Drought conditions in Co Cork

Cows getting a buffer feed of 24kg fresh weight silage mixed with 2kg of course ration along with the 4kg of dairy nut in the parlour on the farm of Liam O'Leary, Ballybride, Conna, Co Cork. Grass growth in the area has dropped significantly, with only 40mm of rain since the 1 July on the farm. \ Donal O'Leary

Drought conditions near Fermoy, Co Cork. \ Donal O'Leary

Best season for harvesting crops in decades?

Contractor Billy Dawson harvests a crop of March-sown Lynx spring beans in Kilnock Cross, Co Carlow. It is the last of Billy’s crops to be harvested and he describes this season as the best in decades. \ Philip Doyle

Rowing in hay ahead of baling in Co Cork

Eppy Hartnett of Hartnett Agri rowing in hay ahead of baling for James Leahy, Morley's Cross, Co Cork. \ Donal O'Leary

Pumpkins, sunflowers and wild flowers in Co Tipperary

Niall Laffan with some of the different varieties of pumpkin that they are growing on the family farm at Kingstown, Cashel, Co Tipperary. \ Donal O'Leary

Sean, Niall and Moira Laffan. \ Donal O'Leary

Moira Laffan. \ Donal O'Leary

Some of the different varieties of pumpkin. \ Donal O'Leary

Wild flowers and pumpkins growing on the Laffan family farm at Kingstown, Cashel, Co Tipperary. \ Donal O'Leary

Niall Laffan cutting the last of the sunflowers on the family farm at Kingstown, Cashel, Co Tipperary. The Laffan family opened the field of sunflowers to the public over the month of August to raise funds for the Irish Cancer Society, South Tipperary Hospice and the Irish Red Cross Ukraine Appeal. \ Donal O'Leary

Some more pictures from around the country

In the sunny weather, Denis Duggan of Duggan Agri Contractors harvests barley using a 1992 John Deere 1177 combine harvester averaging 3.3/t per acre at a moisture content of 17% in Ballynacarriga, west Cork. \ Andy Gibson

Having a go: Bernadette Spellman, Keadue, Co Roscommon, skips with a straw rope being wound by Margaret O’Rourke, Carrick-on-Shannon, and Nuala McNamara, Ballyfarnon, Co Roscommon. They were attending the Meitheal event on hand harvesting oats at Mountallen Eco Farm, Co Roscommon. \ Gerry Faughnan

Dairy farmer Bertie Roche, Kylemore, Abbey, Co Galway, checking on his cows. \ David Ruffles

Tullamore Farm hosted the Bimeda Ireland sales team along with a group of US visitors including large-scale feedlot operators, suckler cow ranch owners and veterinary and nutrition consultants. Farming conditions for US beef and suckler farmers are very similar to farmers here at present with escalating input costs eroding significant increases in Farmgate prices. \ Odhran Ducie

Sustainability the focus at Johnstown Castle open day