FARMERS must be wondering when the weather is going to return to normal – if there is a 'normal' these days?

It just seems to be one things after another, especially for livestock farmers already reeling from a horrendous 2017. This year has been no better and the much-looked for 'early spring', is a long gone hope.

On the financial side, it's all about added cost. Cows and sheep are in sheds sheltering from yet another blast of winter this week, when they should be out and about in the search of some grass. That means there's a high demand and added cost of bringing in feed and fodder for them.

Then, there are the losses as highlighted on our front page last week and by our Farm View columnist, Jim Walker, on this page. There must be long term consequences for the industry from all of this and a relatively strong sheep trade for finished stock will have done little to dispel the gloom.

The much vaunted 'weather panel' so gloriously heralded when it was launched last year, appears to be sheltering from the storm too, as barely a cheap has been heard from behind its barricades. If ever there was a time for this ScotGov-appointed panel to come good, then it must surely be this week after yet more bad weather.

This winter is seemingly relentless – and so will the bills to be paid once the last of the snow melts. There is going to be a long period of pain in 2018, not just amongst farmers, but from those who service them.

And that's without mentioning the B-word!

Thank you

THANK you to the many people who have supported our drive, in conjunction with NFU Scotland and the NSA, to have tougher action taken on those irresponsible dog owners who allow their 'pets' to savage farmed livestock.

It is heartening to hear from so many how much you appreciate this move to highlight what appears to be a growing problem. While Police Scotland's official figures actually show a decline in the number of cases of sheep worrying being reported, both we at The Scottish Farmer and NFU Scotland are confident that there is an element of under-reporting from farmers fed up from reporting such incidents, and then little or no action taken – especially when cases hit the courts.

Alongside our #TakeALead compaign, we are also undertaking a survey at http://www.thescottishfarmer.co.uk/takealeadsurvey/ in which we hope to ascertain just how much goes unreported. Already the trend shows it is well under-reported and the losses largely unclaimed for.