Met Office data from its new computer suggests that this winter could be unusually mild, with the South West having a 40 per cent to 60 per cent chance of being the mildest on record.

So far, apart from a few days and the current cold snap, temperatures have been well above freezing.

Grassland specialist Elaine Jewkes commented: “If weather and ground conditions stay favourable, you can get a head start on grazing and silage by being ready to go with fertiliser when the ground is warm enough. Grazed grass is still the cheapest feed, so if you can get some growth and turn-out promptly, why not do it and save money?”

The Westcountry’s weather is notoriously difficult to predict, so she recommended using a soil thermometer to tell if grass would respond to Nitrogen.

She explained: “Grass starts growing when the soil temperature at 10cm exceeds five degrees Centigrade. To get an accurate reading, measure at the same time each day and, when it is consistently over five degrees for four to five days, the grass will be able to use applied N.”

Mrs Jewkes, who works for GrowHow, added: “Don’t forget to allow for any applied manure in the N you use. Modest amounts of nutrients applied more often give the best efficiency, rather than large, infrequent dressings.”