The excellent weather last week and this week is going to be worth millions to Irish farmers through improved output, reduced costs and better grass utilisation.
It just highlights the importance of the weather, particularly at marginal times of the year like this. In other years, cows on many farms would be housed full-time, so it is significant.
Having said that, there are plenty of farms where the dry spell has come too late and having got over 200mm of rain in the weeks prior to last week, ground is just too wet to graze or travel.
Where conditions are good though, there are a number of jobs that should be completed now.
These include spreading lime on fields with a low pH. This is especially important for farmers in a nitrates derogation who are required to apply lime.
Generally speaking the maximum amount of lime that should be applied it 2t/acre at any one application.
It is ok to spread lime on fields now that were spread with slurry or urea at the end of September.
Other important tasks include applying muriate of potash on fields that are low for potash. These are typically silage fields and the good weather is a good opportunity to get potash out.
Spreading K now instead of in the spring will limit the risk of luxurious uptake in the grass.
Hedge-cutting season is in full swing and the dry weather presents a good opportunity to get low lying or wetter parts of the farm trimmed without doing damage.
Roadway maintenance, drainage and fencing are all other tasks that should be prioritised during the good weather.
SHARING OPTIONS