Heavy rain over the weekend saw ground conditions deteriorate significantly and further rain during the week saw many cattle housed.

Met Éireann recorded 48.8mm of rain at Ballyhaise, Co Cavan, on Sunday. Oak Park, Co Carlow, got 40.3mm of rain in one day, while Dunsany Castle, Co Meath, received 25.2mm and Mullingar, Co Westmeath, received 22.2mm.

The Irish Farmers Journal Sencrop weather station data showed St Johnston in Donegal took 48.8mm of rain on Sunday, while Ballyragget, Co Kilkenny, received 29mm, New Ross, Co Wexford, 24.2mm and Athy, Co Kildare, received 23.9mm.

The Irish Farmers Journal spoke to farmers and contractors this week to find out how they were affected.

Michael Chance

Co Donegal

“Ground conditions are becoming very difficult. Fields and roads which wouldn’t usually flood are submerged in water. It’s becoming increasingly difficult for suckler farmers. Ground is under increased pressure.

“Mart prices are holding up relatively well and farmers aren’t in a huge panic to get cattle away as factories in Donegal weren’t hugely affected by the blockades.”

Martin Gilvarry

Co Mayo

“Dairy farmers operating on marginal land have begun to house cows at night and are beginning to struggle. Hopefully the weather improves and cattle can be grazed until mid-October. If not, cattle will have to be housed.

“There is pressure on farmers to get finished cattle approaching 30 months to factories. The blockades being removed is a big relief. However, there is a huge backlog of cattle.”

Elizabeth Ormiston

Kells, Co Cavan

“Ground conditions are diabolical at the moment. There is ground in west Cavan which is under water.

“The huge amount of rain has completely ended silage cutting for this year. Farmers are starting to house cattle and are using their silage reserves. Farmers are now under serious pressure to get stock away, especially animals which are over-fat and approaching 30 months of age.”

Michael Barrett

Newcastle West, Co Limerick

“Conditions aren’t as good as last year. Farmers are still managing but if a couple of wet weeks come, cattle will be in by mid-October.

There isn’t a lot of pressure at the moment for farmers looking to get cattle away. The blockades didn’t hugely affect the local factory in Rathkeale, and cattle were being killed up until the last blockades.”

Sean Conefrey

Co Longford

“After the heavy rain, ground conditions are now all of a sudden really poor. Ground has been sticky for the month of August.

“Mart sales/numbers are considerably smaller than last year and there is a backlog of cattle in the factories.”

Nigel Law

Co Wicklow

“Ground conditions aren’t too bad considering the rain. Ground is sticky on the surface but dry below.”

Tom Coll

Teagasc, Sligo/Leitrim

“Ground conditions were reasonably good up to last week but Sunday’s rain has put conditions back to square one. Farmers are constantly moving cattle and now grass utilisation will become a problem due to the poor weather. If the weather worsens over the next 10 days, farmers will be under pressure to sell weanlings. However, that depends if buyers in the mart are able to purchase stock.”

Flor McCarthy

Co Kerry

“Ground is holding up reasonably well. There is a still a lot of grass to be grazed. Cattle are still out and I don’t expect them to be housed for another three weeks unless more heavy rain comes.

Farmers are still able to manage with current conditions but that could change quickly. Selling stock, there isn’t a lot of pressure as a lot of weanlings are sold already and there is a good mart trade.”

Read more

Around the country: unsettled weather sparks second cut delays

'Beef farmers have enough to worry about without the weather'

Torrential rain causes flash flooding on farms