Market prices are always a concern to farmers and this year is no different. Beef farmers have suffered one of the most difficult springs for many years, the recent cuts to milk price have dented confidence among dairy farmers and tillage farmers are planting crops against a backdrop of negative price forecasts.

While not to diminish the importance of market prices, another great strain on farmers is the constant concern in relation to weather and the impact it can have on output and costs. For some, the constant strain of dealing with adverse weather conditions can be more mentally challenging than dealing with poor market prices.

Thankfully this has been an exceptional spring in terms of weather. Just as the adverse weather conditions in 2018 drove up costs, the largely fine weather of the past few months has allowed farmers to make considerable savings with little frustration.

On the dairy side, Aidan Brennan calculates the net gain compared to an average year to be in the region of €110 per cow – largely reflecting a 30% increase in grass growth, increased milk output and a saving in meal costs.

The beef and sheep sectors have also benefited from good grass growth, matched with favourable grazing conditions. For many, the traditional turnout date of mid-April to early May has been brought forward by two to four weeks.

With most paddocks grazed tight, farms should be well set up to maintain sward quality over the next six to eight weeks

Nowhere is the turnaround more evident than on our demonstration farm in Tullamore where youngstock at grass have achieved average daily gains during April from a grass-only diet of over 1kg per day. This compares to the previous year when performance on a more expensive silage and meal diet averaged closer to 0.3kg per day.

For sheep farmers, the ability to turn freshly lambed ewes and their lambs straight out to grass has greatly reduced the disease burden in sheds and labour. With this has come the positive knock-on effects on flock productivity and significant savings from reduced health issues.

It is a trend we have seen across all sectors with vets reporting a sharp drop-off in herd and flock health issues. Again this bodes well for animal performance in the months ahead.

Meanwhile, the fine weather has greatly reduced pressure on tillage farms with early planting opportunities in January and February allowing workload to be spread out across a number of months. With this early planting also comes the added benefit of a reduction in pressure from barley yellow dwarf virus, therefore helping to reduce both costs and disease.

Conditions have also allowed for the timely management of winter crops while the planting of main-crop potatoes is advancing well. It is encouraging to see that despite the mild temperatures bringing forward potatoes out of storage, prices have been slow to dip so far.

Getting ready for summer

Attention now turns to May, one of the most important growing months of the year and a critical period in the breeding calendar on suckler and dairy farms. With ground conditions during the first rotation allowing for most paddocks to be grazed down tight, farms should be well set up to maintain sward quality over the next six to eight weeks.

However, there is a concern that some farmers will have cut back on nitrogen applications due to the higher volumes of grass available – this approach could quickly see a plentiful supply of grass in April lead to a deficit in May.

Ultimately only those livestock farmers measuring and managing grass will be in a position to ensure the benefits of a good spring are fully capitalised right through the grazing season.

The breeding season can always throw up unexpected challenges but the relatively stress-free spring should see herds well settled and acclimatised to a fully grass-based diet at the start of breeding.

We don’t know what the rest of the year will bring in terms of weather. But the past four months have certainly helped reduce the physical and mental pressure on farmers and put a good foundation in place for the year ahead.

Brexit: time for Brussels and Dublin to back up rhetoric with action

The IFA’s campaign for retrospective compensation to be paid to beef farmers in response to losses incurred due to Brexit is gaining traction in Brussels.

There is clear evidence showing the negative impact that market instability and currency fluctuations have had on beef prices and it is no longer tenable for either the European Commission or the Government to continue to turn a blind eye.

Both parties have repeatedly stressed their commitment to protecting farmers – whatever the outcome of Brexit. While the actual outcome remains unknown, the impact on farmers’ incomes of a slow and prolonged negotiation process is clear to see.

The mechanism is in place through the database within the Department of Agriculture to issue retrospective compensation – it is now simply a matter of seeing if the political commitment really exists both at national and EU level to ensure Irish farmers are not left totally exposed to the financial fallout of Brexit.

The upcoming MEP elections provide an ideal opportunity for farmers to identify where the various candidates and political parties stand on this issue.

Environment: farm efficiency and the green agenda

Also this week, Thomas Hubert gives a simple breakdown of the key climate actions being put forward by Teagasc to reduce agricultural emissions by over 30%. If implemented, the measures would have a net cost of €34m per annum. In the context of protecting a sector that supports over 10% of national employment and generates over €12bn per annum in exports, it is an investment that would deliver an excellent return to the Exchequer.

Many of the on-farm measures, including the targeting of better genetics, encouraging better grassland management practice and better use of chemical fertilisers, will actually deliver a double win by reducing climate impact at the same time as delivering an economic dividend.

Driving the uptake of these schemes should be reflected in the design of future environmental schemes under the CAP. Technical efficiency should no longer be seen as contrary to the green agenda.

Dairy: family farm shines on Grass 10 open day

Those who attended the Grass 10 open day on the Macnamara farm on Wednesday were treated to a tour de force on grassland management.

John and Olivia Macnamara won the Grassland Farmer of the Year competition last year. They epitomise all that is good about Irish dairy farming – grass-based, low-cost and environmentally friendly family farming.

John has been involved in training young people in dairy farming and grassland management for years. The Macnamaras are worthy winners.

Farm loans: challenging banks

When challenging banks on farm loans, there is always the concern that they will become more reluctant to accept farmland as security. It is important to highlight that the IFA protest at the AIB AGM was in relation to the sale of farm loans to vulture funds that have been restructured or where the farmer is attempting to work through issues with the bank.