Ideal grass-growing weather is prevailing this week. Dry farms that had to slow down rotations with meal and silage are now back on track again.

A decent amount of rainfall has meant their grass growth is back in line with cow demand, so extra supplementation is no longer required.

However, there are some farms in pockets of the country that still haven’t received any rain and they are under pressure now.

Otherwise, the warm, humid temperatures, averaging between 16°C and 20°C, have driven on growth rates to exceptional levels.

From our grass map, you can see strong growth rates averaging in the mid-60s. Some farms with lighter stocking rates are continually cutting heavy covers for baled silage in an effort to maintain quality.

Latest indications from MET Eireann suggest that showery and mixed weather will continue this week, but we might be seeing dry and more settled weather early next week.

This might provide an opportunity to cut the main crop second-cut silage and also any surplus paddocks can be cut dry and wilted to boost quality.

Pre-grazing covers of 1,400kg DM/ha are ideal. Remember, once the correct pre-grazing yield is achieved, it will be easier to achieve the ideal post-grazing height of 4cm.

Donal Patton highlighted an important point about the need to weigh calves to get a handle on performance. Calves can be easily forgotten at this time of year and kept on poor quality grass, which can reduce weight gain dramatically if not addressed.

Our farmer in southwest Wexford is going on holiday shortly so is delighted to have an abundance of grass ahead of cows.

This will take the pressure off and he can sort out any problems on his return. His growth is at 92kg DM/ha and cover per cow is 199kg. Cows are producing 1.73kg MS.

All of his stock are on the grazing block now because extra second-cut is closed on an outside block.

Our south Tipperary farmer says that the grass wedge is back on track now and the grass quality for cows is good. Cows are fed 1kg of meal and are milking 20.29kg at 4.05% fat, 3.49% protein (1.53kg MS). Growth rate is at 63kg DM/ha and demand is 60kg DM/ha. The average farm cover is 603kg DM/ha and cover per cow is 162kg.

Our mid-Cork farmer’s growth rate is just 41kg DM/ha/day – last week it was 44kg. He had to start zero grazing because his land is starting to burn up now. He still has no rain.

Our mid-Clare farmer has topped some paddocks and brought some paddocks back into the rotation that were cut for silage. The average farm cover is 576kg DM/ha and cover per cow is 175kg.

The pre-grazing yield on this farm is 1,300kg DM/ha and growth rate is 42kg/ha/day. He is feeding 1kg of meal and cows are milking 20 litres at 3.94% fat, 3.53% protein and 189 SCC. Rainfall is low at 5mm recorded during the week.

Stephen Fitzgerald, Farm Manager, Curtins Farm, Fermoy

Last week, I reported that grass quality was deteriorating and this was causing a one-litre reduction of milk yield every 10 days. This has stabilised now and yield is holding. We have cows entering pre-grazing covers of 1,400kg DM/ha.

To correct grass quality we have taken out some paddocks with covers of 1,800kg DM/ha for round bale silage. These paddocks are yielding 2.5 bales per acre. The extra bales will be a bonus in winter.

We got rain on Monday, which has helped to keep growth rates high at 76kg DM/ha/day, while demand is at 65kg DM/ha/day. Grass dry matter is set at 16%.

This is quite a dry farm so the rainfall is always welcome and there is more forecast, which will keep us going.

The average farm cover is 739kg DM/ha and cover per cow is 193kg. Cows are milking 18.9 litres at 4.64% fat, 3.61% protein, 4.69% lactose and 171,000 cells/ml SCC.

This week, we are sorting out any lameness issues on the farm. We trim any persistently lame cows and run everything else through a footbath.

Donal Patton, farm manager, Ballyhaise Research Farm

Rain last Friday made a huge impact on growth this week. We got 12mm of rainfall over the last seven days. Soil temperatures are between 16°C and 18°C, which has helped us hit a growth rate of 100kg DM/ha.

Demand is at 60kg DM/ha, which means we are growing surplus grass so we decided to step over 15% of the grazing block. The paddocks we stepped over are of poorer quality rather than strong covers.

For example, we are going in grazing after-grass with covers of 1,300kg DM/ha, these covers are excellent quality and we will see the results in the tank.

Paddocks we skipped over have covers of 1,100kg DM/ha but are of poorer quality. If weather changes, we can go back into these at a whim.

Stocking rate is at 3.8 LU/ha. Grass dry matter is set between 16% and 18%, depending on rainfall. The farm cover is 640kg DM/ha and cover per cow is 170kg.

We are continuing to spread 27 units of CAN after each grazing. Cows are milking 19.8 litres at 4.25% fat, 3.52% protein and 152,000 cells/ml. Calves were weighed during the week. They averaged 130kg. We expected them to average 150kg so we will have to improve grass quality to change this.

Alan Wallace, Ashdale Farm, Carmavy Lane, Co Antrim

Grass growth has been extremely good over the last month. This farm has a heavy clay loam soil, which can make it difficult to graze in wet weather. Grazing is always a priority however and we always try to get cows out to grass.

We have been taking out paddocks on a regular basis in order to control grass quality and increase our winter fodder.

Last week, we cut 100 acres for second cut silage. There is now another 80 acres ready to cut and some more strong paddocks. We have our own pit silage outfit so it is a saving if we can cut the strong paddocks along with the main silage crop rather than bring in a contractor to bale and wrap.

Our 190 cows are producing 29 litres at 3.78% fat, 3.2% protein and 183 SCC.

The cows are split into two batches. The high yielders are in by night and get 6kg of concentrates. The low yielders are out day and night and are fed via computer in the parlour.

It is a feed-to-yield system where cows producing over 23 litres and heifers producing over 20 litres receive concentrates. Paddocks are getting a bag per acre of 27% nitrogen after each grazing.

Billy Connors, Crossmolina, Co Mayo

We got plenty of rain here today (Wednesday), which has spurred on growth. I have been topping after cows to maintain quality. This strategy has worked for me and I now have excellent quality covers of 1,300kg DM/ha.

There is little or no stem in the sward. I am following cows with 30 units of Pasturesward. I milk cows all year round. At the moment, 38 cows are milking, with five cows calved last week, another nine cows due to calve in August, as well as five heifers.

Cows are milking 30.6 litres at 3.56% fat, 3.2% protein, SCC 105, 000 cells/ml and TBC 9. I am feeding a 19% protein ration to the cows. The higher yielders are getting 7kg to 8kg.

I am a reasonably small milk producer but find milking all year round helps my cashflow.

In two weeks’ time, the 15ac of second-cut silage should be ready to cut.

I am planning on reseeding some ground in autumn. This should give a boost to grass growth next year and allow me to make extra silage.

The Crossmolina festival is this weekend and I am busy preparing to take part in the “Totally Talented” show.