The recent upturn in weather has seen stock finally return to fields in the west and northwest. The Irish Farmers Journal spoke to IFA county chairs about how farmers in worst-affected areas during the fodder crisis are faring now.

Elizabeth Ormiston – Cavan

I would say the immediate demand for fodder has eased as all the stock are now out. We had some great drying last week and it was great to see people out in the fields again.

The real repercussions are only going to be felt at the end of the year and into 2019. We really need a great summer in order to replenish all the silage stocks that have been used.

Unfortunately, the weather is not shaping up just how we want it to. Here in Cavan we have some very marginal land and that makes it very hard for silage harvesters to access fields.

Michael Chance – Donegal

The worst of it is over I would say. There is finally growth in the fields but the economic effects of the crisis will be felt for a long time.

The issue will now be getting enough fodder for next year. We have had the guts of a nine-month winter but the first of the silage is being cut which is a positive sign and we are probably ahead of most places in terms of planting.

Anne Mitchell – Galway

Had I been asked on Sunday I would have said that the pressure had eased significantly. Farmers had managed to get the majority of the cattle out in the last week and silage harvesting had begun.

However, after the rain we had Sunday night, we are back under pressure again. We have had spot flooding and land is very wet. If stock has to be housed again there are no reserves of fodder left to feed them.

Willie Hanrahan – Clare

The good news is that forecast for the week ahead is good. We could have done without the inch of rain we got at the weekend but there is still plenty of growth and we look set for a warm spell.

While there are some people still with animals housed, fodder has come available in the last two weeks as others got cattle out.