Farmers are increasingly having to manage extremes ranging from excessive rainfall to drought and high temperatures, according to the Climate Change Advisory Council.
The independent statutory body says farmers need greater practical and financial support to prepare their businesses for increasingly variable weather conditions.
Launching the agriculture and land-use section of its Annual Review 2026, the Council said extreme weather is creating very different risks at different points of the year.
Periods of excessive rainfall can restrict access to fields for grazing, increasing reliance on stored fodder and putting additional pressure on animal housing.
At the other extreme, drought and high temperatures can reduce grass growth, affect animal welfare and reduce farm productivity.
The Council is calling on the Department of Agriculture to develop a practical climate-risk toolkit within the next 12 months which would provide information tailored to individual parcels of land.
It says farmers also require practical advice, financial supports and viable alternatives to existing practices where changes are required.
Measures to restore soil, water and ecosystem functions could help farms absorb the impact of extreme weather while maintaining productivity, according to the report.
The Council has also identified diversification into areas including forestry, carbon farming and renewable energy as potential options for some farms.
Climate Change Advisory Council chair Alex White said agricultural policy should be developed in collaboration with farmers and rural communities and take account of the practical realities and costs facing the sector.
The report also raises concerns about Ireland’s reliance on imported fruit and vegetables, warning that climate-related crop failures overseas could expose the country to food supply disruption.
