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The directors of Grampian Growers, Scotland’s leading producer of daffodil blooms have made the unilateral decision to stop picking even though it means around £1 million worth of flowers will be left to wither in the fields.

Fuel prices were softening at a key time when farmers were playing catch-up after the wet winter but they have not yet tumbled in line with oil prices.

Sadly, the world has certainly changed beyond recognition from a month ago and, with coronavirus restrictions looking set to continue over summer, we seem to be living a very different life.

These are strange times to be writing a column. Covid-19 is wreaking havoc everywhere. The food supply chain has taken a massive hit and many farmers are hurting right now.

Stating ‘unprecedented commercial and financial pressures’ as a direct consequence of Covid-19 on the business, the milk processor outlined its plans to drop the milk price by 2ppl from May 1 and delay payments from April 13.

A massive over-supply of milk in the UK and across the world is the reason for the dramatic fall in milk prices. UK spot markets have dropped to 15ppl, while some milk is going unsold and starting to be dumped.

Ulsters Farmers Union (UFU) has voiced its anger over reports ABP Food Group has supplied 400 tonnes of Polish beef to Sainsbury’s and Asda, branding the retailers’ decision as an ’underhand, selfish tactic’.

The Royal Agricultural University (RAU) are to host a series of webinars throughout April to negate some of its cancelled events due to Covid-19.

Getting the right people to work on farms and in the wider supply chain has been a challenge for the industry for some time now.

In theory, it should be fairly easy to farm while staying two metres away from every other human being. Open fields and solitary tractor cabs mean arable farming is fairly self-isolating at the best of times. There are clearly fewer face-to-face meetings than, say, being Prime Minister.