Water Security in Scottish Dairying

In recent years, Scotland’s weather has grown more unpredictable, and even the famously wet Scottish climate is beginning to show signs of strain with shifting weather patterns. For farmers, one of the most pressing challenges emerging from climate change is water security, particularly during prolonged dry spells. Scotland in 2025 has been experiencing a lower average rainfall, reported by the Met Office in their monthly weather summaries.

Scotland is not immune to drought, SEPA (Scottish Environment Protection Agency) has reported increasing incidents of "water scarcity alerts" across parts of the country in recent summers. Most areas report that the stream flows drop below average, affecting both public water supplies and private abstractions.

During the recent Government Future Farming Investment Scheme (FFIS), which closed for applications on the 22^nd of August 2025, there was a particular focus on claiming for items to include EID tag readers as well as water security. This included some funding toward items such as boreholes and water harvesting and storage equipment.

For dairy farmers, this means potential challenges in securing reliable water sources for livestock, cleaning, irrigation (where used), and forage production. Cattle need a consistent water supply, not only to maintain health and welfare but also to sustain milk yields. In hotter weather, lactating dairy cows can drink as much as 150 litres per day, putting pressure on supplies.

Reduced rainfall affects dairying in many ways, with reduced grass growth impacting grazing and silage production, leading to higher feed costs and lowering profit margins. Lower water availability can disrupt milking operations, cooling systems and hygiene standards, which are essential for milk quality and herd health.

Planning for Resilience

Water audits

Start with a farm water audit to understand where and how water is used, lost, or wasted. Identify opportunities to reduce usage without compromising animal welfare or milk hygiene. Some solutions may be very simple to achieve but could have a big effect. The Farm Advisory Service offers funding toward a water management specialist plan.