Growers are eagerly watching weather forecasts for news of some much-needed rain.
East Lothian farmer Willie Thomson, who chairs NFU Scotland’s combinable crops committee, said growers were dealing with the impact of a prolonged dry period and crops were in need of moisture.
“Arable farmers are always exposed to the vagaries of the weather in Scotland.
“But the good news is that all crops for harvest this autumn have now been planted and a bit more of the recent rain will give newly-sown crops the kick-start they need,” said Mr Thomson.
He said getting crops in the ground had not been easy, but growers had risen to the challenge.
“The weather has flipped from being too wet through the autumn and winter to too dry this spring,” he said.
“But we have adapted, higher costs around preparing the ground and seed beds have been taken on, and cropping plans have been changed.”
He said it was vital all parts of the arable supply chain, including distilleries and breweries, were fully operational as soon as is safely possible once Covid-19 restrictions are eased.
Growers eagerly watching forecasts for much-needed rain
