Weekend weather: positive signs for the Ploughing

Friday is set to be another cool and bright day. There will be plenty of sunshine but no shortage of shower too.

The showers are likely to be confined to the Atlantic coasts and Ulster in the morning but the rain is expected to move across the country to affect most places by the afternoon.

It will be cool for the time of the year with top temperatures of 13°C to 16°C.

Saturday

Met Éireann is forecasting that Saturday will be cool and blustery.

After dry and sunny start to most places, cloud will develop and with that cloud will come some heavy showers. The showers will fade away leaving a dry night. Top temperatures on Saturday are expected to be between 11°C and 14°C.

However, temperatures will drop sharply on Saturday night to between 2°C and 6°C. This raises the threat of tetany significantly.

Sunday

Sunday seems to be the start of the first settled spell in a long time.

It will be mainly dry and bright the whole day – good news for those heading to Croke Park for the All-Ireland final.

There is only a slight risk of showers in the north and east of the country. Top temperatures will range from 15°C to 17°C.

Next week

The indications that Monday as well as Tuesday and Wednesday will be mild and dry with plenty of sunshine. Top temperatures over these days are forecast to hit between 14°C and 19°C.

Some positivity for the 2017 National Ploughing Championships.

Tillage

Tillage editor looks at the challenges of planting rape.

Sheep

Meanwhile, Darren Carty says sheep farmers should be looking at meal supplementation given the bad weather.

Beef

In beef management notes, beef and suckler editor Adam Woods advises farmers that now is the time to do a fodder budget with many cattle housed.

Dairy

Aidan Brennan says farmers should be paying close attention to the weights of replacement heifers.