Waterford dairy farmers are grappling with drought conditions comparable to the severe dry spell of 2018, according to Teagasc advisor Emily Gowing, who says the situation on farms is now “serious and worrying.”

Grass growth has effectively stopped in parts of the county, with soil moisture deficits of up to 100mm recorded. As a result, the traditional mix of six kilos of meal, six kilos of silage, and six kilos of grass in dairy diets is being disrupted, with grass rapidly disappearing from the ration.

This is driving a major spike in feeding costs. Gowing says feeding is now costing around €5 per cow per day on many Waterford dairy farms, compared with about €2.50 in a normal year. That adds up to an extra €1,700–€2,000 per week for typical herds in the county.

While recent support measures from processors, including rebates on feed and cereals, offer some relief, growing stresses that on-farm planning is critical. She is urging farmers to complete a fodder budget immediately by counting bales, measuring silage pits, and entering the figures into PastureBase or working with their local Teagasc advisor.

She also advises farmers to hold off on spreading nitrogen until about one week after substantial rain, as light drizzle is not enough to restart grass growth. Strategically culling the bottom 10% of the herd by mid-September, she adds, could save up to 24 days of fodder for the remaining cows.