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Know How / Grassland management

In the current challenging climate, all livestock producers are under pressure to maximise the cheapest food source – forage. See the latest thinking on grazing methods, forage systems, reseeding and varieties as well as how others are making more from grass and maize.

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GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

Why Gloucs dairy farmer is adopting longer-grass grazing

A Gloucestershire dairy farmer is adapting her grazing management to make her farm more resilient as the climate changes, improving her soil health and reducing reliance on inputs. Third-generation farmer…

SHEEP

How cobalt deficiency tests led to higher lamb weights

A split trial on a Dorset farm highlighted a 3.52kg uplift in weight gain and reduced susceptibility to worms in lambs supplemented for cobalt deficiency. The result of the trial,…

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

Why simple herbal ley mix benefits Durham mixed farm

Government clarification that growing one herb, one legume, and one grass together qualifies as a herbal ley under the Sustainable Farming Incentive is grist to the mill of a County…

BEEF

How an intensive beef finisher has cut carbon footprint

A Welsh beef finisher is demonstrating that making structured progress towards net zero is achievable in an intensive farming system. Dylan Jones, who farms on Anglesey in partnership with his…

DAIRY

How carbon audit kick-started dairy’s net-zero ambition

Improved slurry storage and an increase in milk from forage have helped a Cumbrian dairy farm cut its carbon footprint by one-third. When the Dunning family first looked at Raisgill…

LIVESTOCK

How a beef farm is managing grassland to face extreme weather

Maize is an established part of Ian Farrant’s system at Underley Farm, Stoke Bliss in Worcestershire, and a crop he describes as a “brilliant insurance policy’’ in dry summers when…

Practical advice

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GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

Advice on grazing management for dairy heifers

Well-managed rotational grazing for dairy replacements can produce cost-effective growth and train calves to become effective grazers. However, it is important to recognise the limitations in their first grazing year.…

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

How to get the most from red clover in silage

Red clover silage leys respond well in a multicut system, with best results from mowing every five weeks. Cutting at the red bud stage just before flowering in mid-May will…

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

6 tips for managing this year’s first-cut silage

Slurry stores are full and forage stocks are running dangerously low on many farms. While grass is generally growing well, many fields remain vulnerable to damage by poaching and machinery.…

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

How to manage dairy cows at grass as seasons get more extreme

Regularly measuring grass growth, assessing trends and being adaptable to changing weather patterns are helping one grass-based dairy manage extreme weather conditions. Herd manager Antony Mitchell milks 600 spring- and…

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

How visiting other farms can improve business resilience

Perthshire beef and sheep farmer and Farmers Weekly’s Grassland Manager of the Year 2023 John Ritchie is convinced the biggest improvements on his farm have come from listening to other…

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

5 ways to help prevent silage slippage

More silage slippage is being seen on farms because of the increase in the popularity of multicut silage. A multicut system involves cutting grass more frequently than the traditional two-to-three-cut…

Insights

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BEEF

16 ways to improve suckler herd profitability

British beef farmers can check their management practices against a list of tried and tested ways to make their suckler herds more profitable and productive. A joint levy board initiative…

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

Tips for establishing white clover in a sward

A combination of correct pH, good seed-bed conditions and minimal competition from weeds is important for successful clover germination, according to consultant Andre van Barneveld of Graise Consultancy in Ireland.…

BNG

Conservation grazing grows as alternative land uses develop

Biodiversity net gain (BNG) became mandatory in the planning system in England from February 2024, allowing landowners to earn an income from selling biodiversity units to developers. This is just…

FEED AND NUTRITION

Bacterial inoculant boosts milk yield 1.9kg/day, study shows

Inoculating silage increases available dry matter, improves aerobic stability, and increases milk yields, according to the findings of a new trial. The independent trial was carried out at Reading University’s…

LIVESTOCK

6 livestock tech developments to look out for

From driverless tractors to cameras for identifying diseases, several high-tech innovations are coming down the track. Farmers Weekly looks at six highlights. See also: NI farm transforms slurry and food…

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

Why calcium is critical for soil, plant and animal health

Calcium’s superpowers have been known by agronomists for years, yet not enough attention is paid to the crucial role this mineral plays in soil health on farm. This is according…

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

What is 'Total grazing' and will it work in the UK?

A radical grazing technique is gathering pace which claims to maximise grassland production and rumen function by baring off pasture at the 3.5-leaf stage. “Total grazing” involves moving cattle four…

LIVESTOCK

Why diverse forage mixtures could improve outwintering

Findings from a recent trial in Devon have concluded that outwintering cattle on a diverse mix of forages can help improve both animal and soil health, while also benefiting the…

Maize

FEED AND NUTRITION

6 things to watch out for in wet spring maize campaign

Maize growers should be prepared to address soil compaction and drill later if required after a record-breaking period of rainfall. The wettest 18-month period across England in recorded history could…

LIVESTOCK

Can living mulch cut maize cost and protect soil health?

Maize is an important component in livestock diets, but growing the crop is often associated with harmful environmental effects caused by soil erosion and run-off. The tendency for maize ground…

MAIZE

5 ways to reduce the carbon footprint of maize production

Managing maize production as efficiently as possible offers UK growers one of the biggest opportunities to minimise the carbon footprint of their forage production. Dairy and beef sectors are increasingly…

MAIZE

What lessons can be learned from 2023 maize harvest?

Farmers harvesting maize later in October 2023 were plagued by wet and difficult conditions. “Maize was a lot riper than people thought it was. Farmers were put off harvesting because…

FEED AND NUTRITION

Maize grower relief at emergency seed treatment ruling

British maize growers can breathe a sigh of relief that three European seed treatments have been given the green light for UK use next year. UK regulators have granted emergency…

LIVESTOCK

Options for harvesting maize in wet conditions

A switch to grain maize could be the answer for farmers with maize crops still standing because harvest has been hampered by wet ground conditions.   This is according to…

MAIZE

Maize Watch: Bumper maize yields for many

Maize growers around the country are reporting very good yields this year. “Contractors are chopping now in all regions. Yields are 44-49t/ha, which is very good compared with the long-term…

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

Maize Watch: Mild weather helps crops to mature steadily

Maize crops continue to mature steadily through this period of mild weather and warm nights. Plants have dried a lot this week, with many crops having leaves senescing from the…

AHDB resources

See AHDB resources on rotational grazing

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GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

Video: Soil health focus reduces cow variable costs by 40%

Basing a farming system on improving soil health has helped a Northumberland mixed farm strip costs out of its sucklers and halve its winter housing period. The variable costs of…

BEEF

Video: How an estate grazes beef cattle on 1,000ha marsh

Innovative grazing practices have enabled a Cumbrian estate to capitalise on more than 1,000ha (2,471 acres) of saltmarsh, giving a beef finishing system an extensive, low-input store period. Each summer,…

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

Video: How near-infra red technology measures grass quality

Near infra-red spectroscopy (NIRS) technology is helping grassland farmers produce better quality silage by pinpointing when grass is at the optimum nutritional value for harvesting. At Grassland & Muck 2017, Limagrain demonstrated…

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

Video: Should you do a full reseed or renovate pasture?

In most cases, if a sward is past its best, there is no substitute for ploughing. However, overseeding can also be beneficial. In the video below, Germinal’s Daniel Loe sets…