Ongoing poor weather 'placing farmers under serious pressure'

St Patrick’s Day is seen as a turning point in the farming calendar, but ground is saturated due to wet conditions that stretch back to the middle of last year.

IFA deputy president Alice Doyle said that the level of rainfall "has made it impossible to move livestock; planting and sowing is way behind; and bills are mounting as farmers struggle to keep on top of their work".

Ongoing weather conditions are placing farmers under "serious pressure and adding to stress levels for families", the Irish Farmers' Association has warned.

IFA deputy president Alice Doyle said that the level of rainfall "has made it impossible to move livestock; planting and sowing is way behind; and bills are mounting as farmers struggle to keep on top of their work".