Current Grassland Management
Current Dry Matter Levels (%)
Athenry
21%
Moorepark
24%
Oakpark
29%
Grass Growth Predictions
- MoSt Grass Growth Predictions for each country for 7 days (from 4th August 2026) show average growth in the North and North West predicted with average growth predicted to to improve
- There is some predicted rain in the forecast but soil moisture available is still reduced in some parts. Growth recovery will be linked to actual rain that falls not forecast rain
Variable rainfall
- Rainfall received across the country has varied hugely
- Rainfall for the past 7 days in different locations
- Athenry, Co, Galway – 33 mm
- Moorepark, Co. Cork – 28.2 mm
- Ballyhaise, Co. Cavan – 25.4 mm
- Grange, Co. Meath – 19.9mm
- Dungarvan, Co. Waterford, 15 mm
- Ballybofey, Co. Donegal – 20.8 mm
- Clonmel, Co. Tipperary – 4.8 mm
- Paddock recovery will be proportional to rainfall received and will be different on each farm
- If you receive rainfall, assess growth rate
- Allow for mineralisation (see fertiliser section below) and hold off on fertiliser application
- Walk the farm to establish recovery growth rates
Caution with fertiliser
- Soil moisture deficit is still impacting growth
- Fertiliser should not be spread when growth is below 35 kg DM/ha
- After a dry spell there will be mineralisation in the soil after rain falls
- This will release N to fuel recovery grass growth
- Fertiliser can be spread 7-10 days after rain when grass is growing 50+kg DM/ha consistently (2 walks)
- Spreading fertiliser earlier is a risk to water quality and is a waste of fertiliser
- Paddocks actively growing grass (over 50 kg DM/ha) can receive some fertiliser or dairy washings
- If rain is forecast it is important not to pre-spread fertiliser
- There is an opportunity to spread lime on paddocks with low covers
- Lime will be washed in when rain falls and paddocks are recovering
Assess fodder available on farm
- It is important for farmers to establish how much fodder is available in the yard
- Assess quantity and quality of fodder and input into PastureBase
- How many days of feed are available to match your current livestock numbers?
- In some parts of the country high quality fodder will be required until soil moisture has recovered
- There might not be an opportunity to harvest any more fodder in 2026
Normal August build up
- August is normally when rotation length begins to extend and grass covers are built to extend the grazing rotation
- Due to challenging dry weather in parts of the country it will be difficult to extend rotation
- For areas with normal growth rates farms should be considering extending the rotation from 20 days at the beginning of August to 25 days by mid-August
- The north west and west of the country have experienced close to normal growth rates. Fertiliser and N application should continue as part of autumn build up
- Review fertiliser N allowance and target to spread between now and 14th September in a split application