Harvest on hold as farmers wait for fine weather

The cereal harvest is on hold due to the poor weather leaving tillage farmers’ season hanging in the balance. Heavy rains have left many cereal crops under water with potential quality and yield losses increasing daily.

Under these difficult harvesting conditions Teagasc are advising tillage farmers to:

1. Give priority to harvesting the most valuable crops first like malting barley, milling wheat and seed crops.
2. Have harvesting and drying equipment ready to go when conditions are suitable for cutting.
3. Take every opportunity to cut – even at moisture contents of up to 25%
4. Consult your merchant on intake and storage of grain with high moisture

Farmers need to prepare machinery now for travelling under poorer ground conditions, so that the harvesting opportunities can be availed of when they arise. Machinery such as combines, silage harvesters, tractors, trailers, and balers can all operate more effectively under poorer soil conditions by making modifications to the tyres on these vehicles. Ground pressure can be reduced by fitting larger tyres, working at lower tyre pressures or possibly fitting dual wheels.

Livestock

On some livestock farms, dairy cows and beef cattle have been re-housed due to flooding of grassland and to avoid further poaching of the land and subsequent deterioration of grass utilisation.

On dairy farms Teagasc are recommending that a flexible approach to grazing during this period be adopted. Preferably graze paddocks with lower covers, provide larger grazing areas to livestock, offer fresh grass after each milking and use back fences to protect grazed areas. Recent Teagasc research at Moorepark has shown that on/off grazing (allowing cow’s access to grass for a limited time) is an approach that can be used to maintain cows at grass during periods of wet weather similar to what we are now experiencing. To sustain high levels of performance from grass, cows should be given 3-4 hours access to grass after each milking. There is no requirement to supplement these cows with additional feed while they are indoors if farm covers are on, or above target.

On drystock farms, Teagasc are recommending that producers move livestock to higher ground and drier fields to reduce poaching and to consider re-housing livestock, especially bulls, if grazing conditions deteriorate further. The wet summer may also lead to an increased risk of liver fluke in sheep.

With the increased level of building activity on farms this year, Teagasc are advising farmers to take steps to protect new and existing storage tanks from damage caused by rising water levels.

To view the Teagasc Weather Impact Report please click here

Advice is available from Teagasc advisers through the local offices