John Buckley, Aughaville, Bantry, Co Cork, prepares to move his in-calf heifers from their paddock after 75mm (3 inches) of rain fell in 36 hours on Monday and Tuesday. The average rainfall for John's farm is 1,600mm (64 inches). So far this year they have had 1,350mm (54 inches) of which 500mm (20 inches) fell since 1 July. Photo: Donal O'Leary
John Buckley, Aughaville, Bantry, Co. Cork checks the rain gauge after 75mm (3 inches) of rain fell in 36 hours on Monday and Tuesday. The average rainfall for John's farm is 1600mm (64 inches), so far this year they have got 1350mm (54 inches) of which 500mm (20 inches) fell since July 1st. Photo: Donal O' Leary
A general view of the rainfall records onthe farm of John Buckley, Aughaville, Bantry, Co. Cork after 75mm (3 inches) of rain fell in 36 hours on Monday and Tuesday. The average rainfall for John's farm is 1600mm (64 inches), so far this year they have got 1350mm (54 inches) of which 500mm (20 inches) fell since July 1st. Photo: Donal O' Leary
Dairy farmers John and Corney Buckley, Aughaville, Bantry, Co. Cork are pictured in a paddock that was burned off for reseeding over six weeks ago but has still to be sown due to the bad weather. The average rainfall for the Buckley farm is 1600mm (64 inches), so far this year they have got 1350mm (54 inches) of which 500mm (20 inches) fell since July 1st with 75mm (3 inches) of rain fell in 36 hours on Monday and Tuesday alone. Photo: Donal O' Leary
Pressure is mounting on the Government to take action to alleviate the plethora of problems that farmers face as a result of the wettest September in 10 years. Calls have been made for the slurry spreading deadline to be extended beyond this day next week.
Last week, www.farmersjournal.ie exclusively reported that the Government has no immediate plans to push out the slurry deadline date but farmers still remain hopeful of movements.
“While I appreciate the role of the Nitrates Directive, there also needs to be an element of flexibility,” said Fianna Fáil agricultural spokesperson Charlie McConalogue.
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“Minister Michael Creed must relay the fears of farmers to his Cabinet colleague Simon Coveney and ensure that action is taken to alleviate the pressure on farmers by doing the same this year.”
The IFA, the ICSA, Macra and the ICMSA have all spoken in unison calling for an extension.
It could be argued that an extension would not alleviate the problem as land remains waterlogged in some areas.
However, there are no plans at present to extend the spreading periods for slurry in 2016. The programme will be reviewed again in 2017.
“The closed periods in Ireland were decided following extensive consultation and were discussed with farming bodies and the European Commission when Ireland’s Nitrates Action Programme was being introduced,” the Department told the Irish Farmers Journal.
The Minister for Agriculture, Michael Creed, said in the Dáil last week that his officials are actively monitoring the weather situation on farms.
Met Éireann has forecast a dry week ahead with only slight patchy rain hitting areas in the east. However, highest temperatures will reach just 15oC and cloud cover will minimise sunny spells.
Statistics from the last month show that some parts of the country witnessed the wettest September in a decade in terms of rainfall, not taking account of rain in the summer preceding that. Of all of Met Éireann’s forecasting centres, Newport in Co Mayo received the highest volume of rain.
A total of 205.2mm (eight inches) fell at the station while Valentia Observatory in Co Kerry received 182.7mm (seven inches) of rainfall.
Farmers in the west and southwest were hit by as much 200mm, or seven inches, of rain in just 24 hours this week.
In the space of 36 hours over Monday and Tuesday, three inches fell on John Buckley’s farm in west Cork.
“We’ve had very few dry days in between a lot of coastal fog,” Buckley said. “We sprayed off seven acres for reseeding at the end of August and we haven’t had a good day yet to go at it. At least heavy rain would roll off the land but the fog is not letting the land dry out.”
The average rainfall for his farm at Aughaville, Bantry, is 1,600mm (64 inches), so far this year they have got 1,350mm (54 inches) of which 500mm (20 inches) fell since 1 July.
“I’m still holding out for an Indian summer and hoping to get two dry days to get slurry out,” said the former Young Farmer of the Year. “However, milk yield has definitely gone way back and straw is scarce because of the way the harvest has gone.”
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Pressure is mounting on the Government to take action to alleviate the plethora of problems that farmers face as a result of the wettest September in 10 years. Calls have been made for the slurry spreading deadline to be extended beyond this day next week.
Last week, www.farmersjournal.ie exclusively reported that the Government has no immediate plans to push out the slurry deadline date but farmers still remain hopeful of movements.
“While I appreciate the role of the Nitrates Directive, there also needs to be an element of flexibility,” said Fianna Fáil agricultural spokesperson Charlie McConalogue.
“Minister Michael Creed must relay the fears of farmers to his Cabinet colleague Simon Coveney and ensure that action is taken to alleviate the pressure on farmers by doing the same this year.”
The IFA, the ICSA, Macra and the ICMSA have all spoken in unison calling for an extension.
It could be argued that an extension would not alleviate the problem as land remains waterlogged in some areas.
However, there are no plans at present to extend the spreading periods for slurry in 2016. The programme will be reviewed again in 2017.
“The closed periods in Ireland were decided following extensive consultation and were discussed with farming bodies and the European Commission when Ireland’s Nitrates Action Programme was being introduced,” the Department told the Irish Farmers Journal.
The Minister for Agriculture, Michael Creed, said in the Dáil last week that his officials are actively monitoring the weather situation on farms.
Met Éireann has forecast a dry week ahead with only slight patchy rain hitting areas in the east. However, highest temperatures will reach just 15oC and cloud cover will minimise sunny spells.
Statistics from the last month show that some parts of the country witnessed the wettest September in a decade in terms of rainfall, not taking account of rain in the summer preceding that. Of all of Met Éireann’s forecasting centres, Newport in Co Mayo received the highest volume of rain.
A total of 205.2mm (eight inches) fell at the station while Valentia Observatory in Co Kerry received 182.7mm (seven inches) of rainfall.
Farmers in the west and southwest were hit by as much 200mm, or seven inches, of rain in just 24 hours this week.
In the space of 36 hours over Monday and Tuesday, three inches fell on John Buckley’s farm in west Cork.
“We’ve had very few dry days in between a lot of coastal fog,” Buckley said. “We sprayed off seven acres for reseeding at the end of August and we haven’t had a good day yet to go at it. At least heavy rain would roll off the land but the fog is not letting the land dry out.”
The average rainfall for his farm at Aughaville, Bantry, is 1,600mm (64 inches), so far this year they have got 1,350mm (54 inches) of which 500mm (20 inches) fell since 1 July.
“I’m still holding out for an Indian summer and hoping to get two dry days to get slurry out,” said the former Young Farmer of the Year. “However, milk yield has definitely gone way back and straw is scarce because of the way the harvest has gone.”
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