With Storm Eunice set to be one of the worst storms to hit the country in the last three decades, farmers must make safety their top priority.
The warning comes as the Met Office issued a red weather warning for the South West, South Wales and the South East of England, with Storm Eunice expected to cause widespread damage and a danger to life.
Wind gusts of between 60 to 70mph have already brought down power lines and trees as well as damaged buildings and caused widespread travel disruption across the UK and Ireland.
And in exposed coastal areas, there are reports of winds in excess of 90mph.
Mark Constable NFU Mutual South Cotswolds agent said: "Local farmers are already feeling the effects of the storm, with one customer reporting that the roof has blown off their barn and another suffering damage to their tractor door when the wind caught it, causing the glass to shatter."
NFU Mutual agent John Heather, who has offices in the Isle of Wight, Bournemouth and the New Forest, added they had been contacting farmers on West Wight this morning to check they are OK and let them know they were there.
"Feeding has been challenged and livestock have been moved before people head indoors to safety," he said.
"The power is going out in some of the more rural locations and we have already had calls about damage caused by trees coming down."
Some farmers have been hit harder by the storm than others, depending on their geographical location, but the farming works continues regardless.
Irish dairy farmer Lorna Sixsmith tweeted: "All calm here until 8am then Storm Eunice hit and it seems like the roof might lift off the calf shed. Thankfully electricity stayed till cows were milked. We have the generator to wash machines if needs be."
Meanwhile Alison ONeill, a sheep farmer in the Yorkshire Dales, tweeted: "Good morning, Storm Eunice is here but so far she is not quite as strong as I had anticipated. May she pass quickly. Hoping you are all safe out there."
One Herefordshire based farmer welcomed his first lamb of the season weeks early, naming her Eunice.
"We are seeing a bit of rain and hail but it is nothing we cannot cope with," he told BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester.
"Incredibly we had our first lamb of 2022 this morning after a neighbour alerted me to a bundle of fluff in the middle of the field.
"Lambs can die quickly in wet and windy weather but thankfully she is doing alright and sheltering in a small woods with mum."
Protecting yourself and your farm in a storm (Source: NFU Mutual)
- Keep all building doors and windows closed.
- If you have to leave the house, tell people where you are going and when you expect to return.
- Avoid the sheltered side of walls and trees when walking.
- If journeys are essential, drive slowly and carefully, staying aware of high winds on exposed roads and ice and water on the road.
- Do not attempt emergency repairs during the storm.
After the storm
- Be aware after a storm or weather event, power cables or powerlines may have been brought down.
- Check field boundaries are intact as trees can bring down fences and result in animals straying.
- Do not enter any buildings that could be unsafe following a storm.
