Most of Scotland’s livestock farmers by now should have ample, excellent quality forage stored, either as silage, haylage, and even some super smelling hay secured. I have seen plenty of absolutely beautiful smelling winter keep on several farms.
By the time you read this column, there will be many silage pits brimming full and maybe some wondering if they are going to have enough for next winter if they do not have a good next cut!
The most important decision to be made next week for Scottish agriculture, is the re-appointment of Fergus Ewing as our rural minister after the election on Thursday.
Writing this, the good news was that it was a beautiful sunny morning – unfortunately, the past week was the opposite, unlike how March came in, like a lamb.
Let’s get the history over first – last year’s new record rainfall was 50.25 inches, which is 1.25 inches higher than the previous record set in 2002.
Pen has gone to paper a bit earlier, due to various circumstances, not least Covid-19, plus the fact that if you are lucky with Royal Mail, you should receive this copy on the second day of the New Year!
During the first half of November, the world heaved a sigh of relief on two accounts – the defeat of The Donald by Joe Biden and the expectation of a Covid-19 vaccine.
TWO SUBJECTS dominate most conversations these days with farmers – Covid-19 and Brexit.
DARE I mention it? I have been asked so many times this past week about my rainfall that I have to report that as of September 12, it was 36-inches, or 92cm.
There are some good and not so good aspects to my thoughts this month – but one which has raised many questions in the past few days, is the weather.
