Grass growth has been excellent this year with strong growth right through from early March to the present.

From the weekly Irish Farmers Journal Grasswatch figures, we recorded strong growth rates on average at 15.5kg dry matter (DM)/ha in mid-March. They climbed as high as 80kg DM/ha in mid-May and have settled in the high 60’s for the month of July.

The good growth rates are down to higher than average temperatures for the entire spring period and early summer, combined with steady rainfall that has maintained the bumper growth.

This is in contrast to last year, when growth rates were severely curtailed due to cold drying winds.

In 2013, the majority of Met Éireann weather stations reported their coldest spring in 15 to 34 years.

This led to the fodder crisis where farmers were forced to buy in expensive fodder to feed livestock. The temperatures recovered in the summer of 2013 and that led to a drought for the month of July (see figure 1), meaning many farmers highly stocked had to supplement with concentrates and silage.

Ideal for growth

The year so far has been ideal for growing grass. Farmers have been able to get stock out grazing early on dry farms, ground has been dry and trafficable on the majority of farms and record-breaking amounts of baled and pit silage have been made from big crops of silage and paddocks that became too strong for grazing.

Steven Fitzgerald from Curtin’s research farm in Cork reported that this year so far, they grew over 10 tonnes DM of grass, while this time last year they only grew seven tonnes DM.

Donal Patton from Ballyhaise research farm in Cavan had similar reports, growing up to 9.1 tonnes DM this year, 2.4 tonnes ahead of this time last year.

It’s very important now that farmers continue to build up a reserve of grass in order to be well equipped for fodder shortages in the future.

One indicator that growth rates are strong is that baled silage is struggling to make €20 per bale compared to last year’s price of €28 per bale.

Farmers are just hopeful now that the good weather continues into the autumn period and livestock can stay out as long as possible.