An analysis of February grass growth rates by the Irish Farmers Journal on a sample of farms in Tipperary, Wexford and Meath has found that average grass growth rates are up 160% compared with February 2018.

This equates to an average grass growth rate of 13kg/day from mid-January 2019 to present, while it was only 5kg/day in 2018.

More grass

Not only that, but farms started out with more grass this year too, as over-winter growth was higher than normal.

But that’s all academic now, as it’s what happens inside your own farm that matters for you.

There’s a big difference in how farmers have reacted to the good weather.

Some have had milking cows out day and night since they started calving, while others have been slower in getting cows out and getting area grazed up.

At this stage, those on good land should nearly have 30% grazed, while those on heavier land should be closer to 20% grazed.

If behind on these targets, you better get moving.

If behind on area grazed, use this opportunity to catch up

The weather for this week is good. After that, low pressure is moving in which will bring rain.

We don’t know yet when high pressure will return, so keep it in the back of your mind that the next five days could be the best five days to come for a while.

Day and night

If behind on area grazed, use this opportunity to catch up, by letting milking cows out day and night and not feeding silage to them.

Let out maiden heifers and other stock if needs be.

Letting out dry cows to graze off a few paddocks is an option in some cases where the cover is very high and the amount of land grazed is very low.

Land, even land considered heavy, is extremely dry, so this is a great chance to get land grazed in good conditions.

The purpose of increasing the area grazed now is so that there will be enough time to allow the grass to recover in time for the next grazing in early April.

The good weather has alleviated many of the fodder shortage worries farmers had heading into this winter.