While the clocks moved forward last weekend, there has been no spring growth spurt. March, as so often, went out like a lion, with strong winds and driving rain across the country this week.

Grass growth figures in the teens have been common over the past seven days, due to a combination of harsh winds, low temperatures and intense rain that have left ground cold and sodden.

A better forecast for the coming week gives hope, with temperatures predicted to increase to the mid-teens, although night ground frosts will restrict growth. Grass growth rapidly responds to warmer weather once April comes.

Beef cattle have been re-housed in recent days. Most farmers have good silage supplies to hand, but the definition of what is regarded as enough feed changed forever after the 2013 fodder crisis. Wet ground conditions saw a lot of drystock being re-housed in the midlands and west.

Recent weather has been hard on lambs, who don’t thrive when it’s both cold and wet. Meal feeding has been maintained in almost all situations as a result.

Dairy stock, while out, are getting buffer feed of silage, meal or both. As the last quota year passed on Wednesday, meal levels were increased rapidly to boost production. A lot of cows are coming off once-a-day, and need feeding to reach peak production. As one farmer quipped “the only men busier than milk lorry drivers these days are meal lorry drivers”. First grazing rotations are being completed, and re-growth is behind schedule right across the country.

Little planting

Tillage farmers have made little progress with spring work in recent days, with heavy rains halting planting since last Thursday.

The previous week had seen a great start made to spring planting, with some farmers completing planting, and more getting through half their workload.

Winter crops have greened up noticeably, and are starting to grow again. Drying winds saw some farmers moving back into fields on Wednesday, and the forecast is for a run of dry weather following a wet Good Friday. Straw and beet are moving, but significant stocks remain in tillage farmers yards and sheds.