PastureBase Ireland figures show an average growth of 68kg DM/ha over the last week, with higher-than-average growth witnessed in the northern half of the country.

Ample rainfall combined with soil temperatures between 14 and 16°C saw growth rates hit above 100kg DM/ha for some farms in the northwest of the country.

Meanwhile, below-average rainfall for the south and southeast has seen some farm growths drop as low as the mid 30s – though average growth throughout the region is in the high 50s to mid-60s on a per kilogramme DM/ha basis.

Soil temperatures are set to remain the same for the week ahead, with rainfall amounts of 8-30mm forecast, with higher volumes of rain being seen again in the northwest region.

The higher level of rainfall witnessed over the past 10 days saw dry matter percentages fall to 13% in Athenry, while the highest dry matter was recorded in Moorepark at 22%.

Some 16% of farmers recording on PastureBase Ireland are seeing a cover per livestock unit below 160kg DM/ha, with buffer feeding or destocking of the grazing block required to build cover, while 44% of farms have recorded a cover of greater than 200kg DM/LU and will require corrective action in the form of surplus grass being removed as silage.