Contractors ‘flat to the mat’ on slurry

THE pressure on farmers in the midlands and west to get slurry spread was finally easing last week as contractors made the most of the cold but dry weather.

Although heavy ground was still off limits for slurry tankers, the cold snap had enabled contractors to relieve the pressure on hard-pressed livestock farmers.

Roscommon-based contractor John Kennedy said he was “flat to the mat” this week with slurry but that it was great to be “powering on”.

Mr Kennedy, who is based in Ballyforan, said a lot of land remained wet, but he said it was drying fairly quickly.

It was a similar story in north Kerry where Neilus O’Connor said his outfit was finally able to work with tankers this week.

Mr O’Connor said the improvement in the weather was “sorely needed” and had just come at the right time for many farmers.

He said it was helping to ease pressure.

However, he added this year’s problems highlighted again the “real problems” that calendar farming was imposing.

“This will have to be looked at,” Mr O’Connor said.

This week’s Siberian winds are likely to delay sowing of spring crops in most areas, but Tipperary-based farm consultant PJ Phelan said the dry weather week had enabled farmers to get back into the fields.

However, this week contracting work is likely to come to a stand-still as Met Eireann has issued a Status Orange weather warning to Wicklow, Meath, Carlow, Kildare, Laois, Dublin and Louth due to come in to affect today. Snowfall of between 4-6cm is expected in the next 48 hours, with farmers advised to prepare for the weather.

ICMSA’s Lorcan McCabe has warned farmers to consider bringing in young livestock due to the cold snap and be aware for “potential farm accidents.”