Brian Flaghery, sheep and beef farmer, Tuam, Co Galway
“It’s been great, there has been some great prices, but it is up and down.
"At the minute, things seem to be very quiet, the drought seems to be affecting trade, it's affecting numbers coming out to marts.
"As you can see here today, it’s the biggest sale of the year here and numbers seem to be way back and quality as well.
"It will all pan out in time. I think farmers are a bit hesitant at the minute, they are sitting back, hoping for an increase, but it’s hard to see it coming.”
Joe Kelly, sheep farmer, Westport, Co Mayo
“The biggest problem now is the price of everything getting so expensive – dosing, dipping and all that type of stuff.
"The last year or two is not bad, it’s a little bit better, but the price at the moment is now slipping in the factories.
"There is no one to buy the store lambs at the minute, that’s the biggest problem. We’re not too bad, we're near Westport and the ground is softer.”
Gerry Higgins, sheep farmer, Milltown, Co Galway
“It was very tough with the bad weather we had in winter time, then the spring came and the cold. All of that together, the cold and getting grass growing for sheep and lambs was tough.
"But when the dry weather came then, we had a bit of grass, but it was still getting too dry and stock wasn’t thriving like they would be thriving like they were other years, but we got through it and we're still here today.
"Trade was good at the start of the year, but at the moment it is slipping now, lambs are slipping and they are taking advantage of the farmers, the factories.
"But the likes of the mart and the hogget trade, prices are not as good as other years, I don’t know if it's farmers getting out of stock or what’s happening.
"This €1.50 that Micheál Martin took off our ewe grant last year, I am hoping he will give it back to us again this year with the other €25 per ewe he is supposed to give us.”
Mark Kelly, suckler and sheep farmer, Ahascragh, Co Galway
“The lambs are still ahead of where they were last year, but they have got a good pull in the last week. Hopefully they come again, but with the fodder shortage coming, it’s not helping things – it’s hard to know where their heading.
"Cattle, the weanlings seem to be starting off again. I seen a couple of sales last week and they seem to be going alright, but a lot of them are going for exports, so it’s hard to know where it will go.
"Grass is a bit slower, but compared to up the country it’s serious. It might not have hit here as hard yet, but store cattle are going to be back.
"What we will see in a couple of months’ time it’s hard to know. It would be good to see cattle hitting a good trade again, it’s needed with the expenses, meal and fertiliser is dear.
"Look, around here, there isn’t many young people around and you can’t blame them, it’s hard to get into it.”
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