Changeable weather has proven difficult for both contractors and farmers as they come under pressure in many areas.
Now, with the threat of rain for the remainder of the week, grazing conditions in some areas are coming under increased pressure.
The Irish Farmers Journal spoke to contractors and farmers to get their views on the challenges broken weather presents.
Tom Coll, Teagasc advisor, Co Leitrim
“Ground conditions are holding up relatively well. However, farmers are worried about the heavy rain forecast this week and the challenges it will bring for grazing.
"Some dairy men are putting cattle in at night to save ground, another wet week could change things, and considerable damage could be done at that stage.
“Some farmers took advantage of the good weather over the weekend making the rest of the second cut.”
Nigel Law, agricultural contractor, Co Wicklow
“The weather has been good over the past three days, we’ve been mainly baling straw these past few days. Farmers are becoming fearful of the rain forecast and rushing to get straw which has been sitting on the ground these past three weeks baled. Ground conditions are holding up well though.
"We have had a mixture of good and bad weather to date, this summer has been inconsistent, making it difficult to carry out work at times.”
Elizabeth Orminston, farmer, Co Cavan
“Ground conditions are currently poor as there was heavy rain from Sunday 18 to Wednesday 21 August. Fields have become quite mucky and farmers making silage over the weekend have left tracks on the ground.
“Grazing is starting to become affected, some farmers have begun feeding meal and are now spreading cattle over larger areas of ground to prevent causing damage.
"Farmers are anxious about the heavy rain forecast, especially beef farmers who have enough to worry about without the weather affecting them."
Jim McNamara, silage contractor, Co Clare
“Ground conditions are just holding up at the moment, grass cut today is still very damp. We are hopeful the weather will take up this week as there is still around 250 acres of second cut to go in.
"The weather over the weekend was average – ground began to dry up on Friday and some grass was lifted on Saturday and Sunday.”
Patrick O’Driscoll, farmer, Co Kerry
“The weather has been broken throughout the month of August, ground conditions are borderline. If the weather stays broken as it is, then grass utilisation will become a problem."
In relation to the rain forecast, O'Driscoll hopes it won’t affect grazing hugely but if so farmers will start having to move their cattle more often.
Some silage has been made over the last two/three days: "This year as a whole has been fantastic for the growth and utilisation of grass.”
Michael Barrett, agricultural contractor and dairy farmer, Co Limerick
“Ground conditions are just average at the moment, barely dry enough to travel on.
"We lifted 250 acres of third cut over the weekend, we have only two to three more customers left to do this year.”
The Limerick contractor also added: "Half an inch of rain is forecast for the southeast [on Tuesday], which will halt silage progress for two to three weeks if it comes.”
"If the wet weather continues then cattle will be housed before the middle of September.”
Read more
A simple change in management helping achieve better graze-outs
Dairy management: wet weather, coughing cows and the co-ops
Getting the grass-finish right this autumn
Changeable weather has proven difficult for both contractors and farmers as they come under pressure in many areas.
Now, with the threat of rain for the remainder of the week, grazing conditions in some areas are coming under increased pressure.
The Irish Farmers Journal spoke to contractors and farmers to get their views on the challenges broken weather presents.
Tom Coll, Teagasc advisor, Co Leitrim
“Ground conditions are holding up relatively well. However, farmers are worried about the heavy rain forecast this week and the challenges it will bring for grazing.
"Some dairy men are putting cattle in at night to save ground, another wet week could change things, and considerable damage could be done at that stage.
“Some farmers took advantage of the good weather over the weekend making the rest of the second cut.”
Nigel Law, agricultural contractor, Co Wicklow
“The weather has been good over the past three days, we’ve been mainly baling straw these past few days. Farmers are becoming fearful of the rain forecast and rushing to get straw which has been sitting on the ground these past three weeks baled. Ground conditions are holding up well though.
"We have had a mixture of good and bad weather to date, this summer has been inconsistent, making it difficult to carry out work at times.”
Elizabeth Orminston, farmer, Co Cavan
“Ground conditions are currently poor as there was heavy rain from Sunday 18 to Wednesday 21 August. Fields have become quite mucky and farmers making silage over the weekend have left tracks on the ground.
“Grazing is starting to become affected, some farmers have begun feeding meal and are now spreading cattle over larger areas of ground to prevent causing damage.
"Farmers are anxious about the heavy rain forecast, especially beef farmers who have enough to worry about without the weather affecting them."
Jim McNamara, silage contractor, Co Clare
“Ground conditions are just holding up at the moment, grass cut today is still very damp. We are hopeful the weather will take up this week as there is still around 250 acres of second cut to go in.
"The weather over the weekend was average – ground began to dry up on Friday and some grass was lifted on Saturday and Sunday.”
Patrick O’Driscoll, farmer, Co Kerry
“The weather has been broken throughout the month of August, ground conditions are borderline. If the weather stays broken as it is, then grass utilisation will become a problem."
In relation to the rain forecast, O'Driscoll hopes it won’t affect grazing hugely but if so farmers will start having to move their cattle more often.
Some silage has been made over the last two/three days: "This year as a whole has been fantastic for the growth and utilisation of grass.”
Michael Barrett, agricultural contractor and dairy farmer, Co Limerick
“Ground conditions are just average at the moment, barely dry enough to travel on.
"We lifted 250 acres of third cut over the weekend, we have only two to three more customers left to do this year.”
The Limerick contractor also added: "Half an inch of rain is forecast for the southeast [on Tuesday], which will halt silage progress for two to three weeks if it comes.”
"If the wet weather continues then cattle will be housed before the middle of September.”
Read more
A simple change in management helping achieve better graze-outs
Dairy management: wet weather, coughing cows and the co-ops
Getting the grass-finish right this autumn
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