Preparing farms for winter and spring success
Farmers are urged to focus on autumn grazing, fodder budgeting, and cashflow management to ensure resilience through winter and into spring 2027. Expert advice from Teagasc and AIB highlights vital planning strategies at Johnstown Castle and beyond.
Source:
Teagasc Agricultural News
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⏱️ 2 min read
As the grazing season draws to a close, Grass10 Advisor John Conroy emphasises the critical decisions farmers must make in the coming weeks to secure their winter and spring 2027 productivity. The latest Grass10 TV episode, titled ‘Are you ready for winter? Autumn Grazing, Fodder & Cashflow’, addresses three essential facets of autumn farm management: extending grazing where conditions permit, preparing for spring grass growth, and maintaining robust fodder and financial reserves.
Autumn presents a valuable window for grassland management, allowing farmers to prolong grazing and reduce reliance on conserved forage, provided careful planning is in place. The episode stresses the importance of a clear closing plan, advising farmers to strategically select paddocks to graze now versus those to close for spring grass build-up. Given the variability many farms have faced this year, accurately assessing fodder availability is paramount. Completing a detailed fodder budget, based on actual silage stocks rather than estimations, enables farmers to anticipate shortages and explore solutions before winter sets in fully.
Beyond physical resources, the episode also tackles financial preparedness. Donal Whelton, Head of the Agri Team at AIB, discusses the significance of cashflow budgeting to forecast income and expenditure, helping farmers identify potential financial pressures in advance. This proactive approach allows for better planning rather than reactive measures. The full episode offers practical guidance on autumn grazing, farm closing strategies, fodder budgeting, and cashflow management, supporting farmers to navigate the challenges of the colder months effectively. The Grass10 newsletter, providing weekly insights, remains available for subscription via the official website.
Autumn presents a valuable window for grassland management, allowing farmers to prolong grazing and reduce reliance on conserved forage, provided careful planning is in place. The episode stresses the importance of a clear closing plan, advising farmers to strategically select paddocks to graze now versus those to close for spring grass build-up. Given the variability many farms have faced this year, accurately assessing fodder availability is paramount. Completing a detailed fodder budget, based on actual silage stocks rather than estimations, enables farmers to anticipate shortages and explore solutions before winter sets in fully.
Beyond physical resources, the episode also tackles financial preparedness. Donal Whelton, Head of the Agri Team at AIB, discusses the significance of cashflow budgeting to forecast income and expenditure, helping farmers identify potential financial pressures in advance. This proactive approach allows for better planning rather than reactive measures. The full episode offers practical guidance on autumn grazing, farm closing strategies, fodder budgeting, and cashflow management, supporting farmers to navigate the challenges of the colder months effectively. The Grass10 newsletter, providing weekly insights, remains available for subscription via the official website.
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