The weather has finally settled enough to allow for spring activity all over the country.

Cattle and sheep are being turned out and land is being ploughed and planted.

In drier areas, planting is progressing well. After almost two weeks of unbroken dry weather in the east, many farmers have completed their cereal planting. Planting of maize under plastic is planned before this settled spell ends.

There are few reports of issues regarding availability of seed or inputs

The last of the potatoes and beet were being pulled in areas like south Wexford and Donegal, with those fields in better condition than some of the land where crops were harvested in winter months.

There are few reports of issues regarding availability of seed or inputs, with fast response times for deliveries of seed and fertiliser. Collection continues in most merchants’ yards, but only under strict social distancing protocols.

Night frosts limited the bounce from the warmer days of last Thursday and Friday

Low temperatures are leaving many autumn- and February-planted crops looking weak, and in need of sunshine and nutrients to pick them up.

Time is running out for crops, particularly winter barley, to tiller and thicken. Night frosts limited the bounce from the warmer days of last Thursday and Friday.

Some farmers took advantage of those fine days to cut and bale some paddocks that were too advanced for grazing.