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Farmers and contractors across the country are gearing up for a weekend of silage making, as Met Éireann forecasts clear spells and temperatures as high as 19°C over the coming days.
Those with grass ready will be thankful of the dry spell and will wish to make the best of it. Meanwhile, with phones hopping, contracting teams will be busy.
The Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) and the Road Safety Authority (RSA) have warned farm machinery operators, along with the general public who may encounter silage teams on our roads this weekend, to take care and be mindful of health and safety at all times.
Social media
Farmers and contractors alike have taken to Twitter to showcase their crops and machinery as silage fever kicks in.
The Irish Farmers Journal compiled the latest on Friday.
Westmeath based contractor David Corrigan has taken over the Irelands Farmers Twitter account this week and updated followers on the “grass fever” setting in on Friday morning.
Grass fever well and truly as set in now. Only dry till Monday so farmers have gotten very excited over the last 24hrs. Have to cut 80 acres today for the BIL for his first cut
— IrelandsFarmers (@IrelandsFarmers) May 27, 2022
Waterford dairy farmer Maighread Barron posted a photo of her dog Moon reviewing her crop.
Moon says its a strong crop. ???? pic.twitter.com/PEYofAeIAG
— Maighread Barron (@BarronMaighread) May 26, 2022
YouTube’s “Farmer Phil” has gone mowing in Longford.
"Farmer Phil" mowing some of the brother's silage ?? pic.twitter.com/wRYJ1akwk2
— @mark mccormack (@MarkMcC64572225) May 27, 2022
Clare farmer Conor Whelan videoed mowing his reseed. “Some crop here,” he said.
“There’ll be black bales all over the place.”
Some crop here, reseeded field. There’ll be black bales all over the place pic.twitter.com/LDe33eWFiJ
— Conor Whelan (@ConorWhelan30) May 26, 2022
FBD Young Farmer of the Year 2020 and Galway man Dara Killeen posted a photo of his new pit being filled and says the O’Brien brother contractors have been doing their silage for 44 years.
44 years having the O’Brien brothers do the silage here. Pit looks very small on the new slab. pic.twitter.com/CEIc4kQTAX
— Dara Killeen (@chakilleen) May 27, 2022
Learning for school kids
IFA Munster regional chair and dairy farmer Harold Kingston is showing school children how silage is made through Farmer Time Ireland.
I'm part of the @FarmerTime_ie initiative which pairs me with a class for regular live video updates from the farm. I also send videos to be watched between calls. This thread is 4 videos aimed at a non-farming junior infants audience of silage being made #FarmerTime #Silage22 pic.twitter.com/IXQcPK9Ibg
— Harold Kingston ?? (@HaroldKingston1) May 26, 2022
Limerick dairy farmer Louise Crowley says it’s “that time of year”.
That time of year when silage is stop/start, and cows still have to be milked.
— Louise Crowley (@CrowleyLouise) May 23, 2022
Morning milking ?? Pit silage ?? Evening milking ?? Baled silage #silage2022 pic.twitter.com/PDJGa2vJ7N
Elsewhere
Those across the water have also taken to the fields with good weather allowing English and Scottish farmers to make a silage burst.
Somerset dairy farmer Emily Kingston says “silage 2022 is a go!”
Silage 2022 is a go!
— Emily Kingston (@emkingston92) May 26, 2022
Looking like a heavy crop… as usual ????????????? pic.twitter.com/dZPPkDmyA8
While Scottish farmer Annabel Hamilton says “silage 2022 is a Go Go!”
Silage 2022 is a Go Go! @ramrigblondes on the chopper! Nice to spend time with the dog ?? ??! Stunning ?? evening ???? but WINDY ??! pic.twitter.com/KsNX2T3yhR
— Annabel Hamilton (@annabelhami11) May 26, 2022
Silage photo competition
The Irish Farmers Journal, in association with Gouldings Fertilisers, is looking for the best silage photo of 2022.
To send us your best photos and find out more, see here.
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