“In a lot of cases in this part of the country in particular, farmers are in full winter-feeding mode,” says IFA president Francie Gorman during a visit to farms impacted by the drought.
On Thursday 13 August, the IFA organised seven farm visits across Kildare, Carlow, Wexford, Kilkenny, Waterford, Cork and Tipperary to highlight the impact of the drought on a range of farming enterprises.
“It’s a cost issue and it’s also at a time of the year where people might be looking to get a few days off before kids go back to school it’s a workload issue and obviously a fodder availability issue. I think there is plenty of fodder in the country, its just not in the right places,” he says.
The challenges aren’t only being felt among dairy farmers, but also beef, sheep and tillage enterprises as the hot summer is having a lasting impact across the board.
“We are feeding sheep now in a way that I would never think I would see at this time of the year. And the tillage sector has been really challenged right from the word go. I think when the final figures come in from the harvest, you’re going to see a significant reduction in yield,” says Gorman.
Farmers are being urged to seek advice and do a fodder budget now to see how best they can ensure they have enough winter fodder.
“We need to be proactive about it and we need to be prepared, not just for the next six weeks but for the winter as well,” Gorman adds.
William Cassidy, dairy farmer from Co Laois
“Were here to discuss the current situation with regards to drought, in our area in particular, we are very dry. We probably have the lowest rainfall in the country and the hottest temperatures.
“We are milking 130 cows here and were in full on winter mode as regards foddering them. The last drop of rain we got was 13 June. We have zero grass on the platform, we went from 2kg in the parlour to 6kg and were on a maize, silage ration and a bit of soya as well. I was working it out the other day and it’s nearly €4 a cow to feed them and their will be a yield loss as well and never mind that’s not even including your own time. I recon it’s costing me nearly €500 a day to keep everything fed.
“It’s a bleak enough situation and the mood out there would be pessimistic at the moment as commodity prices are poor. It’s important to get together and talk, it’s not your fault and it’s nothing you are doing wrong on your farm. Everyone is in the one boat.”
Father and son Gilbert and Wayne Smyth, suckler and tillage farmers from Co Carlow
“We farm in a partnership with my wife Marion. Our main enterprise now is suckler cows and tillage,” says Gilbert.
“It’s been a tough year, it started off wet early on and went dry, you can see behind us it’s fairly burnt up everywhere,” says Wayne.
“It’s putting a big cost on us both from stock of winter feed plus the amount of time it’s taking us which is two and a half hours every day. We have one person on the road feeding every day, moving bales here and there to keep cattle going. Were lucky the harvest is just over; we would normally be flat out cutting corn in August. Yields are back; straw yields are back. Some of the winter crops were ok, they are probably on an average but the spring crops were very bad and the winter wheat was back 0.7 at least,” says Gilbert.
“Were using bailed silage and hay. We were lucky enough we got to make a bit extra this year. We have to stay feeding from now to the winter, because by the time grass grows it will be winter time, you might get a late run around grazing but that will be it.”
Watch the full video here:
SHARING OPTIONS