‘I will have to reduce stock for the winter — I am grazing the second-cut ground’

Martin Ryan spoke to farmers at the Teagasc Drought Clinic in Mallow about how they are coping with the heatwave and drought conditions:

LIZ SHEAHAN, Doneraile

“I am depending on a public water supply and I am very concerned what

I can do if they restrict it or cut it off as I don’t have an alternative. I am managing for grass so far.”

JOHN CRONIN, Mallow

“I am on limestone ground and it is very dry, but I’m fortunate the stocking rate is not too high and I got a good first cut of silage. I am hopeful it won’t work out too bad.”

JERRY CRONIN, Greenpark, Mallow

“I’m okay up to now – I’ll have enough grass for another week. We have grazed a lot of the second cut silage. We had a good first cut and we have some maize which is doing very well. I may be able to get some bales later on and I will supplement the silage with some meal – it is probably not more expensive than bales.”

DAN CASEY, Ballyclough

“I am very badly affected. I am feeding four bales of silage a day to the cows – that is my first cut only made a few weeks ago. I know one man who gave €290/acre for silage ground because it can’t be got in this part of the country. I opened eight bales for the cows and heifers. I never before had to supplement the heifers. It is the worst I’ve ever seen it.”

BERT PURDON, Liscarroll

“I am drawing water for cows, about 3,500-4,000 gallons per day, because the pressure is not good enough to come in to me, and I never had a problem before. Bale silage in my area is now making €35. I will have to reduce the stock for the winter. I am grazing the second-cut ground.”

FRANK TWOOMEY, Blarney

“We got an hour of heavy rain and it was great, because it moistened the ground and will help with the bit of fertiliser. We are grazing the second-cut ground. I am hoping to get a cut in August and we have got 100 bales of silage from a neighbouring farm and may be able to get some more.”

MAURICE SAMPSON, Churchtown

“The grass supply is gone very tight. I am zero grazing the second-cut silage ground and I have no plans yet as to what I will do for second cut. It is getting serious.”

DANNY BROE, Buttevant

“I have a private water supply and I’m okay for the present. I’m feeding bales with feed and winter fodder will be a problem.”