Mixed weather over the last week has affected silage progress in much of the country.

After an unusually dry May, ground conditions have deteriorated this month, in stark contrast to this time last year when the dramatic heat began.

Up to half of first cut silage has yet to be made, depending on the area. And the forecast for the coming week does not show sign of improvement, though it is expected to get warmer.

Ireland’s weather is influenced by the jet stream which is currently very weak, climatologist at NUI Maynooth John Sweeney explained. He said the depression currently dominating our weather will do so for the next few days.

“I would suggest there are three or four days to go before reverting to a more normal westerly influence,” he said on Tuesday. There is a significant difference in June rainfall between 2018 and 2019.

At Cork airport there was 0.1mm of rain between 1 June 2018 and 11 June 2018, compared to 54mm over the same period in 2019 (see table).

Grass growth was slowing this time last year on drier farms, but grass growth figures remain broadly similar at the moment.