Suddenly, a fortnight later than usual, the winter barley awns are out and visible right across the field.

I can only presume that they were delayed by the way-below-average temperatures of the last few weeks, as well as the long dry spell.

We all know the adage of a wet and windy May, etc. We suddenly have it in spades.

As we approach the middle of May, the silage season is suddenly coming into focus and with the adoption of a dairy beef system, we are much more reliant on grass.

This reliance on grass rather than concentrates is going to be further accentuated by the high forward prices of grain. So, good-quality silage is going to be even more of a necessity than I had expected.

For the first time in many years, I am going to have to update my knowledge of silage additives and my contractor’s willingness to apply one. Talking to a farmer in the same system, I was dismayed to hear him say that he was aiming for a digestibility figure of 80%.

I have never in all my years farming succeeded in having a grass silage of 80% digestibility – maybe this year.

Walking across the silage ground after the rain and heat, it’s obvious that there is, for the first time this spring, a burst of growth, but the old permanent pasture is taking much longer to come to life.

I am reluctantly coming to the conclusion that I will have to do some more reseeding if I want optimum weight gains on grass. However, for this week, the most important job is to get the Basic Farm Payment application properly completed and submitted online and in time.

This year, there are a few changes to be made in our application, as well as deciding whether to apply for the straw incorporation scheme. We have obtained advice on the best approach, but it’s now time to knuckle down and get it done.

Condolences

I was sad to hear of the death of our former Irish Farmers Journal colleague, Paula Leddy. To her husband Adrian of IFA and family, our deepest sympathy.