IT might only be the spring of ’23 . . . but already Teagasc are advising farmers to plan for the replenishing of fodder supplies.

A very difficult March and early April period from a grazing perspective led to a lot of built-up silage reserves being depleted with cattle in some cases having to be rehoused.

The National Food and Fodder Security Committee (NFFSC) has given farmers a target of rebuilding fodder stocks to 20% above their normal winter supply needs. Teagasc experts who addressed the meeting said that while silage reserves in the west and north were reported to be okay, the situation was a lot tighter in parts of the south and east.

“Rebuilding fodder stocks is essential to reduce the risk of feed supply issues if drought occurs in the summer of 2023,” the Teagasc delegation of Mark Plunkett, Michael O’Donovan, Shay Phelan and Pearse Kelly stated.

Mark Plunkett pointed out that in 2022 there were significant reductions in fertiliser use across the country – nitrogen (N) was down by 14%; phosphorous (P) by 24% and potassium (K) by 26%.

“Given that 80% of soils in Ireland had inadequate levels of soil fertility in 2022, there is considerable scope to improve nitrogen use efficiency by correcting soil pH, P and K levels.

Michael O’Donovan told the food security group that with the lack of a fertiliser spreading window in March (due to the ground/weather conditions), fertiliser application rates had been down by 25-30% for that time of year.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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