(A) Grass

Grass growth rates vary considerably. In dry land areas grass growth is in the range 70-80% of normal but in the wetland areas the situation is much more serious with growth rates and grass quantity only 50%-60% of normal. In general grass is scarce to very scarce on many farms and re-growths are poor after grazing and silage cutting. Quicker rotations and difficulty in spreading nitrogen and poor responses to nitrogen when spread are all affecting the situation.

Grass quality and utilisation is well down. Grass utilisation ranges from 50%-60% in the wetter heavier soils to up to 70%-80% on the dry soils. Grass is getting stemmy and very little topping has been done.

Grassland has been damaged on most farms due to poaching during grazing and machinery damage from silage making and slurry spreading. This land damage is most severe in the wetland areas with heavier soils and on hilly and sloping land. At this stage it is hard to quantify the longer term damage to swards from soil compaction, ingress of weeds and need for reseeding in the more severe cases.

Due to poaching and grass scarcity, animals were housed either fully or partially on around 20% of farms during the past six weeks.

The costs of supplementing animals with silage carried over from last year and purchased concentrates to make up for the grass shortfall will be substantial.

(B) Silage

On average there has been a delay of about three weeks in making silage. At this stage 75% - 100% of first cut silage is made in dry land areas but the figure is as low as 20-40% in the most difficult areas. Silage yields from first cut are generally higher due to the delayed cutting. Yields are lower where silage ground was grazed before closing. About 30% of farms were forced to graze some silage ground after closing.

Most silage made to date is expected to be in the range 55-65 DMD, a reduction of 8-10 units on a normal year and the wetland areas are worst affected. There are also worries about soil contamination and how well the silages will preserve.

The quantity of second cut silage is also expected to be substantially reduced. The maize crop is poor and unless weather conditions improve rapidly the winter feed from maize will be reduced.

Overall, farmers can expect to face higher feed bills for purchased feeds next winter.

Plans should now be made to reduce the impact of the feed shortage e.g. getting extra nitrogen out to stimulate grass, making use of whole crop grains in tillage areas, sourcing cheaper supplements and selling off surplus animals.

(C) Hay

Most counties report that only 0 to 10% of hay is made and the quality is poor to moderate. Many farmers who traditionally made hay will be forced to change to baled silage unless the weather improves. A shortage of good quality hay may cause problems for horse feeding.

(A) Dairy

The weather has had some impact on milk yield. The big dairy co-ops (Dairygold and Glanbia) report milk intake down about 4% for the month of June and down in the range 2-4% for July to date compared with the corresponding period in 2001. Milk protein content in June was down 0.01% to 0.03% but butterfats were slightly up. Milk production would be substantially lower but for the high level of supplementary feeding.

Most dairy farms are feeding purchased rations or straights and up to two thirds of farms have fed surplus silage carried over from last year. The level of meal supplementation varies in the range 1 to 8 kgs/cow/day with an average level of about 3kgs/cow/day. Calves are also being fed about 1.0 - 1.2kgs meal/day. Supplementation is highest in the wetland areas, on the more intensively stocked farms and in high yielding herds. Many herds were in yards or housed part-time at night during the worst weather periods and this situation was more serious in the wetland areas. Problems are also being encountered in getting fertilisers and slurry spread.

There are also some worries about dairy herd breeding and fertility. Most farmers report good non-return-rates in the early breeding season but there are worries that heat detection is more difficult and that cows repeating are being missed. Scanning the herd for pregnancy will help identify problem cows in good time. Bulls are now out with the herd on most farms.

Overall, grass supply is scarce, regrowth is poor, grazing conditions are very difficult and grass quality is down, with many paddocks damaged by poaching and by machinery during silage making.

(B) Beef

Cattle farms have many of the same difficulties with grassland and silage as those experienced by dairy farmers. Cattle have been housed for varying periods depending on conditions for grazing and these are most severe in the wetland areas and on intensively stocked farms. Animal performance (daily liveweight gain) is reported to be down 15-20% on normal levels and up to 30% or more in the worst affected areas. However, Teagasc cattle weighing results indicate that the performance drop is less than expected. The reduced performance is due to grass shortage and poorer quality and the fact that less supplementary feeding is given compared with dairy farms.

Many farms have fed surplus silage carried over from 2001 to store cattle. Purchased concentrates are being fed to calves at up to 1.0-1.2 kgs/calf/day. Some calves have not been left out on pasture yet. Meal feeding of 1 to 5 kgs/head/day (average of 2-3 kgs) is being fed to finishing cattle to get them into adequate condition for slaughter and also to get cattle finished before 30 months of age. Some farmers are trying to avoid meal feeding in troughs out in paddocks, which can lead to more poaching where cattle congregate.

It is difficult to identify the extent of breeding/fertility difficulties in suckler cows. Some reports indicate that breeding performance will be reduced. Heat detection is difficult, some herds have poorer cow condition and housed herds have difficulties. There are some indications of increased incidence of grass tetany and pneumonia.

Overall, the reduced liveweight gains, extra supplementary feeding and delay in getting cattle finished will put pressure on profit margins.

(C) Sheep

The overall animal performance (daily liveweight gain) on sheep farms is down10% - 20%. On the worst farms performance is down more than 20% but on the best farms performance is close to normal.

Lamb sales are up to about 80% - 90% of normal levels on the best farms but are down to about 60% of normal in wetland areas. In very badly affected areas, sales are only 15-30% of normal.

There is a wide variation in the percentage of sheep farms feeding supplements to lambs, the range being 10% -90%. The level of supplementation varies from 0.25-1.0 kg/lamb. When lamb sales are delayed losses arise due to falling prices as the season progresses. Other problems include delays in getting sheep sheared, more lameness and foot problems, increased risk of fluke, risk of listeriosis in silage contaminated with soil and shortages of good aftergrass.

Overall, reduced animal performance and delay in selling of lambs, extra meal costs and poor winter feed supplies will put pressure on profit margins.

(A) Winter Cereals

Crop growth is generally satisfactory. Grain fill is slower than normal and may be a problem. The overall spraying programme has been completed but the timing of sprays was less than optimum and higher rates of chemicals were used resulting in costs being up 20 - 30% on normal.

Wet weather diseases are more prevalent than normal. Septoria and to a lesser extend Fusarium are the main diseases in Winter Wheat. In winter barley the main diseases prevalent are Rhynchosporium, Net Blotch and Ramularia. Yield potential and cereal prices are hard to estimate at this stage but both are expected to show some decrease.

(B) Spring Cereals

Spring barley is showing poor to very poor growth on many farms. Many crops have patchy areas and water logging is leading to nutrient deficiencies in some fields with plants very dwarfed. Spring wheat and oats are showing less problems. Conditions for spraying have been unfavourable and extra chemical use will increase costs 20% -30% over normal. Crop losses will be higher than for winter crops but it is too early to predict yields and prices.

(C) Maize

Crop growth is very poor and 3-4 weeks behind for crops not under plastic. About 25% - 30% of the crop is under plastic and this is much better. It is vital that weather improves soon to help growth. Most expect reduced yields and quality with poor cob development. Some crops in exposed coastal areas and on marginal land may be a total failure.

(D) Sugar Beet

The sugar beet crop has been showing poor progress and is 2-3 weeks behind normal, particularly for the later sown crops. Weed control was more difficult and costly than normal. If the weather comes right from now on, the crop has the capacity to recover a lot of its potential.

(E) Potatoes

The first earlies (Homeguard) produced a moderate yield. A major problem is arising in the second early crop (British Queens) with Blackleg (stalk rot) which leads to deterioration of the potatoes and reduction in saleable yield. Many growers now have this problem. Progress in the main potato crop is slow, particularly for late sown crops. Blight pressure has increased and it is difficult to optimise the spraying programme.

(A) Vegetables

Sowing of crops has been delayed and growth is backward. Weed problems and disease are arising but it is difficult to travel on the wet and waterlogged soils to spray. Brassica crops, such as broccoli and cauliflower, have suffered considerable losses. A number of producers are particularly hard hit, having suffered total crop losses with little opportunity to replant.

(B) Soft Fruit

The protected strawberry crop is not too badly affected in yield and prices are reasonably good. However, the outdoor uncovered strawberry crop is suffering yield losses up to 50% or more with disease problems arising.

(C) Nursery Stock

Many nurseries are reporting a big drop in sales of various plants normally sold in the May to July period and the surplus plants have to be discarded.