Farmers’ fears have been realised as Met Éireann has confirmed that grass growth and land conditions have experienced a significant setback due to extreme March weather.

“This March is reminiscent of 2013, when we experienced the last fodder crisis. That year, records were set for similarly cold spring weather,” a spokesperson for Met Éireann told the Irish Farmers Journal.

Farmers banking on an early spring have already been forced to house stock for a longer period due to the “Beast from the East”, which has led to growing constraints on fodder stocks and slurry storage.

Many farmers are unable to spread slurry due to saturated ground conditions and despair is setting in on some farms as farmers face diminishing fodder reserves and rising slurry tanks.

Silage is available in the country but quality and price differ considerably, with suppliers asking between €20 and €30 for a round bale and farmers warned to avoid buying “lucky bags” of silage.

There is also no end in sight to the bad weather, with three weather warnings issued by the national forecaster just days before cattle are traditionally let out on St Patrick’s Day.

“The ‘Beast’ will be back this weekend with low temperatures and a hard frost. Days will be bright but it will get very cold at night,” the spokesperson said.

According to the Irish Farmers Journal Grass+ figures, to date, exactly half the amount of grass has grown this year compared with the same period last year. Grass growth is currently averaging 7kg/day compared to 17kg/day this time last year.

“It’s a very late spring and I don’t see a boost to grass growth coming anytime soon,” Met Éireann said.

“The ground across the country is saturated but the easterly wind that’s coming might be cold but it should hopefully help to dry the land over the weekend, though grass growth will remain slow.”

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