Never before has the weather forecast been watched by more anxious eyes.

On this morning’s Met Eireann forecast, John Egerton said that Monday’s weather would be the best for the next 10 days. With rain spreading across from the west and more wind and cold on the way, it wasn’t what farmers wanted to hear.

Now is not the time for panic. Now is the time for rational planning and coming up with solutions.

We need to accept that the weather is crap and grass growth, milk solids and feed-use targets won’t be met this spring. Everyone is in the same boat and it’s just a matter of trudging through the next few weeks.

Just because growth is slow doesn’t mean that everyone is short of grass. Those who have very little of their farm grazed still have a lot of grass on hand. While heavy land is wet now, there should be an opportunity to get cows out soon.

Housing

Farmers who have a high proportion of their farm grazed and have a low average farm cover will have no choice but to house cows. It’s better to house them now and conserve grass for later. I would prefer to see cows on a rising plane of nutrition (grass) in the last three or four weeks before mating. Animals that go from a low to a high plane of nutrition have better fertility results than other combinations.

Feed

Farmers who are short of grass and short of silage are in real trouble. They need to buy in feed. Extra concentrates will help to reduce reliance on forage, but don’t feed more than 50% meals and feed high-fibre feeds, such as pulps and hulls, instead of high-starch feeds. Luckily enough, there seems to be feed available to buy at reasonable-enough prices. Fodder-stretcher rations are available and these should be fed to young stock, dry cows, cattle, etc. Surplus animals should be sold.

Silage

Farmers that have a week or so left in silage stocks should greatly reduce the amount of silage being fed now. Fodder-stretching concentrates should be fed to dry cows, cattle and replacement heifers. Are there cattle that can be sold to reduce demand?

It’s not all doom and gloom; there is feed available. Contact your local adviser or feed rep who might be able to put you in contact with farmers who have surplus stocks.

Keep positive and keep focusing on the important tasks. Cows are resilient and they will bounce back from the current hardship.