Met Éireann is forecasting a succession of bright and damp periods this weekend, with a conditions favourable to the spread of potato blight in southern counties of Munster and Leinster on Sunday.

Saturday will start cloudy and misty with outbreaks of rain, heavy in parts of Munster and Leinster. Drier, brighter conditions in the north and northwest will extend across Ulster and much of Connacht in the morning and into north Leinster. The clearer weather may edge further southwards for a time in the afternoon, but rain will spread back northwards towards evening. Top temperatures will range between 15°C and 17°C in fresh south to southwest winds in southern and southeastern coastal counties, lighter elsewhere. Overnight lows will range from 9°C to 11°C.

On Sunday, showers will affect Atlantic coasts, but it will be mainly dry and bright elsewhere, with occasional sunny spells. It will become dry at night with patches of mist and fog. Highest temperatures of 15°C to 18°C will fall to between 6°C and 9°C at night. Moderate to fresh southwest to west winds will slacken at night.

Management notes

  • With grass supplies still under pressure on some farms, beef editor Adam Woods takes a look at feeding cattle at grass along with building grass supplies this autumn.
  • With many flies around, dairy specialist Aidan Brennan looks at animal health issues in youngstock, as well as empty cows and grass management.
  • Darren Carty, too, advises sheep farmers on steps to build grass supplies. He also touches on lime application and next week's Teagasc BETTER farm programme sheep walks.
  • Tillage farmers are using the best days to finish up rape and catch crop planting as the harvest draws to a close. Andy Doyle also has advice on chicken litter use.
  • GLAS farmers can conserve fodder on certain parcels – Peter Varley goes through the details of the flexibilities finally confirmed from 1 September.