Dear Readers,

We are now two months into 'lockdown' in Scotland and it would appear that this colossal effort by everyone to comply has at least allowed the number of cases of Covid-19 to turn a corner.

That's the better news. The bad news is that this pandemic has shocked the life out of the economic well-being of the nation and will have consequences for all.

It is our pledge to you, the readers of The Scottish Farmer, that we will remain resolute in producing your weekly diet of topical news, extrovert columnists, interesting features and Business advice that will allow your farming enterprises to work their way through the very many aftershocks that will be felt across the country.

To that end and with due cognisance to the fact that some people have had difficulty in either obtaining in the shops, or receiving their edition of The SF via Royal Mail, can I reassure you that we are doing our utmost to service you. In fact, we are producing this week's edition a day early to try and factor out those difficulties – so be on the lookout for it in the shops from tomorrow, Thursday (May 21) and in the mail from then on.

However, a small proportion of those who receive by mail are still experiencing late delivery and so I would urge those in this position to take advantage of our free offer of a concurrent digital package which will actually allow you even earlier sight of each week's issue (from very early on a Thursday morning).

Subscribers should have received notification of how to sign up for the free digital access, but if you have not, then please e-mail farmer.subs@thescottishfarmer.co.uk for information on how to do so.

Can I thank you all, readers and advertisers, for your loyalty through these testing times and please remember that this is your newspaper, as much as it is ours,

Yours

Ken Fletcher

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