More rainfall to compound farmer struggles

There will be little relief from persistent heavy rainfall this week, which is placing farmers under serious pressure and adding to stress levels for families.

Parts of Leinster and Munster recorded three times their average rainfall for this time of year last week, while levels were two times their normal rate in much of the rest of the country.

According to Met Éireann, the wettest location was Valentia, recording 74.9mm, the driest being Malin Head, with 20mm. Much of the country recorded twice its normal rainfall in February. The conditions are impacting farmers across all sectors, with tillage and slurry fieldwork on hold, leaving most livestock farmers with little hope of getting stock to grass.

There will be little relief for embattled farmers this week with more unsettled weather forecast over the next seven days, with rainfall totals to be above normal in most areas.

Conditions

Eastern and southern counties will see rainfall totals generally between 10-20mm, with wetter conditions in the west and north, and totals of between 25 and 50mm expected widely there.

IFA Deputy President Alice Doyle said the level of rainfall has made it impossible to move livestock, planting and sowing is way behind, and bills are mounting as farmers struggle to keep on top of their work.

“St Patrick’s Day is seen as a turning point in the farming calendar, but ground is saturated due to wet conditions that stretch back to the middle of last year,” she said.

She appealed to everybody who interacts with farmers to take this into account and give whatever support they can.

“For the Department of Agriculture, it could mean stepping down inspections... and also redoubling their efforts to ensure the timely payment of funds from farm schemes. Any change to terms and conditions that allows maximum flexibility should also be considered.”