The bone-dry spring is hitting crops across the UK and there are fears that rain forecast for the weekend will not be enough to revive them.

In an almost unique set of circumstances for Scotland, that has culminated in a dry April and early May, recently sown seeds have failed to germinate, while those seedlings that have emerged are struggling to get established and access the fertiliser required to produce a decent crop.

Willie Thomson, Wheatrig, Longniddry, East Lothian said: "Things are very dry here in East Lothian. Our spring barley was sown at the end of March and has not seen any rain since. They are holding up remarkably well, but some crops round about look to be really struggling - rain would be very welcome. It won't be long before yield and quality suffer as fertiliser applications have not really been washed in, and some seed hasn't even germinated.

Mr Thomson went on: "Crops well established in the autumn are holding up well, but again there will be a yield and quality penalty if rain doesn't come soon.

"Growth regulator sprays on wheat crops have been trimmed back to avoid stressing the crop further with additional trace elements and foliar feeds being applied instead to give the stressed crops a shot in the arm. This cocktail will also be given to spring barley to keep it going - another additional cost.

"Those who have the facility have been irrigating cereals, but that is not the norm. However, vegetable crops will be getting water as soon as they are in the ground."

Below average rainfall in areas of Western Europe has led to increasing concerns about winter crops. The UK malting barley market has been dominated recently by continued weather concerns across the UK and France.

Jimmy Ireland, Feoch Farm, Darvel said: "Our own farms are in great order considering our rainfall for the month is at 12mm when it is normally closer to 70mm. I am glad we took the management decision to drill for water many years ago as we have been using that well to keep livestock watered for a fortnight now."

According to John Aitchison, whose family have recorded rainfall at Lochton, near Coldstream in the Borders since 1903, April produced 9.3mm, or just 0.36 inches of rain - the fifth driest since their records began.

Kelvin Pate, Aikeyside, Haddington said: "We have had no rain to speak of since the beginning of April and, incredibly, lambing done without waterproofs and leggings. Worryingly, fertiliser is still lying in the fields and not washed into spring barley. We are badly needing rain or silage and arable crops will not be great."