Dry fields and warm soils put pressure on grass growth

Met Éireann has said that drying conditions will remain generally good for farmers over the coming days, although occasional showers will bring interruptions, particularly in the southwest tonight, on Monday and into Tuesday morning.

From Tuesday afternoon onwards, better drying conditions are expected to return nationwide and continue through much of next week.

The forecaster notes that there will be plenty of opportunities for spraying in the week ahead, with long dry intervals and mostly light to moderate winds, apart from areas affected by showers.

Soil conditions are currently dry and trafficable across the country. Soil moisture deficits (SMDs) range from about 10mm in the west to 70mm in the south, with the driest ground in Leinster and Munster. Little change is expected in SMDs over the coming week, although some reduction may occur in the southwest. Met Éireann warns that grass growth will become increasingly restricted as a result, particularly in the south and east.

Soil temperatures remain notably high, ranging between 17.7 and 20.6 degrees, which is between 3.0 and 4.6 degrees above the seasonal norm. Mean air temperatures are also above average, running 1 to 2 degrees higher than normal, though conditions are likely to cool somewhat towards the end of next week. Soil temperatures are expected to stay well above average in the meantime.