £75-£80 per tonne delivered last year, but it is also up to £90 per tonne and there is little wheat straw available. Fodder will be very scarce by the spring and prices even dearer.”

Root crops, he said are also proving difficult to source as many remain frozen in the ground, but turnips and carrots available are making £12/tonne and £10-£12/tonne ex-farm, respectively.

The only bargain to be had appears to be potatoes, which are significantly cheaper on the year at £6-£10/tonne ex-farm.

On a similar vein, John McVicar, Kirriemuir, added that the overwhelming demand for hay is widespread, with people coming onto the market that had never had to purchase fodder at this time of year before, with the result that supplies are tightening especially for good quality hay of which there was little made last year.

“You can’t buy good quality hay below £100 per tonne ex-farm so it can be quite a good bit more delivered, and because there was little straw baled last year, barley straw is making £90+ per tonne delivered with wheat straw £5-£10 per tonne less.”

Such is the demand for hay – that one Perthshire merchant believes supplies could be sold out by the end of the month.

“We are getting new buyers from all over. Farmers in all parts are looking for extra fodder – there’s been a 75% increase in demand on the year, so I would expect all hay to be spoken for by the end of January if the weather doesn’t improve.”

However, one of the biggest problems is that while demand soars, merchants are finding it increasingly difficult to deliver as the majority of B class roads remain unsalted and inaccessible to big artic lorries.

Another growing trend of real concern to merchants is that several buyers new to their books are not paying for delivered feed.