Every farmer should put a good fodder and financial plan in place now to get through next winter.

This has been the main message from a Teagasc, whose national fodder audit is under way today.

Farmers have been urged to think of the options to ensure there is sufficient feed in yards for livestock next winter and to make the most efficient use of grass grown on the farm for the remainder of 2013.

Farmers were also advised to plan for the inevitable cash-flow issues created by large feed bills from the winter of 2012/2013.

Speaking late last month Siobhan Kavanagh, Teagasc Nutrition Specialist, said it is absolutely critical for every farmer to complete a fodder audit in the coming weeks and to formulate strategies to deal with any impending feed deficits.

The Teagasc worksheet is available here.

Image O’Gorman Photography