Farmers are beginning to get stock out to grass in drier parts of the country after Met Eireann forecasted a cold and dry week.
The relatively mild winter has resulted in heavier than normal grass covers on many farms. The extra grass means that some farmers are now playing catch up with their spring rotation planner.
Grazing on many farms, both beef and dairy, has been restricted by high rainfall levels in January and February. This rainfall resulted in water logged soils in some locations.
However, some farmers have taken advantage of the change in the weather and have got stock out to grass.
According to his Twitter account, John Power is a suckler farm in Rathgormack, Co. Waterford and he got his cows and calves out grazing yesterday.
https://twitter.com/JohnPower28/status/702124662407503873
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Dairy cows have been grazing full time on Philip Tyndall’s farm since February 20. The farm is located in north Wexford and they cows are tackling a cover of 1,700kg of dry matter per hectare.
https://twitter.com/PhilipTyndall/status/700948897489940480
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A little further south in Duncormick, Co. Wexford, the recent convert to dairy farming Michael Doran has also been getting his herd of cross-bred cows out grazing.
Evening milking done Richie and back out to grass! pic.twitter.com/2aDIeKMyNv
— Michael Doran 🐄 (@michaelgdoran) February 1, 2016
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Charles Crosse, a spring-calving dairy farmer from Kilfeacle, Co. Tipperary has also got his cross-bred herd out to grass.
What a day!! pic.twitter.com/9EQ7fRLLgN
— Charles Crosse (@CharlesCrosse) February 22, 2016
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Some farmers have also taken advantage of the improved weather conditions to get fertiliser out. Teagasc recommends that farmers spread urea in the spring once soil temperatures reach 4-5 degrees Celcius and the weather is forecast to be mild.
Grass DM at Curtins yesterday morning 15% DM – Soil Temp at 7.5°C
— PastureBase Ireland (@PastureBase) February 23, 2016
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West Cork dairy farmer Aidan McCarthy, was one such farmer to take advantage of the improved weather conditions to get fertiliser out on his farm.
I think nearly every farmer in the country was at this job today, and what a day it was #nationalfertiliserday pic.twitter.com/c4C0fFjwy5
— Aidan McCarthy (@AidanAidanmc) February 23, 2016
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