Impact of 2026 drought on grass production and fodder supply on livestock farms and on crop and vegetable production

By Professor Frank O'Mara, Dr Michael O'Donovan, Thomas Curran, Shay Phelan

A Teagasc delegation of Professor Frank O’Mara, Director of Teagasc; Dr. Michael O’Donovan, Head of Grassland Science; Thomas Curran, Head of Advisory Services; and Shay Phelan, Crops Specialist, attended a meeting convened by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD on August 18, 2026.

The meeting between the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Teagasc and the main farm organisation discussed the impact of the prolonged dry weather on farming.

The Teagasc presentation titled: Impact of 2026 drought on grass production and fodder supply on livestock farms and on crop and vegetable production featured updates on:

• Grass growth and Fodder Feed Budget Update
• Advisory messages on farming through the drought
• August 2026 Crops update

View the Teagasc presentation (PDF) here: Impact Of 2026 Drought On Grass And Fodder Supply And Crop Production