Despite the ongoing drought in the south and east of the country, grass growth year to date is up 5% on the five-year average, according to PastureBase Ireland data.

The average figure for grass grown by dairy farmers inputting data on PastureBase was 7.76t DM/ha up to 31 July. This figure is also in line with the ten-year average.

While the year-to-date growth is positive, the current growth rates on farms tells a very different story. Growth rates over the past two weeks are well below average as high soil moisture deficits (SMD) and lack of rainfall continue to take their toll. Current average growth across Ireland is 30kg DM/ha per day. This figure is just half of the normal average of 60kg DM/ha.

SMD in counties like Carlow and Kilkenny are now as high as 95mm, with the rest of the south and southeast not far behind. The situation means farmers are feeding heavily, which is adding significant cost to the system while also causing fears around winter feed reserves.

Fertiliser

In the west and northwest, rain over the past week has meant farms can return to normal management. However, care must be taken with fertiliser, according to Teagasc’s Caitlin Looney.

“After a dry spell there will be mineralisation in the soil when rain falls. This will release nitrogen to fuel recovery grass growth.

“Therefore, fertiliser can be spread seven to ten days after rain when grass is growing over 50kg DM/ha. Spreading fertiliser earlier, is a risk to water quality and is a waste of product,” Caitlin says.