is this the worst year EVER?

whelan1

its nearly september and land is still water logged,unreal conditions, is this the worst year ever?

vanderbadger

whelan1 wrote: »

its nearly september and land is still water logged,unreal conditions, is this the worst year ever?

YES

pakalasa

Yes, worst summer anyway. I suppose on the plus side, compared to other countries, that have to deal will severe weather conditions like hurricanes, drought, earthquakes etc, we shouldn't be complaining that much.
I even see rushes popping up in lawns around here.

Farmer Pudsey

whelan1 wrote: »

its nearly september and land is still water logged,unreal conditions, is this the worst year ever?

It all depends on your land for me it is a disaster if it dry from the 1st may right through to Aug/September even after 7-8 weeks of dry weather would cruify my land. I still can use the Van to take ration to the cattle down the field unless it is raining.

Having said that I have had to keep the fertlizer out all summer to keep grass growing.stoped a fortnight ago and grass has stoped again. But if it was a rich scorcher I be feeding silage outside if I had any.

The weather is depressing but at least it is outside the door. Orginally I came from the side of a mountain and when you do you appreciate dry land like a sailor.

Tipp Man

Without doubt

Better off if we never had that brilliant weather and growth in Feb/March and then had a proper summer

Farmer Pudsey

Tipp Man wrote: »

Without doubt

Better off if we never had that brilliant weather and growth in Feb/March and then had a proper summer

To me good shoulders at the start and end of the year are more important.

Sam Kade

whelan1 wrote: »

its nearly september and land is still water logged,unreal conditions, is this the worst year ever?

It's the worst year in living memory, I haven't been around long enough to confirm that it is the worst year ever

reilig

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

I still can use the Van to take ration to the cattle down the field unless it is raining.

:eek::eek::eek::eek:

Most of my fields, I can't bring the quad in on. I moved cattle onto aftergrass yesterday, and to get them off the pasture was a struggle and took an age - they were ploughing to their bellies on fields that you could normally drive the tractor across in winter. Fields are floating!!!

Tipp Man

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

To me good shoulders at the start and end of the year are more important.

Cattle thrive much better in a good summer than this crap - the lack of thrive (although ours have done ok) is going to cost fellas a lot of money

I'd rather be dropping a bit of silage into a field because it's burnt up than what we've had this year - and so would the cattle

pakalasa

Remember '76 , that's when hay rotted in the fields. That year was probably worst than this year, in that hardly any fodder was saved.
When you've seen farmers trying to save hay in a year like that, you really appreciate the Mchale Fusion in action..

Farmer Pudsey

Tipp Man wrote: »

Cattle thrive much better in a good summer than this crap - the lack of thrive (although ours have done ok) is going to cost fellas a lot of money

I'd rather be dropping a bit of silage into a field because it's burnt up than what we've had this year - and so would the cattle

It depends on your land I am not saying that this is a perfect year for me no it is not however a really dry year is what I fear the most. Was it 2006 that was the really dry year I saw no rain from mid may until the end of August from Mid july on as I was finished grazing a field there was no regrowth on it I mean it was brown. Grass went very stemmy in me.

And I agree with you cattle thrive better in warm dry weather and if you have callow land, corcass land or evan heavy west of Ireland land where grass will still grow on that type of land or even on a lot of normal land really hot summers do not effect you and even I need one now and again to get rid of compaction but longer that 3 or 4 weeks without a bit of rain is a disaster for me in the middle of the summer.

And like I said fairly dry shoulders on the year suit me it allows me to utilise grass better the minute it drys in spring I can get cattle out if I have grass it is all about utilisatin then wet weather means that the cattle trample it into the ground and I cannot risk strip grazing at that time of year.

Like I said not perfect but not a complete disater either. I remember one year in mid june we were after 5-6 weeks dry weather an ould fella weas swearing after it started to rain I had the earlt silage made he could not under stand that I did not mind

reilig

pakalasa wrote: »

Remember '76 , that's when hay rotted in the fields. That year was probably worst than this year, in that hardly any fodder was saved.
When you've seen farmers trying to save hay in a year like that, you really appreciate the Mchale Fusion in action..

But in 76 there were no round balers, no baloon or terra tyres. Silage was a relatively new concept - 60% of fodder in the country was still being saved in hay.

I wonder how the fusions got on this year? I know one man who traded his in for a F550 mid summer because the ground he was covering wasn't fit to carry it.

raindodger

pakalasa wrote: »

Remember '76 , that's when hay rotted in the fields. That year was probably worst than this year, in that hardly any fodder was saved.
When you've seen farmers trying to save hay in a year like that, you really appreciate the Mchale Fusion in action..

i remember those years but at least we got the hay baled even if it rotted after this year has been a nightmare hardly getting 36 hours with out a deluge normally a lot less even if the weather improves we all lknow that there are major problems for the winter .It is going to be very testing both mentally and money wise also with the welfare on animals.

awaywithyou

it is the worst year ever for those whose land is unable to take the rainfall we have had since the 1st june...

however if your lucky to be farming land that is considered good dry land and your stocking rate isnt over the top i dont think that this summer will have had too much of an affect on your farming...

we have had a bad year with TB... have lost a alot of cattle.. ALOT of cattle... it has brought our stocking rate down to about 1LU/acre....

only for the TB we would be struggling big time... we have been able to keep all the animals out on grass since 1st april and damage to land hasnt occurred so far. touch wood!!

Sam Kade

Tipp Man wrote: »

Without doubt

Better off if we never had that brilliant weather and growth in Feb/March and then had a proper summer

Oh dear God this reminds of of a neighbour who had a bumper crop of straw in a wet year the year before was very dry and he said if I only had the straw I have this year last year

kevthegaff

was talkin to lad there, he said 46 was the worst, horrendous winter untop, leading to animals dying too:(

bb12

yeah it's the animals who will suffer the most this winter unfortunately. I feel particularly sorry for the abandoned horses and those about to be abandoned. I am so lucky that I had my hay saved for the winter. They were baling up on a hill and you could see massive downpours happening everywhere else that day, but our fields stayed dry. I feel blessed.

yellow50HX

not sure about the lads up the country but down here in the south its been a disaster. we are on good land on a nice southern slope so it can run off. and the place is like the middle of January. we don't have the animals out in grass in January. there has been no drying at all since the rain started in April, have managed to get a few days but not enough to let the place dry out.

07, 08, and 09 were bad but it didn't last for 4 and a half months (and still not stopped). the ol lads round here remember bad years but nothing like this year.

the weather has turned to coming up to hit the south coast 1st rather then the usual hitting the west coast 1st. so while its the north coast is getting the last of the weather the south is taking the brunt. it'll takes ages to dry out so imigaine what the feilds will be like come next spring if we get another mild wet winter.

bob charles

47 seems to have being way worse from speaking with people who have experienced close on the last 100 years, Cattle were sold cheaper than they were bough for 2 yrs previous (sound familiar) and allot of animal died. I can't see many animal dying this year due to starvation, yes animals maybe short but the options for maintenance feeding are unlimited and won't cost the earth just to keep the animal maintained. €1 a day would keep a animal going on grain if all came to all, yes they would be hungry but they would survive

Figerty

My old man says 1951 was the worst year he ever had. He says this year is worse than any year. One of my neighbours made a silage pit that year. It came out ok, but you could smell him for miles!
They cut hay in october and nearly killed everything with the dust of the hay.
Right now, I can't put cattle out on the upland as it is saturated, let alone low medows. This never happened before.
1985 was disaster year as well.
Slurry hasn't helped the ground, the depth of soils is so little that it's not able to cope but the amount of water is a disaster. It will need three weeks to dry out and years to recover fully.

berettaman

This is just a pic I took on the way to Kilmuckridge. This summer has been the biggest write off in terms of fodder, tillage etc. Unreal weather. Sunny South East my A...

Birdnuts

Anyone who saved decent winter fodder this year deserves a medal. I would be suprised if this summer is not in at least the top 10 wettest ever!!:(

pakalasa

Here is official Rain Data from Met Eireann for Shannon Airport

June - 166.9mm (Normal Year 69.8) so nearly 2.5 times average
July - 112.8mm (Normal Year 65.9) 1.7 times average

http://www.met.ie/climate/monthly-data.asp?Num=518

Figerty

pakalasa wrote: »

Here is official Rain Data from Met Eireann for Shannon Airport

June - 166.9mm (Normal Year 69.8) so nearly 2.5 times average
July - 112.8mm (Normal Year 65.9) 1.7 times average

http://www.met.ie/climate/monthly-data.asp?Num=518

Look at the figures for Cork! Jaysus

Tigerandahalf

My neighbour hasnt made his silage this year. It has rotten into the ground. No feeding made. Last time to happen was 86. He said 47 was a bad time as well. A winter around then the snow was upto the ditches for 3 weeks. His father took cattle to the market, walked them there. One of the cattle hit against a shop window and broke it. Prices were so bad the shopkeeper refused to take an animal in lieu.
Black land cant cope with summers like this. Sitka spruce will be the option for many farmers going forward.
Funny enough I thought 76 had been a great summer among many in the 70s.

Tigerandahalf

the weather has turned to coming up to hit the south coast 1st rather then the usual hitting the west coast 1st. so while its the north coast is getting the last of the weather the south is taking the brunt. it'll takes ages to dry out so imigaine what the feilds will be like come next spring if we get another mild wet winter.

That seems to be quite true. Rainfall amounts in Donegal have been quite low.

Hay_man

Yes

Here's a pic of how badly damaged some of my paddocks are, good job I don't milk





Some are holding up better though, Badly need a few dry days

kennedy138

farmers /fields and animals are all badly in need of a good rest

bbam

pakalasa wrote: »

you really appreciate the Mchale Fusion in action..

I know two farms where they were pulled out with EX120's and a good few more where they were turned away at the gate... There mighty on good ground..But thats not round here.

I suppose this year is worse than 85/86 but the advances in saving baled silage will save our bacon..
I have 7 or 8 acres of grazing essentially under water and closed for the year now...

We've sold on anything over 320'ish kg at this stage so our "drier" fields are holding up well.. The only downside is that grass will get ahead but there has to be worse things than that given the year that's in it.:rolleyes:

1chippy

we noticed at home here any of the fields that are holding more water than others. have a bad sort of grass coming on, on them. we are lucky enough to have enough grass saved at this stage, extra ground taken and had planned for our first year finishing the weanlings. i know if it wasnt for that we would be up sh*t creek between prices and feed. In the spring i was worried about getting the stocking rate up, luckily i pulled baack buying early. I really feel for the lads on wet ground caught with no feed (winter or current) and having to sell weanlings that are not nearly as heavy as they should be. Will this end a lot of farmers?

Muckit

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

I still can use the Van to take ration to the cattle down the field unless it is raining......

The weather is depressing but at least it is outside the door.

Van down the field!?! Ah Puds your only showing off now. Pullin' my wellies out of alot of fields here.

As for the weather.... isn't that where it alway is... ah ... outside!!

Muckit

pakalasa wrote: »

Remember '76 ....

Yep, all tucked up in my oul lad's ball bag

Muckit

berettaman wrote: »

This is just a pic I took on the way to Kilmuckridge. This summer has been the biggest write off in terms of fodder, tillage etc. Unreal weather. Sunny South East my A...

Who stooks bales in a hollow?! And then leaves them out in a foot of after grass??!

A size 9 toe in the h*le needed there big time. No excuses.

Richk2012

Muckit wrote: »

Yep, all tucked up in my oul lad's ball bag

The rain certainly wasnt botherin ya then muckit

bob charles

Richk2012 wrote: »

The rain certainly wasnt botherin ya then muckit

sweat was more of a issue back then I believe for Muckit

blue5000

I thought '76 was a dry summer? I know 85 and 86 were wet. Lets hope we don't get the tail end of that hurricane isac next week.

pakalasa

Maybe it wasn't '76...:D. I was very young at the time, but it was a very wet summer.

berettaman

Muckit wrote: »

Who stooks bales in a hollow?! And then leaves them out in a foot of after grass??!

A size 9 toe in the h*le needed there big time. No excuses.

Yeah, I thought that was a bit mad myself too -There are little hollows all over the field. The hay is only muck now anyway. :rolleyes:

Min

kevthegaff wrote: »

was talkin to lad there, he said 46 was the worst, horrendous winter untop, leading to animals dying too:(

Yeah, my father says the same.

They couldn't make the hay and what hay that was made wasn't good, then the winter made sure that it wasn't going to be good for man or beast.

1976 is famous for being a good summer, like '84 and '95.
1985 and '86 were other really bad summers but not as bad as this one.

whelan1

putting my dry cows back indoors.... put in the smaller calves that have only been out a few weeks, always find it better to house them sooner rather than later

Sam Kade

Min wrote: »

Yeah, my father says the same.

They couldn't make the hay and what hay that was made wasn't good, then the winter made sure that it wasn't going to be good for man or beast.

1976 is famous for being a good summer, like '84 and '95.
1985 and '86 were other really bad summers but not as bad as this one.

85 was a very wet summer we got an Indian summer in Sept and Oct.
I don't remember 86 being a bad year apart from hurricane Charlie.
84 and 89 were very dry summers.

Black Smoke

pakalasa wrote: »

Maybe it wasn't '76...:D. I was very young at the time, but it was a very wet summer.

It was '74 to be exact. September was also bad. Much of October also.
Spring of '75 was a nightmare, due to the very poor feed situation. An awful lot of stock died and nearly died. That's for sure.

leg wax

yee are all showing your ages now:D:D:D

Black Smoke

leg wax wrote: »

yee are all showing your ages now:D:D:D

My granny told my older brother about it, and he told me:cool: ................... and Blue's hadn't been invented, and just as well -;)

KatyMac

pakalasa wrote: »

Remember '76 , that's when hay rotted in the fields. That year was probably worst than this year, in that hardly any fodder was saved.
When you've seen farmers trying to save hay in a year like that, you really appreciate the Mchale Fusion in action..

I think I remember that year! Was that when the government or department of something or other gave money to farmers to buy bag rations? I remember my father had more bags than I've ever seen piled up in a shed and we had a hard time keeping mice/rats etc away from them?

KatyMac

whelan1 wrote: »

putting my dry cows back indoors.... put in the smaller calves that have only been out a few weeks, always find it better to house them sooner rather than later

Think you've just answered a question I've been asking myself for the past week!! I have a heifer who calved Tuesday of last week and I'm wondering if I could put her out with the calf for a while. Think it might be cheaper on the vet bill if I leave them in til spring. Have a couple of what might be called dry paddocks, not much shelter though, but I'm still thinking. They are AA (cow and calf) so should be as tough as old boots.

J DEERE

KatyMac wrote: »

Think you've just answered a question I've been asking myself for the past week!! I have a heifer who calved Tuesday of last week and I'm wondering if I could put her out with the calf for a while. Think it might be cheaper on the vet bill if I leave them in til spring. Have a couple of what might be called dry paddocks, not much shelter though, but I'm still thinking. They are AA (cow and calf) so should be as tough as old boots.

Ya might have a much bigger vet bill if ya leave them in until the Spring! Its still warm in between the showers. Could you let them out in the morning and maybe bring them back in at night?

boroboy

whelan1 wrote: »

its nearly september and land is still water logged,unreal conditions, is this the worst year ever?

most definitly,some lads around have 2 months silage eat!

manjou

Going to wean all sucklers on monday or tuesday depending on a dry day Will keep cows in until it hopefully drys out and put weanlings out to grass and feed meal. Will scan all cows and heifers next week and any not in calf will be given p45 asap.Never seen ground as wet and cant keep grass growing.Have ordered dry cow minerals and will feed them all winter not just 6 weeks before they calve.Hopefully have enough fodder all will depend on spring.

whelan1

was talking to our vet the other day he was doing a couple of washouts on 2 cowsfor me while he was out at something else....said the big problem this winter will be getting enough energy into the dry cow before calving, he suggested feeding meal for 2 weeks before calving to get them on a rising plain of nutrition....

pakalasa

whelan1 wrote: »

....he suggested feeding meal for 2 weeks before calving to get them on a rising plain of nutrition....

More so dairy cows, I'd say.