We are flooded with both grass and rain this week in Kilkenny. Growth continues to power ahead, but the summer rainfall is starting to wear out its welcome with the storms over the last few days.

Grazing conditions are deteriorating rapidly, and roadways and gaps are getting very mucky in some parts of the farm.

We are also in the middle of a building project in the farmyard, with slatted tanks and silage pits under construction. This is compounding the problem with roadways and cow-flow on the farm, as we try to avoid the areas where holes are dug and fresh concrete is poured.

The summer rainfall is starting to wear out its welcome with the storms over the last few days

Hopefully, most of this work will be finished in a couple of weeks and we can get back to a more normal routine. The rain is also causing some delays with this job. Pumps are needed to keep water away from tanks and bad forecasts create plenty of challenges for planning out the day’s work.

Milking system

We have changed over to the new milking system this week as well, and while there have been a few teething problems, we have most of the new components up and running properly now.

We have more parts coming on-stream and improving every day. We have the new feeding system fully operational and we should have the drafting system installed early next month.

So far, the cows have adjusted very quickly and seem very settled with the new equipment. They probably see very little difference, with the same building, the same feed troughs and hopefully a more comfortable and lighter cluster.

We will see how the next few weeks go and judge it properly when the final pieces of the jigsaw come together

The people, on the other hand, are seeing a totally different picture in front of them, with computerised screens, a huge amount more automation to the milking routine and a lot of learning needed in a short space of time.

It’s a big adjustment, but it should all settle down again in a few weeks and start to feel more like a graceful swan gliding over the water rather than frantic paddling underneath trying to keep afloat through the first few days of the change-over.

Milking times are coming down every day and udder health seems exceptional. We will see how the next few weeks go and judge it properly when the final pieces of the jigsaw come together and the farm-yard returns to normal service.

Musical chairs

Off-farm, we could do with some better news and better decisions from our public representatives. Hopefully, someone turns off the circus music soon and ends the game of musical chairs in Agriculture House.

Hopefully, someone turns off the circus music soon and ends the game of musical chairs in Agriculture House

There might need to be some shuffling of the pack this time, as it’s vital that we have a steady hand at the wheel to steer us through the new CAP and Brexit, not a third choice stop-gap.

We have enough problems in Europe with our Trade Commissioner, Phil Hogan. This is an even more critical role for the future of Irish agriculture and the Irish economy as we move through the Brexit negotiations.

We don’t have the luxury of appointing another Trade Commissioner if he resigns, so as abhorrent as his actions through August were, we only compound the mistakes made by calling for his resignation.

Maybe reparation can be made in some other way to apologise for his actions.

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