The consecutive heatwaves that have characterised 2026 up to this point have highlighted the importance of utilising water to best effect.

Even in our climate, water is an expensive commodity to procure at any time of the year.

Given this backdrop, farmers should take the opportunity of looking upwards towards the roofs and the guttering that festoon all of their farm buildings.

Looking at ways by which rainwater can be better stored and utilised should be prioritised.

Step one in this process is that of inspecting all guttering and drain pipes with the aim of removing blockages and repairing breaks.

After that, it’s a case of installing a fit-for-purpose water storage system.

Farmyard maintenance

So, yes, mid-summer has arrived and agriculture enters that time of the year when the opportunity presents itself for farmers to take stock of their businesses and plan for the future.

The continuing dry spell is a tremendous help when it comes to the job of fixing potholes in laneways and repairing those all-important concrete surfaces that are at the heart of all farm yards: both inside and outside.

Another priority on all farms is to have effective animal handling systems in situ.

The days of using spare gates tied with baling twin or rope to help move cattle from one location to another within a farm yard complex should have been relegated to the history books many years ago. Unfortunately, this is not the case.

The crush is, probably, the most important item of animal handling equipment found on all livestock farms.

Its use has to be gauged from both an animal and operator safety perspective

So it’s important that the crush and the race running up to it are fit for purpose. This is particularly the case from a head restraint perspective. 

Trying to put a replacement tag, for example, into the ear of a mature bull or cow with these animals having the ability to freely move their heads while this process takes place is an extremely dangerous procedure if you are the person holding the tagger.

Farm safety

Enhancing farm safety standards on farms is the biggest challenge facing agriculture in Northern Ireland as a whole.

Too many people continue to get hurt a a result of either having inappropriate handling facilities or simply rushing jobs without taking the time to think through what’s actually required to carry out the task at hand.

Now is the time of the year when most livestock sheds lie empty.

It is an appropriate time for farmers to take stock of how they can manage next winter and the feeding seasons that will follow in the most effective way possible, from both an animal performance and operator safety perspective.