Farmers left high and dry in rainless West Cork

Many farmers in the region believe that any heavy precipitation at this stage would be too late to make any real difference.

Harold Kingston at Kanturk Mart, Co Cork. Picture: Dan Linehan

"You cannot farm by the calendar," says Harold Kingston. "The calendar gives you an indication, but you work on the basis of the conditions you have." 

And the conditions, as the Barryroe-based diary farmer well knows, are currently not at all favourable.