Orkney has had a very difficult period of wet and cold weather this year. There will be far reaching consequences as cattle were very late out and some farmers had to sell as they did not have enough grass. Some farmers have even had to take cattle back into the byres as they were making so much mess in the wet fields. The crops have not grown as they should and therefore there will be a reduction in the quantity and quality of winter fodder made on the islands. This will impact on the number of cattle that can be over wintered. We have already ordered a load of straw to be shipped from the mainland to help see us through the winter. Today we are very relieved as we have harvested our silage crop.
Farming in Orkney
Written by Kay Morgan on