Plenty of dry weather is expected across the country this week, but farmers hoping for long stretches of sunshine may be disappointed. According to Met Éireann, sunshine amounts will be limited, and winds will remain light to moderate, which could reduce drying efficiency in fields.

Despite the subdued conditions, spraying opportunities are expected to be good. Soil temperatures are currently above normal, ranging between 11.6 and 13.7 degrees Celsius. These values are forecast to hold steady, with mean temperatures between 10 and 14 degrees likely over the coming days.

Field conditions remain variable. Poorly drained soils are saturated following recent rainfall, but soil moisture deficits for other soil types are currently between +3 and +8 millimetres. With dry weather forecast for the next seven days, all soils are expected to become drier. By next week, Met Éireann predicts that SMDs for poorly drained soils will range from 0 to +9 millimetres, while other soils could reach between +6 and +12 millimetres.

The outlook suggests a workable window for field operations, particularly spraying, though farmers may need to adjust expectations around drying times.