Northern regions have been worst affected by recent heavy rainfall, with farmers forced to bring cattle and sheep indoors to avoid poaching and for better control of feed intake.

Southern counties have been less dramatically affected, although some farms along the west coast have had to open shed doors.

A sheep farmer near Derry told the Irish Farmers Journal he brought his store lambs indoors to get the correct fat cover on finished carcases.

Other farmers brought cattle and sheep to the factory to reduce pressure on the land.

This has resulted in some lambs being presented for slaughter before their time and under target weights to reduce the losses involved with keeping livestock on wet land.

With an abundance of silage on many farms, some have decided to bring animals indoors with little fear of fodder supply running out before winter is through.

On the tillage front, there has been limited harvest days during August, with some growers being forced to harvest at high moistures.

Flooding

Flooding has also been reported due to days of torrential rain. Rainfall totals for August in western counties have ranged from 140mm to 297mm.

A Met Éireann report for August shows that the highest monthly rainfall was recorded at Athenry, Co Galway, at 297.3mm, 276% above the average.

Newport, Co Mayo, witnessed the highest single day’s rainfall. It recorded 48.7mm on 30 August, its wettest day in 20 years.