The end of August is in sight, which means that we are now moving into autumn and the build-up to housing on farms is beginning.

Before housing takes place however, there are still a number of jobs that need to be completed on the majority of dairy farms.

It is now time to start looking at spreading any slurry that still remains in tanks.

Ideally, the majority of slurry was spread on the land that first and second-cut silage was harvested on, as well as any land used to make bales.

Repairing nutrients after silage has been removed is important for a number of reasons, including the fact that 50 units of potash (K)/ac is enough to change a soil's K index.

It is also important to think of farm safety when working with slurry. When mixing a tank there is always a possibility that it contains harmful gas, especially in a tank that may have slurry that has gone undistributed for a number of months.

It is advisable to mix on a windy day and follow the guidelines around when it is safe to enter a shed during mixing.

Mixing slurry guidelines:

Ahead of housing it is also important that everything is ready to go and any repairs that are required have been taken care of

Machinery plays a bigger role on many farms during the winter months, so anything that may have been sitting idle over the winter should be given a once over now.

Ensure that everything is greased, that the hydraulic hose is inspected for fraying and that there are no other parts missing or damaged.

It is also a good time to get tractors and/or loaders serviced ahead of the increased workload.

Regarding any other jobs, Animal Health Ireland (AHI) has developed a checklist to help get sheds winter-ready: