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A spike in grass seed sales during the first half of 2020 is being linked to the coronavirus pandemic and good weather in April to June.
Seed distributors are reporting higher than normal sales because farmers, particularly part-time farmers, had more time on their hands due to changes to off-farm work practices during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Germinal manager Dermot Campion said his company saw a big increase in seed sales this spring, but said it followed a poorer than expected autumn last year, due to unsuitable weather. He said many part-time farmers had more time to do jobs such as reseeding this spring and they also had extra help around with relations working from home and schools and colleges were closed. However, heavy rain over the last few weeks in the north and west is likely to deter farmers from reseeding this autumn.
Clover
Meanwhile, sales of clover seed continue to increase as more farmers are requesting clover in their seed mixtures. Farmers in a nitrates derogation are obliged to sow clover when reseeding.
Pat Cashman from Goldcrop said the company is experiencing a big demand for clover and has clover included in all of its grazing mixtures.
Demand for multi-species mixtures continues to grow, albeit from a very low base.
It is estimated that around 16t to 20t of multi-species seed is sown in Ireland annually, compared to approximately 4,500t of grass/clover seed.
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