The autumn and winter months bring more than shorter days and colder temperatures. For many dairy farms across the UK, wet ground and saturated fields create serious challenges for grazing, infrastructure, and the whole farm system. If you want your farm to stay resilient and efficient through the wetter weeks ahead, you must take action now.
Why Wet Weather Hits Dairy Farms Hard
Recent data from the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) shows that wet-weather grazing management becomes critical when rainfall rises, and fields drain properly. Wet conditions lead to soil compaction, cattle poaching, and reduced ryegrass intake because cows seek shelter rather than graze. (ahdb.org.uk)
When cows stay in sheds longer because the paddocks are waterlogged, the demand for stored forage rises. That puts pressure on clamps, feeding systems, bedding, and labour. Meanwhile, the ground under tracks, gateways, and around feed areas becomes churned and muddy, increasing the risk of lameness, slower cow flow, and higher maintenance costs.
The Impact Goes Beyond Grazing
Here’s what wet conditions are doing to infrastructure and productivity:
Fields and tracks deteriorate quickly. Heavy traffic on wet fields and gateways leads to ruts and poor drainage next season.
Slurry stores fill up sooner. Slurry storage reaches capacity faster with longer housing of cows and less spreading time on wet soils. (DairyReporter.com)
Feed demand increases. Cows housed longer use more total mixed ration, and less grazing reduces fresh forage intake, raising costs.
Drainage fails or yard surfaces degrade. Water pooling around buildings or in yards leads to slippery surfaces and a higher risk of accidents or hoof issues.
Steps You Can Take Right Now
You can’t stop the rain, but you can manage its impact. Here are practical steps to protect grazing and infrastructure this winter:
1. Manage grazing strategically.
Protect the main fields using sacrifice paddocks with more complex surfaces. Rotate cattle frequently to avoid saturating one area. Prepare tracks and lay down mats or hard core in high-traffic zones.
2. Maintain yard and track surfaces.
Check gateways and access routes for pooling or damage. Place wood chips or stones where the ground is soft. Good surfaces reduce labour, lessen damage and improve cow movement.
3. Clear drainage channels.
Ensure that every yard, block and field has working drains and gutters. Water needs somewhere to go. Regularly remove debris and clear runoff routes away from buildings.
4. Review your forage and housing plan.
Plan for increased indoor feeding if grass is unavailable or paddocks are unusable. Check your silage stocks and ensure clamp management is up to date. Longer indoor periods mean you’ll rely more on stored feed.
5. Check slurry and spreading capacity.
With more time indoors comes more slurry. Ensure your storage capacity is sufficient, and you can spread when soil permits.
Why This Matters for Winter and Beyond
Failing to act now means you’ll face higher costs, lower productivity and more labour later. For example, fields poached this winter will cost more to repair, produce less grass next year, and reduce flexibility. Similarly, muddy yards increase hoof problems and reduce cow welfare, which shows up in milk yield, fertility and replacement rates.
By taking a few steps now, you can protect your grazing, maintain better infrastructure conditions, and lower your risk when the weather tightens.
Final Thoughts
Wet weather is a part of dairy farming in the UK. But the difference between surviving and thriving comes down to how prepared you are. Walk your yards, inspect tracks and drains, review your forage plan and act on the weak spots while you can.
It won’t fix everything, but it will reduce the pressure and make your winter more manageable. Do what you can now, and your farm will be in a better position when the weather eventually turns in your favour.
