Poor drying and spraying prospects for farmers this week

Ground conditions are set to deteriorate further this week, according to Met Éireann, as unsettled weather brings persistent spells of rain across the country.

Fields in the north and west are already saturated, with poorly drained soils now waterlogged, leaving many farms struggling with trafficability. Elsewhere, soils remain more manageable, with moisture deficits ranging from 10 to 45 millimetres, but forecasters warn these will narrow quickly as rainfall totals continue to run above average.

The heaviest falls are expected in the west and southwest, where widespread saturation is likely by week’s end. Even in the east and south, where soils have held up relatively well, deficits are projected to drop to between 5 and 15 millimetres, softening ground conditions and hampering machinery work.

Met Éireann said drying conditions will remain generally poor, with frequent showers, longer spells of rain and breezy winds combining to limit opportunities for spraying.

Mean soil temperatures have been between 14.2 and 16.2 degrees in recent days, running 1.1 to 2.2 degrees above seasonal norms. However, cooler air is expected in the coming week, with mean air temperatures forecast to dip to one or two degrees below normal, leading to a slight easing in soil temperatures.

The overall outlook points to mounting pressure on grazing, harvesting and silage activity, particularly in western and northern counties where land is already saturated.

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Long range forecast from WeathÉire.