Reseed Management: Where reseeding was carried out in the past month, it will be ready for a post-emergence spray to control weeds. The best time to get an effective weed kill is around four to six weeks after reseeding.

Leaving weeds unchecked in the new sward will slow down the establishment of new grass plants and reduce tillering of the sward.

Before spraying, walk the reseed and determine what weeds are present and then choose a product to suit that will give the most effective kill. If there is clover in the sward, make sure you choose a clover safe spray.

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Dosing: Dosing history should be looked at before weaning to make sure weanling’s lungs are clear in advance of what is a stressful period for them.

Faecal samples won’t pick up lungworm infection and it’s important to monitor animals for signs of coughing when herding.

Ivermectin-based products will give an instant kill and will have a three to four week residual activity period. White/yellow drenches will not give as severe a kill and may be a better choice where you think there is a bad lungworm infection or in purchased weanlings where you aren’t sure of the dosing history.

National Beef Welfare Scheme: As expected, an extra option has been added to this year’s National Beef Welfare Scheme which is faecal sampling or forage testing.

Action 1 – Meal Feeding (Mandatory): the rate of payment is €35 per eligible calf up to a maximum of 45 eligible calves.

Action 2 – Vaccination (Optional): the rate of payment is €15 per eligible calf up to a maximum of 45 eligible calves.

Action 3 – Faecal Testing/Forage Testing (Optional): the rate of payment is €25 per eligible calf up to a maximum of 45 eligible calves.

If Action 3, Faecal Testing/Forage Testing is selected at application stage, participants must: take two faecal samples (with a minimum of four weeks between each collection) for specified parasites and submit for testing or take three forage samples and submit for testing.

Applications can be made on agfood.ie and the closing date is 24 September 2025

Mart Demos: Fresh off a super day on the Irish Farmers Journal stand at the FBD National Livestock Show in Tullamore on Sunday, we are hitting the road next week for our latest Mart Series in Ballinasloe Mart on Tuesday 19 August and in Castleisland on Thursday 21 August from 8pm.

We will be joined by industry experts to discuss the autumn vaccination plan on farms ahead of housing, with advice from Conor Geraghty (Farmgate Veterinary, Galway) and John Quill (Castle Veterinary, Castleisland).

There will be live demonstrations with suckler cows and calves and a chance to discuss sires, progeny and genetics with Rose Goulding, Beef Programme Manager, National Cattle Breeding Centre.

Admission is free and refreshments will be served afterwards. The series is in association with MSD Animal Health, XL Vets and Munster Bovine. If you are in or around either venue, be sure to drop in to us for a chat.