Still weeks to grass in worst hit crisis areas

Deluges of rain in 2012 on the heavy, slow-draining soils in north west Co Cork have left farmers unable to ease their fodder crisis.

“If the rain stopped tomorrow, it would still be three weeks before we would see grass,” said ex-National Dairy Council chairman, Dominic Cronin.

“The problem with the land is going back 18 months. We have tried everything, worked with Teagasc and the co-op, but there is just no getting cattle back into the fields.