'It's like trying to plant in concrete'...farmers fear driest spring in 100 years spells disaster
The unbroken sunshine that has delighted the public for weeks is fast becoming a 'disaster' for farmers who are struggling to grow crops in 'bone dry' earth.
Industry leaders warn that scorching conditions are creating serious, long-term challenges that could hit crucial Scottish industries ranging from whisky to forestry and dairy.
Andrew Connon, President of NFU Scotland, said: 'Scotland is facing one of its driest springs in recent memory and farmers are bracing for a tough summer ahead.
'Normally we'd expect this kind of weather in July, but we're seeing drought-like conditions hit in April and May.
'After a winter with barely any snow, soils are bone dry and unless we get proper, sustained rain soon, the consequences for food production could be severe.'
The alarm comes after Scotland recorded the driest start to the year since 1964.
From January to April the country only received 59 per cent of its long-term average rainfall, creating water scarcity across all of Scotland according to environment agency Sepa.
Dan Stroud, Operational Meteorologist at the Met Office, explained: 'So far, Spring has been abnormally dry and very sunny.
Rainfall throughout May so far has measured just 3.3ml, which is 5 per cent of the Scottish average of 19ml that we would expect for this month.'
Farmers said crops like potatoes and vegetables are struggling to push their foliage through baked and hardened soil, while wheat sown in the Autumn is producing small, shrivelled grains.
Tim Eagle, Scottish Conservative Party spokesman on Rural Affairs, said: 'This time of year is crucial for our crops but right now the soil is so dry, it is like trying to plant in concrete. If this carries on much longer, the effects on agriculture will be devastating.'
Campaigners add that not only are arable harvests under threat, but dry conditions now will also create food shortages for livestock and game later in the year.
Farmer and activist Jamie Blackett said: 'A lack of rain now means the risk of going short later on for those of us with livestock.
'We may have to buy in expensive feed over the winter or even sell cows to reduce the mouths to feed.'
He continued: 'In the uplands a lack of moisture can mean a lack of insects to feed grouse chicks and mean that there isn't a harvestable surplus of grouse to shoot come the 12th of August.
'That spells disaster for moorland communities dependent on the income from shooting.'
Industry leaders stress that the looming crisis posed by the heatwave has been worsened by the government's failure to invest in and maintain future-proof water storage systems.
The NFU's Andrew Connon added: 'We've been calling on the Scottish Government to support farmers with capital funding for water storage and efficiency – things like boreholes, lagoons and irrigation technology […] we now need action to back that up.'
A SEPA spokesperson said: 'Active consultation is ongoing with organisations across Scotland, including NFU Scotland, Fisheries Management Scotland, Golf Scotland, Scotch Whisky Association and Scottish Water to help share important information and ensure that advice and support is available.'
The Met Office said the heatwave is likely to continue until Friday, with temperatures rising to as high as 22C during the week.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Growing crops 'more unpredictable and difficult'
Growing cereal crops in Scotland has become increasingly "unpredictable and difficult", farming body NFU Scotland (NFUS) has said "unusual weather" had resulted in this year's spring barley being ready to harvest earlier than usual - but it had also adversely affected the quality of the grain.A dry spring affected the germination of barley in some places before later dry weather had a further impact, with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) raising concerns around water scarcity for some parts of Scotland said: "This year's spring barley harvest is coming in around two weeks earlier than usual – something we've not seen before." Barley sown in spring is often sold for making whisky, while winter-sown barley is traditionally used for animal feed and sometimes brewing NFUS spokesperson said: "The unusual weather we've had this year has not only caused the early harvest, it has also affected the quality of the grain, particularly in malting barley – a major Scottish crop. "If the grain doesn't meet maltsters' specifications it could be rejected, causing a serious loss of income for some businesses."They added: "This unusual quality situation has come at a bad time, with distilleries rapidly scaling back whisky production, and a high global grain supply depressing prices around the world."NFUS described Scottish farmers as being on the "front line" of climate said: "Changing weather patterns have made growing crops more unpredictable and difficult. "With prices low, costs high, and weather patterns increasingly erratic, some farmers are now considering whether they should grow malting barley next year." Bumper crop in Orkney The situation has not been the same across the whole of Scotland, and producers in Orkney have reported bumper Hay, of Birsay-based agricultural contractors J & S Hay, said there had been enough moisture in the soil in spring to get crops growing before conditions turned said wet weather in June had threatened to ruin the harvest. The Met Office said Orkney provisionally recorded its wettest June on Hay told BBC Radio Orkney: "We had our best spring I can remember, but June was just about too wet. "We thought our luck had run out."Mr Hay said the harvest was two to three weeks early, and this had allowed farmers to cut the crop before any risk of a further change in the he added that it had meant farm work been busier than usual as some farmers were trying to cut silage at the same time."It's kind of like all seasons on the go just now," he said.
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
UK weather: Storm maps show exact date rain hits and temps plummet by 14C
The Met Office says high pressure, which has kept conditions settled and cool, will be pushed aside by powerful Atlantic systems linked to Hurricane Erin by the end of the month Britain is bracing for a dramatic weather shift at the end of August, with forecasters warning of torrential rain, powerful winds and plummeting temperatures. Weather maps, generated by WXCharts on August 17 using Met Desk data, reveal a massive band of rain sweeping across Ireland and the UK on Wednesday, August 27 at 12pm, set to deliver heavy downpours. The Met Office says high pressure, which has maintained settled and cool conditions, will be swept away by mighty Atlantic systems connected to Hurricane Erin. Charts from WXCharts indicate the initial signs of the storm will emerge in 10 days, before a wall of rain batters in from the west on Thursday morning. Fierce bursts, highlighted in red and yellow on the maps, are poised to strike Ireland, Wales and western England before moving eastwards throughout the day, reports the Express. The downpour will coincide with a dramatic temperature plunge, with parts of the country expected to be 14C cooler than recent peaks. This summer, sections of the UK were hammered by four heatwaves, with the mercury hitting 34C in July in London. Charts indicate that on August 26 England may still swelter under 28C highs - only for temperatures to tumble to the low 20s in southern parts of Britain and low to mid 10s in Scotland. A Met Office long-range forecast for August 22-31 stated: "High pressure is likely to be the dominant feature at first bringing widely fine and dry weather whilst a generally northerly flow leads to rather cool conditions. "This will be increasingly eroded from the west as frontal systems start to move in from the Atlantic through the weekend, leading to more changeable conditions. A deep area of low pressure is likely to develop in the North Atlantic, linked to Hurricane Erin, and may progress towards the UK." Whilst the precise path of the storm remains unclear, weather experts say northern and western regions will face the harshest conditions. There's also a small but increasing chance of widespread wet and blustery weather across much of the UK as we head into the final days of August. The alert comes just weeks after Britain suffered through a stuttering summer of unsettled periods, sparking concerns of a complete washout for the season's last bank holiday.
Rhyl Journal
5 hours ago
- Rhyl Journal
Dry weather to continue across most of UK as heatwave comes to an end
Parts of the country could see temperatures reach 27C on Monday and Tuesday. A northeasterly breeze means northern and eastern parts of the UK will be cooler on these days, reaching up to the low-20s. Some showers with the odd rumble of thunder could hit south-west England and south Wales on Monday and Tuesday, but most places will be dry throughout the week. Wetter, windier and more unsettled weather may move in from the Atlantic by Bank Holiday Monday. The continued dry spell comes after officials warned England was suffering from 'nationally significant' water shortfalls, despite rain in July. Sunday's highest temperature was 27.7C in Somerset, while West Sussex and Inverness, Scotland, also reached 27C. Met Office meteorologist Greg Dewhurst said: 'Where people get the sunshine it'll still feel fairly pleasant, it'll just be a bit chillier than it has been of late.' After weeks of warmth, this week brings a change in the air. Expect largely settled conditions, but with a gradual dip in temperatures, especially across the north and east 🌡️ Cooler days🌙 Chilly nights A gentle reminder that autumn is waiting in the wings 🍂 — Met Office (@metoffice) August 17, 2025 He added: 'We had a couple of cooler days, yesterday (and) the day before. 'The odd spot here and there might be just holding on to a heatwave, but I think most places have dipped below their criteria and may have sort of come up again. 'I would say (the heatwave) finished over the weekend.' Yellow heat health alerts activated on Wednesday will remain in place for Yorkshire and the Humber, the East and West Midlands, London and the South East, the South West and the east of England until Monday at 6pm, the UK Health Security Agency has said. Clouds are expected to arrive later in the week and the cooler air in the north and east will travel towards southern and western areas. Maximum temperatures will fall to 23C to 24C by Wednesday and Thursday. But the temperatures could push back up to the high-20s by the weekend, particularly during sunny spells, caused by the winds turning southerly. The national drought group, which includes the Met Office, regulators, government, water companies and other organisations, said on Tuesday that it had met as five areas of the country remained in drought, with six more in prolonged dry weather status. England is seeing widespread environmental and agricultural impacts from the lack of water, which is hitting crop yields, reducing feed for livestock, damaging wetlands and river wildlife, and increasing wildfires, the group said. Experts warn climate change is driving more extreme weather conditions in the UK, worsening drought and dry spells, and making heatwaves more frequent and severe.
