For the first time in many years, milk production is not above the levels we are allowed to produce, and this is directly related to the weather.
The poor summer weather meant a drop in the yields from cereals, but this was balanced by a very good yield this year in potato crops.
However, on the west coast on heavy soils, some Irish farmers are facing a winter without hay or silage because they simply could not make it because of the wet conditions.
The Government has acknowledged there is a problem and ordered Teagasc to conduct a survey of farms.
Last week it published a list of townlands where payments should be made.
The Irish taxpayer will fund this scheme, which will cost £10 million.
Farmers will be given grants to buy winter fodder to a maximum of £300 each.
The de-stocking programme for mountain ewes is also being taken as part of the fodder package, and while this has been welcomed by the farm organisations, they claim much more money is needed by farmers hit by the weather.
They claim the average farmer will need £2,000 per farm to ensure animals will not go hungry this winter and that the offer made will only cover 15 per cent of what is needed.