It’s happened several times this year that the country seems to be split in two; either too much grass (if there is such a thing) or a deficit.

Unfortunately, it seems the same farms have been hit yet again with moisture stress, with east Cork, Kilkenny, Carlow, Waterford and south Tipperary being most affected.

While there was a brief reprieve, a lack of moisture has hit growth rates yet again, with heavy supplementation having to go in to cows to keep them satisfied.

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There is little advice to give these farms that hasn’t already been said this year; try and hold farm cover as best you can and target fertiliser application with any showers that may decide to magically come your way.

What a lot of these farms need to do now is assess the winter fodder stocks. Many have had poorer yielding cuts or had to graze some second- or third-cut ground.

Add this to silage being fed for many weeks and there could be a possible fodder deficit.

Way out west

On the other side, it’s been a record year of growth for farms in the west, northwest and midlands who have had ample moisture throughout the year which has married well with high temperatures.

The challenge these farmers now face is to know when to start building farm cover for the autumn.

With growth high, they are struggling to extend the rotation length, while many are still having to mow out surplus ground to control covers.

It is probably best to be cautious as this high growth will likely peter out soon. Pre mowing paddocks or taking out a small area for bales would be advised if pre-grazing yields are getting too high.

Swardwatch

  • Farmers in the southeast are struggling with moisture stress. Covers are rapidly disappearing.
  • Supplementation is required to hold cover as much as possible.
  • Fodder budget needs to be completed on these farms to assess winter situation.
  • Farms on heavier soils/high rainfall areas are having a dream year for grass growth.
  • Need to be cautious on these farms regarding building cover.

    • Dairy farmers

    Brian Hogan Horse and Jockey, Co Tipperary

    While our growth and farm cover looks good, we have tightened big time in the last few days and I expect my next grass walk towards the weekend will have us closer to a growth of 30kg DM/ha and from there we will have to go in with silage to supplement. Luckily, we have plenty of good quality bales to feed out.

    Pre grazing yields look to be 1,200kg DM/ha, but with the high dry matter in them they are actually 1,400-1,500kg. We will likely be back to covers of 1,000kg DM/ha by the weekend.

    We are once-a-day milking since 23 July. Cows are being followed with 20 units/acre of Pr Urea+ S.

    Stocking Rate (cow/ha) 3

    Growth Rate (kg/day) 58

    Average Farm Cover (kg/cow) 227

    Yield (l/cow) 18

    Fat% 5.12

    Protein% 4.15

    Milk Solids (kg/cow) 1.71

    Concentrates 0.5

    Aidan Kenny – Cloghan, Co Offaly

    It’s been a great year for grass. We were lucky in that every time we needed rain we got it.

    My cover is a little on the high side for the time of the year, and I wouldn’t normally build so early, but so as not to jinx myself I have decided not to mow out grass with no rain forecast for the next week or so.

    Cows are being followed with 20 units of protected urea/acre. Ground will receive at least another 20 units before the closing date and possibly more depending on grass supplies. Our reseed from last week has germinated. It was disced and sown with a difficult soils mix.

    Stocking Rate (cow/ha) 3.21

    Growth Rate (kg/day) 57

    Average Farm Cover (kg/cow) 246

    Yield (l/cow) 22

    Fat% 4.87

    Protein% 3.82

    Milk Solids (kg/cow) 1.97

    Concentrates 2

    Alan McCormick – Ballina, Co Mayo

    Third-cut silage will be harvested this weekend and looks to be excellent quality. We have sprayed off some of this pre-harvesting for reseeding afterwards, with some grazing paddocks also having been sprayed off.

    We have close to 6ha out between ground sprayed off and recently reseeded ground coming back in to the rotation. We are still at a 17–18-day rotation with pre-grazing yields over 1,600kg DM/ha.

    Normally we would be at a 25-day rotation but with current growth it isn’t necessary. The challenge now will be knowing when to build farm cover. We may pre-mow some heavier paddocks to achieve cleanouts.

    Stocking Rate (cow/ha) 3.58

    Growth Rate (kg/day) 93

    Average Farm Cover (kg/cow) 190

    Yield (l/cow) 18.2

    Fat% 4.86

    Protein% 4.04

    Milk Solids (kg/cow) 167

    Concentrates 2