Match production to grassland needs

ONE of the things that we tried to emphasise at our Clifton Castle Grassland demonstration day in May was the importance of matching production to needs.

There is no doubt that the whole livestock production system, whether it’s meat or milk, goes smoother when there is adequate grass on the farm.

Most of our customers have had a good grass year during 2014 and this will undoubtedly make the winter easier. Now is the time to start planning for 2015 to try to reduce the effect of some of the uncontrollable features like the weather that we will have to contend with.

Soil structure – a healthy soil relies on the ability to retain moisture in a dry time and drain water when it is wet. This means that there has to be air spaces between the soil particles and air also allows the soil life – bacteria, worms, insects – to thrive and release nutrients for plants. Soil structure can be assessed using a spade. There should be no ‘tight’ layer of impervious soil, but if there is it can be remedied by the use of an aerator or sward lifter.

Soil analysis – this is one of the most cost effective tools at the farmer’s disposal, particularly as we offer six free samples for farmer members. The soil nutrients must be in balance in order to make the most of your fertiliser purchase. Soil pH must be between 6.0 and 6.5 for best results and granulated lime, or Calcifert, can be used to quickly correct any deficiency. The autumn is a great time to do this job in order to plan purchases for spring.

Reseeding – assessing sward composition will help decide on priorities for reseeding. Broad leaved weeds are the most obvious ‘non-sown’ species, but assess ryegrass content by looking for the characteristic purple-red base to the leaves. Ryegrass will be the highest yielding species and will maintain its quality through the season. Consider oversowing in spring if there is a reasonably high ryegrass presence or a full reseed may be necessary.

Manures and slurry – these are clearly a good source of nutrients and can be used to boost fields where soil indices are low. It may seem obvious, but manures should not be applied to the same fields each year. Soil analysis often shows that fields nearer the buildings have high soil reserves whilst those further away are low.

Spring grass – there is little doubt that spring grass is the most reliable, has the highest quality and can give the best returns. As it comes out of winter the surface roots begin to warm, but are unable to search the soil profile for nutrients. A ready supply of nitrogen and, particularly, phosphate can give a huge boost to spring grass yields. Getting the season off to a good start is so important that it is worth looking at a specific early bite type product whether you are grazing cattle or sheep. The rest of the year always seems to go better when there is a good spring.

To discuss the production of a nutrient plan for grassland and the appropriate fertiliser regime for your farm, please speak to your Mole Agriculture representative or call Fertiliser Specialist Richard Martin on 01325 504611.