Grain harvesting improves, but work remains behind schedule

HARVESTING of the grain crops has improved, especially in the south of the country, but the work is still well behind schedule with ground conditions difficult in most areas.

Teagasc reports that 40% to 45% of the work had been completed by last weekend compared to 85% in a normal year, with the midlands and the north-east further behind than the rest of the country.

The latest event to be affected by the weather is Potatoes 2008 — The Quest for Quality, which Teagasc was due to hold at Oak Park, Carlow, on Thursday.

It has been postponed until September 30 at the same venue to allow growers to catch up on tillage operations.

Meanwhile, milk supply is down as a result of difficult grazing conditions. Grass supply is expected to reduce much earlier than normal if weather patterns persist.

Teagasc says that few crops of second cut silage have been harvested which may have implications for winter feed supplies later on. Up to last week the problems on beef farms were not too serious, but subsequent heavy rain, especially in the west, could precipitate problems quite soon.

This is impacting on animal performance which is not as good as in previous years.

There are also some delays in farm building construction work under the Farm Waste Management Scheme due to high water table levels.

Labour Party TD Willie Penrose called on Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith to contact the EU and seek a three-month extension to the scheme deadline, so as to ensure that all vital planned works will be completed.

The following blight warning has been issued by Met Éireann: weather conditions conducive to the spread of potato blight will occur later this week on Thursday night and through Friday. There are only limited opportunities for spraying because of a showery weather regime over the next few days.