Flowers still blooming, tomatoes still ripening in greenhouses, flies still buzzing - and farmers still in the fields cutting grass for silage.

It sounds like an idyllic summer picture, but it is in fact an October scene in Northern Ireland.

This summer has seen one of the longest periods of hot weather since records began - the invasion of daddy long-legs was a testament to that.

But the lack of rainfall also meant difficulties in growing crops and grass - and a knock-on effect on the silage season.

Silage is described as a "packed lunch" for winter livestock; the grass is cut and effectively fermented.

According to the Ulster Farmers' Union, the silage season usually starts in May with the final cut at the end of August or start of September.

However, Newtownards farmer John Martin said a wet spring and dry summer affected the grass growth.

"Silage making can take place up to four times a year, " he said.

"We had a very wet spring which delayed grass growth.

"Through the summer months, June, July and August, we had a dry spell, that resulted in a very limited grass growth... and as a result of that yields were greatly depressed.

"People are trying to catch up now, and given the mild weather we have had in recent weeks, to conserve additional forage for the livestock for the winter."

The BBC Weather Centre said temperatures in June and much of July were significantly above average.

It predicted that by about 2040 such temperatures would be recorded, on average, every other year.

"In other words this type of summer will be considered 'normal'," it said.

Temperatures have been much higher than expected this month. The average temperature this week alone has been about 14 degrees celsius.

Joe McDonald of the Ulster Farmers' Union said making silage in October was "unusual" but said he knew of one farmer who cut his grass for silage in January several years ago.

"Every time the weather goes to one extreme or the other there are problems," he said.

"2001 was the wettest year on record - that caused a lot of problems for farmers. Livestock was indoors over the summer, and it was difficult to get machines onto the land," he said. "There were a lot of practical difficulties.

"The wet weather that year also affected the fertility of animals.

"2006 was the reverse of that. It was very hot and dry summer which caused problems of a different sort. It was a difficult year for growing crops because of a lack of rain. It was difficult to grow grass.

"Some predictions seem to suggest wetter and windier weather and dryer summers - that changes things in farming. In the west of the province, they get more rainfall, so farmers are not looking forward to even wetter winters."

This is backed up by other experts.

Michael Robinson of the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute said the weather had affected grass growth.

"Growth has been well above average, (40%) through late September and October," he said.

"Our research identifies drier, hotter summers are impacting on growth, with below average growth through July."

Farmers are now diversifying because of the unpredictable weather.

For example, maize, normally found in mainland Europe because it requires a lot of sun, can now be found in Northern Ireland.

Mr McDonald explained: "Farmers have brought on a variety of maize which requires less sunlight.

"Farmers themselves have a big part to play in the solution to climate change - through renewable energy in the form of crops such as willows.

"With the like of willow you can heat on a small scale such a domestic heating to combined heat and power.

"We will see more areas of land dedicated to this type of thing in the years to come."

BBC News