HARVEST ON HOLD AS FARMERS WAIT FOR FINE WEATHER - CREGAN

The cereal harvest is on hold due to the poor weather leaving tillage farmers’ season hanging in the balance. Heavy rains have left many cereal crops under water with potential quality and yield losses increasing daily. Under these difficult harvesting conditions Teagasc are advising tillage farmers to:
• Give priority to harvesting the most valuable crops first like malting barley, milling wheat and seed crops.
• Have harvesting and drying equipment ready to go when conditions are suitable for cutting.
• Take every opportunity to cut – even at moisture contents of up to 25%.
• Consult you merchant on intake and storage of grain with high moisture.

Farmers need to prepare machinery now for travelling under poorer ground conditions, so that the harvesting opportunities can be availed of when they arise.

Machinery such as combines, silage harvesters, tractors, trailers, and balers can all operate more effectively under poorer soil conditions by making modifications to the tyres on these vehicles. Ground pressure can be reduced by fitting larger tyres, working at lower tyre pressures or possibly fitting dual wheels.

LIVESTOCK

On some livestock farms, dairy cows and beef cattle have been re-housed due to flooding of grassland and to avoid further poaching of the land and subsequent deterioration of grass utilisation.

On dairy farms Teagasc are recommending that a flexible approach to grazing during this period be adopted. Preferably graze paddocks with lower covers, provide larger grazing areas to livestock, offer fresh grass after each milking and use back fences to protect grazed areas.

Recent Teagasc research at Moorepark has shown that on/off grazing (allowing cow’s access to grass for a limited time) is an approach that can be used to maintain cows at grass during periods of wet weather similar to what we are now experiencing.

To sustain high levels of performance from grass, cows should be given 3-4 hours access to grass after each milking. There is no requirement to supplement these cows with additional feed while they are indoors if farm covers are on, or above target.

On drystock farms, Teagasc are recommending that producers move livestock to higher ground and drier fields to reduce poaching and to consider re-housing livestock, especially bulls, if grazing conditions deteriorate further.

The wet summer may also lead to an increased risk of liver fluke in sheep. With the increased level of building activity on farms this year, Teagasc are advising farmers to take steps to protect new and existing storage tanks from damage caused by rising water levels.

CRITICAL WEEK FOR MAIN HARVEST OF TWO MILLION TONNES OF GRAIN - MCDONNELL

The IFA Grain Committee Chairman, Colum McDonnell, has said the coming week is critical for this year’s main harvest of 250,000 hectares of winter wheat and spring barley, with the persistent bad weather conditions hampering efforts by growers to cut the crops.

He said, “Normally, the winter crops of barley, oats and oilseed rape would have been harvested by now. But the recent heavy rainfall and the deteriorating ground conditions have stalled the harvest, and in some areas, it has turned to a salvage situation. Thundery downpours have led to flash flooding in parts of the country and this has wiped out some crops.”

Mr. McDonnell said harvesting of the main crop of 2 million tonnes of grain generally begins in mid-August, but the extreme wet weather has held it back.

“Unless we see a rapid and improved turnaround in weather conditions in the next week, growers are looking at severe yield losses due to high moistures, straw and crop breakdown and difficult ground conditions. Even if the weather does improve, the soil is near saturation and traffic from heavy machinery will lead to serious damage, which will have a knock-on effect for next year’s crop,” he said.

The IFA Grain Chairman said the declining prospects for harvest, combined with significant increases in input costs and falling prices, will have a severe impact on growers’ profitability this year and will lead to a re-assessment of plans for next year.

I.C.M.S.A. LASH ‘CROCODILE TEARS’ FROM CO-OPS ON FALLING MILK PRICE

As rumours about a possible cut in milk price continue to circulate, Mr. John O’Leary, Deputy President of ICMSA and Chairperson of its Dairy Committee, said that our Co-ops seem to be struggling with the reality that unless farmers can make a decent income from milk production than they will simply stop.

“That’s the bottom line and it always astonishes me that our Co-ops cannot see this: the rapid increase in inputs this year will result in milk production costs rising by five cents per litre, so farmers now find themselves in a worse situation than they did in 2006, before last year’s respite”, commented Mr. O’Leary.

“It is of absolutely no use to farmers to hear the Co-ops acknowledge that costs have increased dramatically and to acknowledge that farmers are under pressure while, at the same time, they announce cuts in milk price. What good is that? We don’t need crocodile tears from the Co-ops.

"These very same bodies are pushing for big increases in quotas and quota abolition on the basis that there are excellent market opportunities for dairy products and that the future is bright for dairy products.

"Despite all these so-called opportunities, our dairy processors have failed to return a strong price for our existing quota, never mind any additional quota that may be available in the future.

"If they can’t pay a reasonable price for the milk they’re taking now what’s the point of agitating and lobbying for the right to increase quota? What happened all the value-added products that were supposed to sustain a strong milk price for farmers?

"ICMSA would strongly suggest to the dairy processors that they get the marketing of our existing milk pool right before they consider expanding our milk pool,” said the Dairy Chairman.

“There’s one other question that everyone needs to address: who really loses from the downturn in dairy markets? Co-ops can note downturns in the market, but it seems rather abstract or academic to them.

"Our two PLC processors, Kerry and Glanbia, have indicated that they expect strong growth and results in 2008 while employees of Co-ops have seen no reduction in wages and will probably get an increase. The situation for the farmer-suppliers is very different.

"We are now facing massive costs rises and a massive reduction in milk price and thus our income. It’s not an abstract observation for us. It is clear that the current position for dairy farmers is not sustainable and our processors must immediately find a means to shelter milk producers from temporary difficulties in the marketplace.

"Our Co-ops - in particular, our PLC processors - have the resources to do this, and it is time that our Board representatives put the farmer first and if this means wages freezes for employees and Chief Executives and reduced profits, then so be it,” concluded Mr. O’Leary.