The weather crisis could be worse news than foot-and-mouth disease, a farmer tells Sean MacConnell
Edenderry-based Richard Tyrell believes that the threat facing Irish farmers from the weather is even greater than that posed by the foot-and-mouth crisis of last year.
"There were precautions which could be taken against foot-and-mouth and the farmer had some control, but you cannot do anything against the weather," he said.
This week, Richard took stock of where his life is now, as he looked around the 390-acre farm where he lives with his wife, Sarah, and their three children.
"I have not managed to get any silage yet, and the way the weather is I am not sure when I will get it," he said.
He explained that this was creating serious problems in managing his 120-strong herd, which is now running out of feed.
"I have had to move them to smaller and smaller pastures and ultimately may have to house them," he said.
"My problem is that I am running out of places to put them. It's a real juggling act and I don't think I'm winning," he said.
Richard, who also plants 120 acres of spring wheat and barley on rented acreage, said he is already three weeks behind in terms of work.
"I have never seen anything like it, with the possible exception of 1981/82 when I was in agricultural college," he said.
"We got some relief then because there was some decent weather, but it has been relentless here," he said.
He said that the lack of grass growth was the main problem facing him. He had major decisions to make when he eventually managed to get his first cut of silage.
He has a choice of strip-grazing the fields which should be used for silage, but that will depend on whether or not the land will be dry enough to carry the cattle.
"The damage that has been caused to the land by grazing so far has been tremendous and there is also a build-up of slurry in the tanks which has to be spread," he said.
He said he was more fortunate than many other cereal growers in the area because he had managed to spray his crops against disease about three weeks ago when he got one decent day.
"Unfortunately, it's too windy to spray now and the danger is that when it's not too windy, it will be too wet underfoot," he said.
He said he has attended a number of the farming meetings which have been taking place in recent weeks.
As he has listened to and observed those attending, he has become increasingly concerned at the growing level of despondency and depression he has seen among the members of the farming community.
"Most of us have irrecoverable costs," he said.
"It will be a very, very bad year indeed for the farmer."