Summer 2023 is shaping up to be one of the worst on record for Irish farmers.
Persistent heavy rain has prevented many farmers from making winter fodder for livestock.
Many others have seen baled hay completely destroyed.
Catriona Morrissey, deputy editor of the Irish Farmers' Journal, says the cost to farmers this year will be massive:
"Farmers in the Shannon area got no hay saved at all, as many as 5000 bales of hay and silage not made in that region. They are going to have to replace that at a cost of about €30/bale or more. Tillage farmers are currently being hit very badly in August. Unfortunately, we're seeing that they have had their barley downgraded in a lot of cases from Malting Grade to Feed Grade - that's costing them about €120/tonne".
