Steadings in the north-east of Scotland are already covered with at least a foot of snow and with more falls forecast many farmers are nervous of a repeat of last winter’s devastating impact on farm buildings.

Agricultural loss adjusters Agrical estimated that at least 3000 farm buildings came down or were damaged last winter and NFU Scotland’s regional chairman Tom Johnston, who farms at Huntly, said the scale of last year’s damage meant several of his neighbours still had construction companies on farms building new steadings.

“So many farms were affected it has taken this long to get the work done. And as far as this year is concerned much now depends on whether we get wind soon or if it stays calm,” he said. “If the wind blows the weight on the roofs will be eased but then the roads will be blocked because we’ve got 15in lying at the moment. It’s a devil or the deep blue sea situation, but we’re certainly hoping for wind.”

Road transport problems were creating havoc on Donside for Charlie Adam, who farms at 1000ft. An 18in snowfall on his land meant lorries couldn’t get to his farm to load barley for export, resulting in full sheds of grain and cattle unable to be brought indoors.

He said the late harvest had already created serious problems with many fields still full of straw bales which had been too wet to bring indoors. He added: “There were already concerns that bedding would be in short supply this winter and this snowfall has suddenly made that a much more acute problem.”

Elsewhere sheep farmers are concerned that breeding will be disrupted because tups have just been put out with ewes and producers who winter hoggs for farmers further north and west are facing a prolonged season of feeding animals usually expected to live off grass for the early part of the winter.

• Help build a picture of the wintry conditions by uploading your shots of the snow to our gallery or emailing them direct to rachel.jones@rbi.co.uk.