The last week has reminded me a lot of my days in college, when I used to travel home from Dublin on a Friday.

All week, it would be dry around University College Dublin, while I would be getting calls from home telling me about the torrential rain in Mayo.

Coming up to the bridge in Tarmonbarry crossing the Shannon, we often joked that the black clouds and rain started from there.

It seems to be very much the case again this week, as torrential rain has hammered the western and northern parts of the country, while there are still farmers seeing growth affected by moisture stress in the east and south.

Those in the former - rather than the latter - are arguably in a worse-off state.

Even where ground conditions are OK, grass dry matter has dropped dramatically, especially where grass was mown or topped in the last rotation - it is simply running through stock.

Intake is going to be hit majorly, meaning growth or milk production is going to take a hit if supplementation isn’t offered.

Options

In dairy cows, this can go into the diet in one of two ways, either silage or meal.

Where there is ample silage, scattering it along the barrier at milking time at a rate of 2kg per cow will do a lot in the way of firming up dung, while a bale of straw along one barrier would do little harm either.

For beef stock, it will be a case of introducing concentrates for finishing cattle or weanlings.

In the type of weather we are having, introducing a trough to a paddock will be a no-no for many.

For weanlings, creep grazing calves ahead of cows and introducing a trough with 1kg to 2kg of concentrates - and moving it each day - should work well.

For heavier animals, try to feed on a roadway or, if close by, in the yard or handling unit.

Poaching

Poaching is becoming an issue for some, with reports of some cattle having to be housed. Hopefully this is temporary, but where fairly significant damage is being done, it is probably the best option for now.

Poached ground will be slow to bounce back and even harder to graze come September and October and while it is a game of chance, you would have to hope that we won't have two early winters in a row.