Contractor survey shows 15% drop in silage acreage

2023 has been a difficult year so far for Agricultural Contractors following almost two months (March and April) of heavier than normal rainfall across many areas of Ireland, that has now been followed by one of the wettest July months on record.

To support the work of the Association of Farm & Forestry Contractors in Ireland (FCI) as part of the National Fodder and Food Security Committee, FCI undertook a survey of members to identify any changes in first cut silage harvesting output in 2023 compared with 2022.

The results were presented to the National Fodder and Food Security Committee this week, against the background where heavy rainfall and good growing conditions are bulking up second cut silage crops on many farms.

The survey identified other significant trends in farming that have not been identified in other farming surveys.

The results of the survey by the Association of Farm & Forestry Contractors in Ireland (FCI) to identify changes in volumes of silage harvested in 2023 compared with 2023 make interesting reading.

The survey was carried out by means of WhatsApp messaging among the 350 members of the FCI Agricultural Contractor WhatsApp group in Wk 29, starting July 17, 2023.

The results of the FCI Silage Contractor Survey 2023 are as follows:

• There has been on average 15% less first cut silage area harvested in 2023 compared with 2022, with the range from +10% to -66% depending on the location/county.
• Second cut silage yields are bulking up well, while the baling campaign has been significantly interrupted in the western region due to recent persistent rainfall conditions and FCI members are concerned that poor silage quality may become an issue.
• There are regional differences from the survey results. The western dry stock farming area is showing the biggest decrease in silage acreage harvested and that includes bale silage numbers and volumes of pit silage.
• FCI members have noted that stock numbers have fallen in the western region with a resultant lower silage requirement.
• This is also being reflected in less cattle slurry required to the spread in 2023 compared with 2022 due to lower stock numbers.
• FCI members have also noted that less fertiliser was used on farms in 2023 compared with 2022 as more farmers have joined the Organic farming schemes as now, they give a better albeit somewhat temporary financial return.
• In the intensive dairy farming areas of the south and east, there has been little carry over of silage stocks from 2022, due in part to some drought conditions in May/June, resulting in an effective 20% shortfall in silage supplies.
• This FCI Silage Contractor survey represents about 10% of the first cut silage harvest based on a total area of more than 385,000 ha of silage crops at shown in the CSO Census of Agriculture 2020, based on an average output of 800ha (2,000 acres) harvested per contractor in the sample.

“Agricultural contractors have the pulse of Irish farming when it comes to identifying changes in trends and activities on Irish farms,” said John Hughes, National Chair of the Association of Farm & Forestry Contractors in Ireland.

“Agricultural contractors continue to provide an essential service to Irish farmers. It is now accepted that a good reliable contractor is an integral part of any successful Irish dairy, beef and tillage farm.”