Ploughing week has come and gone and with it another wet and wintery week.

This time last year we were basking in sunshine in Ratheniska, while Tullamore was a different affair.

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In fairness, up until the last three weeks or so we basked in nearly 12 good months of weather, though it was too dry for some farmers from east Cork and across to Wicklow.

By law of averages, after seeing the first two-thirds of the year being drier than normal, we were going to have a wetter back end.

It’s just a shame that it came when it did, as if we were to have the first half of September relatively dry, we had a better chance at keeping cows out in October, as paddocks damaged in September are tough to get an additional grazing off.

Rainfall amounts for the last seven days (11 to 17 September) are all well ahead of normal for the time of the year, with Knock Airport weather station recording 340% of the normal rainfall level.

What to do

The reality is that the areas hardest hit by the deterioration in grazing conditions is where the most grass is; across the coastline, the midlands and the northern half of the country.

If ground is that wet, then the dry matter of the grass is likely low as well.

Silage should go in to the diet, and on-off grazing or grazing by day/in by night should happen for dairy herds.

On the beef side, it will be a case of a round bale feeder going in on a roadway of field corner for suckler cows and calves, or possibly housing.

For finishing animals, the power is gone out of grass, and animals will only be maintaining weight rather than putting it on where no meal is being fed.

Even with meal at grass, forward lots are likely better housed and fed quality silage and meal.

Looking ahead

Thankfully, in to the early days of next week we should see some high pressure coming in that may settle things a little on the weather front.

Wet fields may dry out a little, but not like they would have a month ago, as day lengthen gets shorter and shorter.

A major priority for farmers who have slurry to go out is to get this spread before the closed period kicks in on 1 October.

Watery slurry or dirty water is ideal for recently grazed paddocks and should be targeted at these.

The closing date for spreading farm yard manure is 31 October, so there is still ample time for this, but it may be wise on heavier ground to get this out sooner rather than later.