Irish weather conditions over the past 14 months have been challenging, and the recent warm spell has made grass management especially difficult.

A range of conditions have been thrown at Irish farmers this year, from high rainfall and flooding, to sub-zero temperatures and snow, and now Mediterranean temperatures and soil moisture deficit.

In the context of grassland management, each weather type creates its own problem and equally has its own solution. Some grass measurements are showing growth has dropped to sub 20 kgDM/ha. Those not already down to this level will soon drop until rain arrives.

Here are grassland management tips to deal with the current conditions…

Noel Gowen, consultant with Grasstec Dairy Solutions, specialists in establishment and management of grazing dairy systems in Ireland and UK. [email protected] / www.grasstec.ie