Wet weather will fuel fly explosion

The wet weather in June and July is set to fuel a fly explosion over the coming weeks, leading to the risk of production losses and disease problems in cattle, particularly dairy cows.

Veterinary specialist with Schering Plough Animal Health, Fergal Morris said the wet conditions will lead to much higher populations of flies longer and later in the season, particularly if there is warm weather in August.

“Milder conditions last winter combined with damp conditions in February have compounded the problem and resulted in greater populations of flies coming into the summer,” he said.

Mr Morris advised farmers to treat animals with insecticide now. Otherwise, the expected explosion in fly numbers will cause severe agitation, resulting in production losses and increased risk of diseases such as summer mastitis and pink eye.

The IFA has meanwhile predicted the recent weather conditions are likely to reduce this year’s harvest yield by 10% to 15%.

It said that unusually high temperatures in April and the wet, cold weather during June and July have conspired to leave crops in a poorer condition and will reduce potential yield.

Following confirmation that it rained somewhere in the country for 49 consecutive days between June 11 and July 29, Teagasc has warned that potato crops are still at risk from blight.

The barley and winter oilseed rape harvest is completed with yields holding around average.