Making better silage in a difficult year: Key steps for 2026

Just as we turned a corner with weather in early March, we were faced with another challenge — the Iranian crisis led to agricultural diesel price surges of up to 48%, writes Alltech Ireland's Farm Resource Efficiency manager Declan O Neil

Typically, a crop of first-cut grass silage yielding 10t/ac will require 100kg N/ha or 80 units/ac, 20kg phosphorous (P)/ha or 16 units/ac, 125kg/ha or 100 units/ac of potassium (K), and 20kg of sulphur (S)/ha or 16 units/ac. File picture

January and February 2026 have been two of the wettest months on record, leading to hugely challenging conditions of early spring grass growth. Low soil temperatures, saturated soils, slurry tanks overfilling are some of the factors leading to a less-than-perfect start to the year.

Then, just as we turned a corner with weather in early March, we were faced with another challenge — the Iranian crisis led to agricultural diesel price surges of up to 48% more than where it was pre-conflict.