For the past 12 months the challenging weather conditions really haven’t let up for farmers throughout the country. If we think back to 2017, back-end grazing conditions were some of the worst experienced in a number of years. This forced the premature housing of cattle in even the driest of land. Fast-forward to the spring and hopes of releasing cattle early from sheds to alleviate the early housing burden were quickly dashed by the onset of storm ophelia and the infamous beast from the east. With the eventual commencement of a new grazing season in April and May, so too came renewed optimism. Farmers in all sectors planned to conserve as much fodder as possible in an attempt to replenish depleted stocks. This was also too good to be true. Drought dropped growth rates in peak growing periods to below 20kg DM/ha/day and crushed hopes of saving extra fodder.

It would be fair to say that these 12 months have been a constant up-hill battle. However, in order to make it through this coming winter, farmers are being asked to dig deep once again.

Many farms are facing fodder deficits coming into this winter. While everyone should be optimistic for a dry back-end and hopefully a kinder spring, it would be naive not to prepare for the worst-case eventualities.

To put in these preparations, a fodder budget has to be completed. For those holding off on this task for fear of what you might learn, remember; The devil you know is better than the devil you don’t. I would prefer to know I had a problem and to take corrective action from an early stage rather than waiting for disaster to strike.

The BETTER farm participants have chosen the first option. Over the coming weeks, we will outline and discuss in detail, the fodder budgets of the 27 programme participants, completed on the 1 August. Budgets are being carried out on the basis of a six-month winter, which facilitates the worst-case scenario.

We will also assess farmers on a four-point colour-coded scale: For those in the green, they can rest easy; those in yellow and orange will require some level of corrective action, while those in the red must look at drastic measures, including the immediate sale of stock.

This week, the farmers in the south of the country are profiled.

Farmer profiles

Adviser comment

For those farming in the south of the country, 2018 will be remembered as a disaster in terms of grass growth. Programme farmers who recorded in excess of 10 tonne DM/ha in 2017 could be back four or five tonne per ha DM this year. This in conjunction with having to feed a lot of forage during the year has led to significant fodder shortfalls on some farms.

All our BETTER farms have taken simple steps to reduce demand; scanning cows early and selling culls live or to factory, incorporating a fodder crop such as Redstart or rape to winter weanlings on, pushing on feed to heavy stores to try and finish them off grass in late autumn or selling lighter stores live to reduce silage demand for the winter. The most important advice I can give to a farmer is to complete a fodder budget - it would be prudent of us all to sit up and take action now rather than later.