For many of the programme farmers, rain has been greatly welcomed after a prolonged dry period.

Soil temperatures are high and with warmer weather since the start of May, grass growth should be quick to increase and meet grazing demand.

However, conditions are now right for a spike in nematodirus and the farmers are on the look-out for early symptoms in lambs.

With lambs are starting to eat significant amounts of grass, the farmers are monitoring the Nematodirus hatching forecast on the Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) website daily.

As some regions are now deemed as being very high risk, some of the farmers have already commenced dosing.

Roy and Marilyn Mayers

Tempo, Co Fermanagh

Roy has taken advantage of the good weather to progress with the sowing of a forage rape/stubble turnip mix in one of his fields. The mix, which was also undersown with grass seed has proved successful for Roy in the past. Five acres were ploughed and sowed in late April.

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