Essential jobs for autumn on the farm
As the evenings begin to close in the mind invariably turns to winter.
It may only be heading for the last third of August but planning for the winter is well underway.
The No 1 priority remains the sourcing of additional forage and feeds to bridge the current feed deficit.
One positive of this year’s drought has been how many livestock and tillage farmers have linked up to try and build feedstocks.
However, a negative has been the small minority who have taken advantage of the situation and are charging way above the odds for straw, silage, and hay in particular.
As well as trying to get sufficient feed for the winter, time must be spent getting the yard and sheds ready for housing.
Make a list of repairs that need to be carried out and get started.
Continuing to gather feed supplies
At this time of year, usually the vast majority of grass silage that will be saved is would be in the yard.
This is far from the case this year and as we all know, a huge amount of third cut and bales are still be made.
Many farmers will even by trying to make a fourth cut where possible. A lot of the country has returned to close on normal grass growth with the exception of North Cork, Tipperary, Waterford, Kilkenny, Carlow and Wexford.
These areas are still reporting significant grazing deficits and are eating rapidly into silage pits.
The cereal harvest is rapidly coming to an end with variable results. Winter crops yielded ok while a lot of spring crops are of average quality with disappointing yields.
Straw is in big demand and almost as scarce as All Ireland Hurling Final tickets. Imports of straw are now beginning to come on stream and seem to be trading at the same price delivered as any native stocks.
Amazingly, the maize harvest may start in only four or five weeks and most crops look excellent, apart from some in the South-East which have been stunted by the drought.
As usual, we will need a good spell of weather around harvest to get the maize crop into the pit.
Early sown Beet crops look like returning good yields, but late sown crops look poor this year. There will be a lot of beet trading around the country for feeding both beef and dairy cattle this winter and into next spring, if it is available to fill feed deficits.
Getting good animal thrive and growth this autumn
Even if grass growth has improved it is does not supply the same feed value at this time of year as it normally would earlier in the season. As we all know, once the nights close in grass gets softer and wetter.
Grass which is currently rapidly growing is only 13-15% dry matter at the moment and animals are finding it more difficult to consume sufficient dry matter to maintain performance.
Paddocks where growth is poor have grass with much higher dry matters.
Animals intended for finishing off grass over the coming weeks should be supplemented with a low protein concentrate to get the required weight gain and fat cover at slaughter.
Late born bucket reared calves should also continue to be supplemented at this stage in order to maintain growth rates before housing.
Parasite control — keep on top of it
Many dairy farms I have spoken to over the last number of weeks have seen a significant response to dosing for worms.
On a number of farms, I have observed all groups of cattle coughing including calves, replacement heifers and milking cows.
It is easier for a dairy producer to identify a response to dosing as it can be measured in the milk tank on a daily basis.
However, in a beef farm measurement is much more difficult if regular weighing is not being carried out.
Regular dosing of grazing stock is critical in order to control parasites as well as to keep growth rates of cattle on target.
