Forfarmers forage guide 2016

Forage Guide 2016 New

TOPGRASS seed mixtures included inside

ForFarmers Forage & Arable

Introduction & Contents

2

Welcome to the first ForFarmers forage guide which we hope explains the background behind ForFarmers and its rebranding from what was known as BOCM PAULS in the UK. We have also grown in size by acquiring the feed and forage part of Countrywide Farmers business, which has led to Forage & Arable forming a significant part of ForFarmers in the UK. We recognise under current market conditions farm profitability is facing a challenging time. With forage providing the mainstay of the ruminant diet, ForFarmers Forage & Arable aims to supply products and knowledge to help reduce the cost of production and maintain farm profitability through improved feed and forage efficiency. An international company and European market leader in the animal feed sector, ForFarmers has production facilities in the UK, Netherlands, Belgium and Germany manufacturing annually approximately 8.9 million tons of compound feed and dry blends, for cattle, pig, poultry and equine.

ForFarmers Dry, Moist & Liquid Feeds (DML) supplies feed materials and straights as co-products from shippers, brewers, distillers and the human food and drinks industry. We also use these materials to produce a wide range of moist blends providing optimal feed solutions for our farmer customers.

ForFarmers Forage & Arable division offers knowledge, expertise and a wide range of seed, fertiliser and forage additive products to improve feed and forage efficiency. We recognise with the correct management and utilisation through effective cutting, grazing and feeding strategies modern seed varieties can have a significant impact on farm profitability.

Vision and Strategy - ForFarmers wants to contribute to better returns for customers by offering optimal animal

nutrition solutions through the ‘total feed business’ approach.

With the ‘total feed’ concept ForFarmers aims to supply these complete nutritional solutions to meet the individual customers needs and objectives, including products for all classes of livestock, young animals, single raw materials, technical nutrition products, co-products, grass and maize seeds, fertilisers and forage additives.

Working in close contact with the feed teams our forage specialists provide extensive knowledge and technical support.

We supply a wide range of seed, fertiliser, forage additives, analytical services and crop protection products for livestock farmers with both forage and arable crops. Customers have a single point of contact through ForFarmers account managers supported by our specialists to place orders and ask for advice.

Research and Development - As well as working with research partners and universities in the UK and Europe, ForFarmers has it’s own dedicated R&D facility the ‘Nutrition and Innovation Centre’ (NIC) situated at Lochem in the Netherlands.

It carries out work to develop new innovative products, evaluate nutritional performance of products and provide nutritional support in ruminant, pig and poultry sectors.

By involvement in R&D, including an Innovate UK project alongside ADAS UK Ltd and Yara, developing more precise control of nitrogen fertiliser to grass crops, ForFarmers aims to benefit both UK farming and the environment.

Through the core values of ambition, sustainability and partnership ForFarmers remains committed to providing quality products, customer service and specialist advice, delivering a strong competitive advantage to all their customers.

Introduction & Contents

2

Overseeding Mixtures

19

Forage Maize

3

Organic Mixtures

20

Forage Quality

4

Organic Mixtures

21

Reseeding Step by Step

5

Equine & Hay Mixtures

22

Advanced Grasses

6

Equine & Meadow Mixtures

23

ProNitro®

7

ForFarmers Crop Protection

24

GroMax Biostimulant

8

Weed & Pest Control

25

Mixture Selector

9

Grassland Weed Control

26

Short Term Mixtures

10

Grass Diseases

27

Red Clover Mixtures

11

Fertiliser for Grazing, Silage & Reseeding

28

Medium Term Mixtures

12

Innovative Research with Industry Partners

29

Long Term Mixtures

13

A Guide to Cost Benefits of Using Forage Additive

30

Grazing Mixtures

14

ForFarmers Forage Additive Selector

31

Lucerne

15

Wholecrop and Cereals

32

Clover

16

Greening, Environmental and Game Cover

33

Forage Catch Crops

17

Fodder Crops

34

Overseeding Method

18

Fodder Crops

35

TM

Forage Maize

3

Forage Maize ForFarmers works with the leading maize breeders in bringing the most suitable varieties to the market to ensure performance and manageability in this changing climate. Todays farmers require maize varieties that fit into their farming plans and need to be able to harvest the crop when required which can then provide high quality forage. ForFarmers focus on the top NIAB listed varieties which have low FAO figures to ensure earlier harvest dates but also high cell wall digestibility, maximum starch yields and high dry matter content. ForFarmers account managers can help you in selecting and growing The imp ormaize tance o variety. the Gcorrect f fer ettin g off to

Liming

ti a good s liser tart

Getting the agro

nomy ri maize c crucial. Fo r growin ght for rop g maize, soil pH, lim a succe a pH of 6. e should ssful 8 is ideal.

Check yo be applie done as To ur soil an maintain d on an ‘as early as po th al e correct ysis and needed’ ssible so into the Pl ou m ba th gh ak soil. at there sis. This sh e adjustm and culti is time fo ould be ents va working r it to be tilth of 5c te incorpor m ated Starter fe Subsoilin rtiliser g is essent It is reco at rootin ial Maize mmende g! Any co is a deep d that a mpa applicat germinat rooting pl starter fe ion of 65 ion and su ction will result rtiliser is kg/Ha of in uneven ant but poor bs to the ea us equent cr ed at drilli MAP or D G and patc en rly grow op er ng al AP will pr ly sow fr . An hy th of the ovide ex om 20th crop, im tra supp of April proving ort previous onwards dry matte an d al ly receiv l over by as a targ r yields an ed high et th e w d second w ith levels of Soil tem eek in M FYM, then pe ay the starte consecut rature is key whi r fertiliser applicat ive days ch is 8°C ion rate an m 10 d in pr °C im eferably can be ha on heavie The pict rising on um for 3-4 r soils lved. ure oppo light grou Drilling site show importan nd and dept s the ce of appl emergenc h 3-5cm ensu ying star fertilisers. res e, ter On the le or patchy shallower will en moisture Deepe ft shows MAP fert co r ge w ur rminatio ill delay age bird iliser appl n damage ied and Row wid happens or risk po what ths 75cm if you ru or (30inch) n out (on right). Th Seed sp the e blue tin acing 10 ging on -12cm plants on the Seed rate the right is classic s Control conventio 104,000-111,000/h the wee na a ds before higher or lly drilled maize. (42,000-45,000/a Maize is a very po cre) for Some co lo th wer rates ey co or compe mpani ntrol the accordin weeds. Yi Lo tit or cr g w elds very to variety es may advocate op er seed and can quickly slu soon be but will re rates advance m come sw mp in a di Poor wee duce DM aturity an amped w rty crop. d contro yield d can im ith l is often Higher se disappoi prove qu the bigg nting resu ality ed rates est single lts with m increase D factor co aize so it’ M yi ntributin elds but s import g de to la y maturity ant to ge Planting t it right an after gras d and s? Use So nido as a treatmen t

• • •

Variety choice

Maturity

Breeder

Variety •

Extra early

Pioneer

P7326 • PR39V43

• Emmerson

DLF

KWS

Limagrain

Grainseed

Very Early

Pioneer

Selectin g growing and t maize v he correct ariety 2 016

• • •

• • Kaspian • Activate Ardent

P7892 P8057

DLF

For inform at your loca ion on our full m aize por l ac tfolio ple Customer count manager ase cont or the Fo Services act rage & A team on rable :

Perez

Regain

KWS

0845 07 0 6280 info.fora ge@forf armers.eu www.fo rfarmer s.co.uk

Sergio

0845 07 0 6280 info.fora ge@forf armers.eu www.fo rfarmer s.co.uk

Severus Aurelius

Early

Limagrain

Ambition

Grainseed

Picker

Pioneer

P7524 Justina

KWS

Kromwell

Limagrain

Emblem

Grainseed

Dominator Absalon

ForFarm Forage & ers Arable

For more information on selecting and growing the correct maize variety please contact your local ForFarmers account manager or the Forage & Arable customer service team on 0845 070 6280 For more information on Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas production contact FMBioEnergy, a division of ForFarmers, Tel: 0871 704 3317 Email: info@fmbioenergy.co.uk

Late

DLF

Rogosso

KWS

Ambrosini

www.fmbioenergy.co.uk

A range of services to help operators of anaerobic digestion plants gain more control and increase methane yields in order to improve return on investment.

Feedstock

Source & supply

Biological support

Process additives

Silage additives

Minimise losses & increase gas yield

Gas leakage detection

Forage Quality

4

ForFarmers can offer a range of quality grass leys for all farming situations. We have combined the leading varieties on the Grass and clover recommended list available from leading grass breeders, DLF and Germinal, to create the Topgrass mixture range for today’s livestock producer. As well as yield, persistency and disease resistance Topgrass mixtures benefit from leading edge research and include many varieties with exceptional cell wall Digestibility (DNDF) and high sugar (WSC).

Fibre Digestibility (DNDF) and High Sugar (WSC) – the key to achieving more meat and milk from forage.

For Farmers A4 page_Layout 1 10/12/2015 10:47 Page 2

Germinal

The science behind Aber High Sug

Breeders have spent many years successfully improving the yield and disease resistance of grass varieties. Now the main goal is to improve forage quality – in particular the sugar content (WSC) and the fibre digestibility (DNDF).

Fibre Digestibility (DNDF) The benefits of using grasses with high DNDF are far reaching, from improving milk yield and live weight gain to rumen health and the reducing nitrogen released into the atmosphere by up to 4.9%. High DNDF forage will help rumen pH to remain stable allowing cattle to increase dry matter intake and therefore increase production from home grown forage Trials show 3-6% difference in cell wall digestibility (DNDF) between listed varieties Every 1% increase in DNDF results in 0.25 litres more milk/cow/day A 4% increase in DNDF = 1 litre of milk/day = £85/cow/ year This equates to £17,000/year for a 200-cow herd

Aber High Sugar Grass for milk production

6% more milk per High Sugar (WSC) cow over grazing season

Water-soluble carbohydrates in grass are the sugars Dry matter intakes up Cattle and sheep are inefficient a by 2kg/head per day found inside the plant cells, rather than more complex milk and meat. When grazing con 3% improvement in carbohydrates that make up cell walls. They quickly fuel20% theof protein from th only about diet digestibility the rest is wasted in urine. This rumen microbes to process more of the proteinofinto milk it is detrimental to the environmen lessUnder feed nitrogen and24% meat. grazing management high sugar grass is lost in urine A major reason for these losses is efficiently utilised thus leading to higher intakes.available energy and protein withi

broken down when feed enters th readily available energy, rumen m nitrogen released from the feed. T of the nitrogen being absorbed as eventually excreted.

Aber High Sugar Grass 6% more milk over the grazing season for beef production Improved palatability and higher forage intake Dry matter intakes

increased 20% higher live weight gain by around 25%

palatability in overall plant Improved 3% Improvement 20% higher daily

Grass cell walls consist of comple hemicellulose and lignin. Although broken down to provide energy, th digestibility and often out of balance with the

Water soluble carbohydrates in g

liveweight Up to 24% reduction in loss of feed nitrogenthe from gains plant cells, rather than in the c feeding high sugar grass carbohydrate in the cells walls, th Slaughter weights reached more quickly

High DNDF Perennial Ryegrass varieties Intermediate diploid

Solomon Romark

Late diploid

Cancan Pastour

Late tetraploid

The science be Aber High Sug

available energy soon after forage rumen microbes to process more can then be used in the productio than being excreted.

High WSC Perennial Ryegrass varieties

Aber High Sugar Grass for lamb productionAberEve Hybrid tetraploid Higher forage intakes Intermediate diploid

AberGreen

Late diploid

AberAvon

20% higher liveweight gains

20% higher carrying Late tetraploid capacity of Aber HSG sward

Polim Twymax

Aber® and Aber® HSG are registered trademarks of Germinal Holdings Ltd

AberBite

This is why livestock perform bett sugar levels.

Research at IBERS Aberystwyth U HSG varieties have consistently h standard varieties, throughout an levels up to 50% higher than con some Aber HSG varieties.

Reseeding Step by Step Pre Sowing

Post Sowing

Soil test before reseeding – correct the pH and any nutrient deficiencies Check the subsoil for compaction from both livestock & machinery Burn off old swards with glyphosate Sow in early spring once the soil is warm and has sufficient moisture, or in the autumn up until end of September (weather permitting) Mixtures with clover should be sown by the end of August Cultivate to create a fine, firm seedbed. Sow no deeper than 15mm and give good soil to seed contact to aid faster development. Ideally sow into warm, moist soil

Cambridge roll to consolidate the seedbed Monitor for Fritfly Fly, Leatherjacket and Wireworm attack Monitor for slug activity and treat if required Control broad leaved weeds e.g. chickweed by light sheep grazing or suitable weed killers Early management of the new sward is key to encourage tillering. Grazing is preferable to cutting in the first instance

Typical Costs for Seed Bed Preparation & Sowing Ploughing Power harrowing Rolling (before & after sowing £7x2) Cross drilling Sub - total Grass seed (6yr ley) Total

5

£91 per acre

£24 per acre £21 per acre £14 per acre £32 per acre £60 per acre

£151 per acre

Other costs may include liming, seedbed fertiliser, spraying, finance charges, bringing the cost to £200 - £230 per acre

Average Benefits in First Production Year (potential milk yield) +20% DM/acre = 800kg @ 11MJ/kg DM (old ley @10MJ) = +12800MJ/acre 12800MJ/acre = 2461litre milk @ UK average 23ppl = £566/acre potential extra milk production Milk yield is easier to quantify than liveweight gain but it goes without saying that huge benefits from new grass leys will also apply to both beef and sheep

AdvancedTM Grasses

6

Asking for more from your grassland?

Use

- Quality & yield in abundance

Advanced™ Grasses are created by crossing fescues with ryegrasses. The objective of this advanced hybrid breeding is to create grass varieties with high forage quality combined with good persistence and stress tolerance.

Yield increases of between 10% and 50% are common when DLF varieties of Advanced™ Grasses are tested in trials.

Why are AdvancedTM Grasses so successful?

Intensive breeding for more than 40 years More robust plants due to broader adaptability to variations in climate, soil, management etc Yield improvement from crossing of two non-related species Development of types and varieties with different characters

TALL FESCUE

The variety HYKOR has the growth habits and attributes of a tall fescue in that it is extremely drought tolerant but exhibits improved forage quality and digestibility.

ITALIAN RYEGRASS

The varieties PERSEUS and PERUN have all the attributes of an italian ryegrass but exhibit improved persistence and stress tolerance. They are ideal in short term mixtures of up to 3 years duration and are especially good companions for red clover.

HYBRID RYEGRASS

Advanced GrassesTM Performance Data Yield T DM/ Ha

% Sugar Content

% Protein Content

ME MJ/KG DM

D-Value

HYKOR AdvancedTM Tall Fescue

17.63

10.4

22.5

11.4

71.4

Tall Fescue

16.37

12.5

19.8

11.4

71.6

Perseus AdvancedTM Italian Ryegrass

22.68

12.2

21.6

11.3

71.1

Lofa AdvancedTM Hybrid Ryegrass

21.69

12.0

21.9

11.3

71.1

Tetraploid Intermediate Perennial Ryegrass

17.37

12.1

24.8

11.4

71.9

The variety LOFA has the broadest appeal of all Advanced™ Grasses as it has all the attributes of a hybrid ryegrass but exhibits improved persistence and stress tolerance over standard hybrid ryegrass varieties. These characteristics make Lofa an ideal component in medium term mixtures as its persistence, being 1 - 2 years more than standard hybrid ryegrass, matches the expected duration of the vast majority of medium term mixtures currently used in the UK.

ProNitro®

7

Nitrogen seed coating Efficient seedbed fertiliser placement

Increases forage yield and therefore more meat and milk Emergence, density and wear are improved ProNitro® is a coating of grass seed with nutrients located around the seed, as a supplement to the seeds own reserves With ProNitro® there are easily accessible nutrients on each individual seed Contains 10% N

Sow at 15kg / acre (37kg / ha) for overseeding

This results in a number of advantages:

Enhanced early growth and improved tolerance to stress Fertiliser application exactly in the root zone = Better utilisation of nutrients and reduced loss to the environment Bigger and heavier seeds in better contact with soil surface Feeds only the seed not the weed or surrounding grass Better root and shoot extension Average of +30% more viable plants No application costs

ProNitro® 3 days after sowing

Control 3 days after sowing

Four weeks after sowing

ProNitro® is available on all ForFarmers Overseeding mixtures

Growmax Biostimulant

8

Gromax Biostimulant

Biostimulants do not offer the benefit of added nutrients; they simply assist the seedlings ability to take advantage of the soils own inherent reserves of nutrient by stimulating the soils microflora, resulting in improved root growth and establishment.

Ingredient Summary Humic Acids Rich in auxin type substances which enhance antioxidant synthesis – important in increasing plant metabolism under stress conditions Serve as an important high carbon food source for soil micro-organisms Improve the permeability of cell-wall membranes in roots, allowing more rapid absorption of essential nutrients

Seaweed Extract Contains high levels of cytokinins which promote cell division and lateral root growth and delay the ageing process of plant tissue Stimulates root growth after damage by disease or root feeding insects, or under conditions of temperature, water or salt stress Sucrose Serves as a high energy food source for plant and soil micro-organisms B Complex & K Vitmains Act as important catalysts to enhance and drive plant metabolism. Vitamin B1 is widely used as a rooting aid Amino Acids Form the building blocks of proteins-essential for plant growth and metabolism Potassium Plays a vital role in disease resistance and overall hardiness of grass plants

All ForFarmers main line mixtures contain Gromax as standard

Mixture Selector Chart

9

Mixture Purpose

Organic

Equine

Overseeding

TOPGRASS SHORT TERM

TOPGRASS HORSE PADDOCK

LEYBOOSTER CUTTING

PAGE 20

PAGE 22

PAGE 19

TOPGRASS HAY/HAYLAGE SHORT TERM

LEYBOOSTER GRAZING

TOPGRASS MEDIUM TERM PAGE 20

Stewardship

Conventional

PLEASE REFER TO ForFarmers ENVIRONMENTAL BROCHURE

PAGE 19

PAGE 22

TOPGRASS LONG TERM

LEYBOOSTER RED CLOVER

TOPGRASS HAY/HAYLAGE LONG TERM

PAGE 21

PAGE 19

TOPGRASS LEY BOOSTER

PAGE 23

PAGE 21

TOPGRASS COUNTRY MEADOW

LEYBOOSTER DUAL PURPOSE PAGE 19

PAGE 23

SHORT TERM

MEDIUM TERM

LONG TERM

DUAL PURPOSE - TOPGRASS PRIMOGEN

DUAL PURPOSE - TOPGRASS INTOGEN

PAGE 10

PAGE 12

DUAL PURPOSE TOPGRASS TROGEN

HIGH PROTEIN TOPGRASS NYTROGEN

CUTTING TOPGRASS EXTRAGEN

INTENSIVE GRAZING TOPGRASS DAIRYGEN

PAGE 12

PAGE 14

PAGE 17

HIGH PROTEIN TOPGRASS PROTOGEN

GRAZING TOPGRASS ALL GRAZE

PAGE 11

PAGE 14

CUTTING TOPGRASS SILOGEN

TOPGRASS EXTREME DUAL PURPOSE

TOPGRASS COUNTRY MEADOW

PAGE 11

TOPGRASS CATCHCROP

PAGE 10

PAGE 13

PAGE 13

PAGE 23

TOPGRASS SPRINTER PAGE 17

Primary use icons Cutting

Cattle Grazing

Sheep Grazing

Horses

All ForFarmers grass seed mixtures are available in 20kg bags allowing the end user to select the correct sowing rate for time of sowing and field conditions.

Disclaimer Any information provided in this catalogue is given in good faith and to the best of our existing knowledge. Any advice should therefore be taken as a general guide only and not relied upon for all conditions and circumstances. We cannot accept any legal liability for information given in this guide. In any instance where there are shortages in specified varieties we reserve the right to substitute equivalent varieties.

Short Term Mixtures

10

TOPGRASS PRIMOGEN - Advanced Catch Crop (1-2 years) Contains:

Primary use:

A two year intensive ley predominantly for cutting but will provide early grazing also.

40%

PERUN

Advanced™ Italian Ryegrass

Heading date 21 May**

30%

ALAMO

Diploid Italian Ryegrass

Heading date 20 May**

30%

KIGEZI

Tetraploid Italian Ryegrass

Heading date 18 May**

Sowing Rate 14-16kg/acre (35-40kg/ha) High yielding mixture up to 2 years duration Features Advanced™ Italian Ryegrass Perun 3 – 4 cuts of leafy, high quality silage

Rapid regrowth & responsive to fertiliser Heading date circa 20 May

TOPGRASS SILOGEN – Short Term Multicut Silage (3+ years) Contains:

Primary use:

A three year intensive mixture for multiple silage cuts of the very best quality. These grasses are very responsive to Fertiliser so return on investment is excellent.

31%

PERSEUS

Advanced™ Italian Ryegrass

Heading date 26 May**

29%

PERUN

Advanced™ Italian Ryegrass

Heading date 21 May**

20%

BAHIAL

Tetraploid Hybrid Ryegrass

Heading date 22 May**

20%

TETRAGRAZE

Tetraploid Hybrid Ryegrass

Heading date 19 May**

Sowing Rate 14-16kg/acre (35-40kg/ha)

Excellent for intensive silage production 60% Advanced™ Italian Ryegrass for yield & forage quality

Deep rooting so will withstand extremes of the seasons Will provide 3-4 high quality cuts through the season Heading date circa 22 May

Heading dates are based on figures for central England and should be adjusted for local conditions

**

Red Clover Mixtures

11

TOPGRASS NYTROGEN - Short Term Red Clover (2-3 years) Contains:

Primary use:

A three year ley intended for conservation. With a high Red Clover content this mixture will produce multicut silage throughout the growing season.

25%

PERSEUS

Advanced™ Italian Ryegrass

Heading date 26 May**

22%

PERUN

Advanced™ Italian Ryegrass

Heading date 21 May**

14%

BAHIAL

Tetraploid Hybrid Ryegrass

Heading date 22 May**

14%

TETRAGRAZE

Tetraploid Hybrid Ryegrass

Heading date 19 May**

25%

RED CLOVER BLEND

Red Clover

Sowing Rate 13-15kg/acre (32-37kg/ha) 47% Advanced™ Italian Ryegrass for high yields & quality Optimum Red Clover content aimed at high protein silage

Deep rooting cultivars will improve soil structure and fertility whilst withstanding extremes of the seasons Heading date circa 21 May

TOPGRASS PROTOGEN - Medium Term Red Clover (3-4 years) Contains:

Primary use:

A four year mixture developed using Hybrid Ryegrasses and long lasting Aber Red Clovers. Advanced™ Hybrid Lofa makes this mixture a potent conservation mix.

45%

LOFA

Advanced™ Hybrid Ryegrass

Heading date 20 May**

15%

TETRAGRAZE

Tetraploid Hybrid Ryegrass

Heading date 19 May**

15%

ABEREVE

Tetraploid Hybrid Ryegrass

Heading date 22 May**

25 %

RED CLOVER BLEND

Red Clover

Sowing Rate 13-15kg/acre (32-37kg/ha) Lofa has a stunning combination of yield and forage quality Four full years for multi-cut silage production All grasses are hybrid types and are ideal partners to Red Clover

Contains high yielding persistent red clovers increasing yield and protein content Heading date circa 21 May

**Heading dates are based on figures for central England and should be adjusted for local conditions

Medium Term Mixtures

12

TOPGRASS EXTRAGEN - Medium Term Multicut Silage (3-4 years) Contains:

Primary use:

An intensive silage mixture with a grazing option if required in the latter part of the season. A combination of excellent yield and forage quality varieties makes this a very adaptable mixture.

45%

LOFA

Advanced™ Hybrid Ryegrass

Heading date 20 May**

15%

CITELIAC

Tetraploid Hybrid Ryegrass

Heading date 20 May**

15%

TETRAGRAZE

Tetraploid Hybrid Ryegrass

Heading date 19 May**

12.5%

SOLOMON

Diploid Intermediate Perennial Ryegrass

Heading date 17 May**

12.5%

TWYMAX

Tetraploid Late Perennial Ryegrass

Heading date 5 June**

Sowing Rate 14-15kg/acre (35-37kg/ha) Lofa has a stunning combination of yield and forage quality High yields for silage cuts Responds well to fertiliser application giving rapid re-growth

25% high DNDF from Solomon and Twymax An option with 7% White Clover cutting blend is available Heading date circa 21 May

TOPGRASS INTOGEN - Medium Term Cut and Graze (3-4 years) Contains:

Primary use:

A versatile blend of Hybrid and Perennial Ryegrasses to give excellent yields whether being cut or grazed. A four year mixture that will adapt under differing management scenarios.

15%

CITELIAC

Tetraploid Hybrid Ryegrass

Heading date 20 May**

15%

TETRAGRAZE

Tetraploid Hybrid Ryegrass

Heading date 19 May**

20%

SOLOMON

Diploid Intermediate Perennial Ryegrass

Heading date 17 May**

14%

ABERGREEN

Diploid Intermediate Perennial Ryegrass

Heading date 29 May**

14%

GLENSTAL

Tetraploid Intermediate Perennial Ryegrass

Heading date 20 May**

15%

ABERAVON

Diploid Late Perennial Ryegrass

Heading date 2 June**

7%

WHITE CLOVER

Dual Purpose White Clover Blend

Sowing Rate 14-15kg/acre (35-37kg/ha) Quality first cut then either cut again or graze 29% Aber HSG varieties enhance forage quality 20% Solomon improves quality with high DNDF

A no clover option is available Heading date circa 22 May

Heading dates are based on figures for central England and should be adjusted for local conditions

**

Long Term Mixtures & Extreme Conditions

13

TOPGRASS EXTREME DUAL PURPOSE (3-5 years) Contains:

Primary use:

Formulated to provide a stress tolerant, dual purpose mixture, capable of providing forage high in protein and energy during the dry summer months. Includes AdvancedTM Grasses for maximum stress tolerance.

14% 14% 28% 15% 17% 5% 7%

PERUN PERSEUS LOFA ROMARK ALFONSO RED CLOVER WHITE CLOVER

Advanced™ Italian Ryegrass Advanced™ Italian Ryegrass Advanced™ Hybrid Ryegrass Diploid Late Perennial Ryegrass Tetraploid Late Perennial Ryegrass Red Clover Blend Dual Purpose White Clover Blend

Heading date 21 May** Heading date 26 May** Heading date 20 May** Heading date 3 June** Heading date 1 June**

Sowing Rate 14-15kg/acre (35-37kg/ha) AdvancedTM Grasses are deep rooted and can tolerate both drought and high temperature Tetraploid cultivars are high in sugar and are very palatable providing forage throughout the summer months

Extreme Dual Purpose will cope equally well in very wet soils Available without clover Heading date circa 20 May

TOPGRASS TROGEN - Long Term Cut and Graze (5+ years) Contains:

Primary use:

Probably the best dual purpose mixture available. Utilising the very best of both More Milk high DNDF and Aber HSG grasses this mixture will produce both cutting and grazing swards of the highest calibre.

14%

SOLOMON

Diploid Intermediate Perennial Ryegrass

Heading date 17 May**

14%

ABERGREEN

Diploid Intermediate Perennial Ryegrass

Heading date 29 May**

14%

SEAGOE

Tetraploid Intermediate Perennial Ryegrass

Heading date 22 May**

14%

CANCAN

Diploid Late Perennial Ryegrass

Heading date 12 June**

15%

ABERAVON

Diploid Late Perennial Ryegrass

Heading date 2 June**

15%

TWYMAX

Tetraploid Late Perennial Ryegrass

Heading date 5 June**

7%

PROMESSE

Timothy

Heading date 10 June**

7%

WHITE CLOVER

Dual Purpose White Clover Blend

Sowing Rate 14-15kg/acre (35-37kg/ha) Superb combination of varieties for yield and quality for all dual purpose requirements Timothy inclusion makes this ideal for colder, later soils Suites all livestock systems equally suited to silage, hay and grazing

A no clover option is available No timothy option available Heading date circa 30 May

Heading dates are based on figures for central England and should be adjusted for local conditions

**

Grazing Mixtures

14

TOPGRASS DAIRYGEN - Long Term Dairy Intensive Grazing (5+ years) Contains:

Primary use:

Intensive grazing, as the name suggests, is predominantly aimed at those pursuing production from grazed grass. A combination of More Milk high DNDF and Aber HSG cultivars makes this the ultimate grazing ley.

25%

ABERGREEN

Diploid Intermediate Perennial Ryegrass

Heading date 29 May**

15%

ROMARK

Diploid Late Perennial Ryegrass

Heading date 3 June**

20%

CANCAN

Diploid Late Perennial Ryegrass

Heading date 12 June**

15%

PASTOUR

Diploid Late Perennial Ryegrass

Heading date 4 June**

25%

ABERAVON

Diploid Late Perennial Ryegrass

Heading date 2 June**

Sowing Rate 14-15kg/acre (35-37kg/ha) 100% Diploid Perennials for extreme sward density 50 / 50 high DNDF and high sugar varieties Features Cancan which is both high DNDF and high in WSC

Abergreen exhibits season long yield and forage quality Aberavon has excellent grazing yields Heading date circa 3 June.

TOPGRASS ALL GRAZE - Long Term Grazing (5+ years) Contains:

Primary use:

A high quality grazing mixture aimed at all classes of livestock. An excellent grazing ley that will enable both liveweight gain and milk production from grazed grass.

24%

ABERGREEN

Diploid Intermediate Perennial Ryegrass

Heading date 29 May**

15%

GLENSTAL

Tetraploid Intermediate Perennial Ryegrass

Heading date 20 May**

14%

CANCAN

Diploid Late Perennial Ryegrass

Heading date 12 June**

23%

ABERAVON

Diploid Late Perennial Ryegrass

Heading date 2 June**

17%

ABERBITE

Tetraploid Late Perennial Ryegrass

Heading date 5 June**

7%

WHITE CLOVER

Grazing Clover Blend

Sowing Rate 14-15kg/acre (35-37kg/ha) Contains 61% diploid perennials all excellent grazing quality varieties 7% White clover grazing blend

Clover will allow a less intensive management regime Heading date circa 1 June

Heading dates are based on figures for central England and should be adjusted for local conditions

**

Lucerne

15

Excellent in drought conditions, high protein for 4 years duration, high yields, multi-cut crop Site Choice and Crop Requirements Lucerne thrives in deep free-draining soil Deep tap roots enable the plant to fully exploit water and nutrient reserves A soil pH range of 6.5 - 7.0 is essential for rapid establishment Adequate pH status will also ensure activity of nitrogen fixing Rhizobium bacteria within the root nodules If the pH is lower than 6.2 then the nodules will not fix atmospheric nitrogen Typical Silage Analysis (DM)

Sowing Guidelines Always ensure that the seed sown is treated with inoculants Sow between April and mid August The seed should be sown into a fine, firm seedbed at 8 - 10kg per acre Sow at a depth of 6 - 12mm in loamy soils and 12 - 25mm in sandy soils where moisture may be limited

Dry Matter

36%

Crude Protein

18.75%

DCP

13%

ADF

27.5%

NDF

52.5%

D Value

69

ME (MJ/Kg DM)

11

Harvesting Guidelines Mid to late bud is identified as the best timing indicator for harvest Timing is critical as lucerne must be allowed to build up root reserves before being re-harvested. Root reserves are at a minimum around 3 weeks after cutting when there is around 15 - 20cm of re-growth on the crop Cutting too early should therefore be avoided as the persistence of the crop is dramatically reduced Conversely cutting too late (first flowering stage) results in lower quality material which is high in indigestible cellulose Typically 4 cuts per year could be taken from late May to mid October with approximately 70% annual yield coming from the first two cuts

Clover

16

White Clover White Clover is less productive than Red Clover but it is much more persistent and is therefore used in medium to long term mixtures. The sowing rate of White Clover should be around 1.0 - 1.5 kg /acre (7% 10% of the mixture by weight) and it should be sown into a firm, fine seedbed. The optimum soil pH is 6.0 - 6.5 and clover has a high demand for phosphate and potash. Mixtures containing White Clover can be sown throughout the year, but summer reseeds should be completed in time to allow clover to fully establish before the onset of winter.

Leaf size is judged as small, medium or large and their performance varies in terms of yield, seasonality and persistency under different management regimes. All the clover varieties used in ForFarmers mixtures are specially selected from UK Recommended Lists and matched to suit the sward use.

Red Clover Red Clover is a very high yielding, short-lived perennial plant with a lifespan of 2 to 4 years. It has a tufted, upright growth habit from the crown of the plant which lies at ground level and it has a deep tap root. The crown restricts its use for grazing and it is essentially a species for silage production which can be cut 3 to 4 times a year over its life expectancy of 3 full production years.

Red Clover has the potential to produce high yields of protein rich forage (typically around 15% - 20% crude protein). It needs to be sown at 2.0 - 3.0kg/acre in a mixture with suitable grasses to provide sugars for the ensiling process. The ideal companion grasses are Hybrid Ryegrasses and the new Advanced™ Grasses both of which have a similar life-span and are aggressive enough to compete in a sward containing a high percentage of Red Clover.

Less reliance on bought in fertiliser Clover can deliver 150 - 250kg N/ha/year Increases forage intake Increases forage protein levels

Excellent provider of nitrogen and green manure when ploughed in White Clover fills the mid-summer “hungry gap�

The deep roots of Red Clover give drought tolerance and improve soil structure

Forage Catch Crops

17

Establishing grass after an early forage maize harvest can provide early production in the following spring thus maximising output of fodder per acre. The species used are short term and very vigorous enabling them to cope with the later planting date. Crops established this way can be cut or grazed in the following spring and then returned back into maize or left down for the rest of the year. The other benefit of this technique is that the grass helps stabilise the soil surface and helps to prevent soil run off, whilst reducing the levels of fertiliser leaching after periods of high rainfall.

TOPGRASS CATCH CROP As the name implies a very short term, highly productive blend of Italian Ryegrass which can be used for a number of applications, to replace failed crops, to sow after maize or to ensure compliance with single farm payment, winter soil programs etc.

50%

Diploid Italian Ryegrass

50%

Tetraploid Italian Ryegrass

Sowing Rate 12-16kg/acre (30-40kg/ha) A 50/50 mix of tetraploids and diploids Will establish rapidly

Can be cut or grazed Heading date circa 15 May

TOPGRASS SPRINTER Contains: A short term mixture that is ideal for spring sowing. Autumn sowing should only be on frost free sites as Westerwolds may suffer from extreme cold conditions.

50%

PELETON

Tetraploid Westerwolds Ryegrass

50%

DANERGO

Tetraploid Italian Ryegrass

Sowing Rate 12-16kg/acre (30-40kg/ha) Very vigorous in establishment Responsive to high fertiliser inputs

Very good disease resistance Heading date circa 16 May

WESTERWOLDS Westerwolds Ryegrass is an annual species that is used in situations where rapid but short term production is required. Sow in early spring for a grazing crop 8 - 10 weeks post sowing or cutting 12 weeks post sowing.

100%

Tetraploid Westerwolds Ryegrass

Sowing Rate 12-16kg/acre (30-40kg/ha) (supplied in 25kg bags) Heading dates are based on figures for central England and should be adjusted for local conditions

**

18

Overseeding – an economical & cost effective tool

Open Swards Yield Too Little Overseeding using the correct mixtures and machinery designed for the job is now accepted as good practice to both maintain the physical and nutritional quality of medium and long term swards.

When the sward becomes open allowing weeds and unsown species to invade, overseeding will quickly check this and maintain the productivity by increasing both yield and quality.

The loss of 1 tonne DM/ha @ 11MJ/ kg DM equates to 11000 MJ/ha = more than 2000 litres milk/ha for the dairy farmer.

Overseeding a sward with the correct ForFarmers Leybooster overseeding mixture will help maintain production beyond its expected life.

Slot seeding - depth & seed to soil contact are critical

Overseeding - ForFarmers Top 10 Tips Assess the field for weeds and grass species content Timing is essential. After the last cut or hard grazing in the late summer early autumn is best Select the appropriate Leybooster mixture - Dual purpose, Graze, Cut or Cut (Red) Consider using ProNitroÂŽ treated seed as an option (see page 7) Scarify pre drilling to remove thatch. This lets in sunlight & moisture Use the correct drilling method. For younger open swards a scarifying rake, for denser swards a disc drill Cross drilling can improve ground cover Roll after drilling for good seed to soil contact. Use a Cambridge roll if possible Be aware of Fritfly and Leatherjacket attack (consult your agronomist) Stock can continue to graze up to seedling emergence.

Then allow establishment Slot seeding

Overseeding Mixtures

19

LEYBOOSTER CUTTING

LEYBOOSTER RED CLOVER

Contains:

Contains:

30%

LOFA

AdvancedTM Hybrid Ryegrass

35%

LOFA

AdvancedTM Hybrid Ryegrass

40%

CITELIAC

Tetraploid Hybrid Ryegrass

40%

CITELIAC

Tetraploid Hybrid Ryegrass

20%

GLENSTAL

Tetraploid intermediate Perennial Ryegrass

25%

RED CLOVER RED CLOVER BLEND

10%

WHITE CLOVER CUTTING CLOVER BLEND

Sowing Rate 10kg/acre (25kg/ha)

Sowing Rate 10kg/acre (25kg/ha) Available without clover

LEYBOOSTER DUAL PURPOSE

LEYBOOSTER GRAZING

Contains:

Contains:

30%

CITELIAC

Tetraploid Hybrid Ryegrass

20%

CATABI 1

Tetraploid intermediate Perennial Ryegrass

30%

GLENSTAL

Tetraploid Intermediate Perennial Ryegrass

30%

GLENSTAL

Tetraploid intermediate Perennial Ryegrass

30%

ALFONSO

Tetraploid Late Perennial Ryegrass

20%

TWYMAX Tetraploid Late Perennial Ryegrass

10%

20%

ALFONSO Tetraploid Late Perennial Ryegrass

WHITE CLOVER DUAL PURPOSE CLOVER BLEND

10%

WHITE CLOVER GRAZING CLOVER BLEND

Sowing Rate 10kg/acre (25kg/ha) Available without clover

Sowing Rate 10kg/acre (25kg/ha) Available without clover All the above mixtures are available with Please see page 7 for further information

Organic Mixtures (70% Organic inclusion rate)

20

TOPGRASS SHORT TERM - 70% Organic (3 years) A very high yielding mixture which is designed for maximum production over a 2-3 year period and will provide high protein and sugar levels. The mixture also benefits from the stress tolerance of the AdvancedTM Ryegrass.

35%

PERUN

AdvancedTM Italian Ryegrass Organic

35%

HUNTER

Tetraploid Italian Ryegrass Organic

10%

LOFA

AdvancedTM Hybrid Ryegrass

20%

RED CLOVER

Red Clover Blend

Sowing Rate 14-15kg/acre (35-37kg/ha) Excellent disease resistance High dry matter yields with high levels of digestibility

Open growth habit allows clover to thrive Heading date circa 19 May

TOPGRASS MEDIUM TERM - 70% Organic (4-5 years) A mixture to provide very high yields of forage for both cutting and or grazing, principally designed to give a very heavy first cut of silage with an optional second cut and grazing thereafter.

8%

SOLOMON

Diploid Intermediate Perennial Ryegrass

11%

PREMIUM

Diploid Intermediate Perennial Ryegrass Organic

14%

CALIBRA

Tetraploid Intermediate Perennial Ryegrass Organic

10%

MAGICIAN

Tetraploid Intermediate Perennial Ryegrass Organic

10%

TODDINGTON

Diploid Late Perennial Ryegrass

15%

PASTOUR

Diploid Late Perennial Ryegrass Organic

12%

POLIM

Tetraploid Late Perennial Ryegrass Organic

8%

DOLINA

Timothy Organic

9%

WHITE CLOVER

Dual Purpose White Clover Blend

3%

RED CLOVER BLEND

Red Clover Blend

Sowing Rate 14-15kg/acre (35-37kg/ha)

Medium term flexible cutting or grazing mix Optimum production throughout growing season High clover content improves sward quality Selected perennials to ensure hard wearing productive sward

Red Clover improves yields in 1st two years - fixes extra nitrogen Contains 35% high DNDF varieties Heading date circa 24 May

Heading dates are based on figures for central England and should be adjusted for local conditions

**

Organic Mixtures (70% Organic inclusion rate)

21

TOPGRASS LONG TERM - 70% Organic (5+ years) Top quality Perennial Ryegrass varieties form the basis of this blend providing top yields and quality. The varieties have been chosen for their ability to produce quality forage within a low input scenario.

20%

CALIBRA

Tetraploid Intermediate Perennial Ryegrass Organic

20%

CANCAN

Diploid Late Perennial Ryegrass

15%

PASTOUR

Diploid Late Perennial Ryegrass Organic

10%

FOXTROT

Diploid Late Perennial Ryegrass Organic

15%

POLIM

Tetraploid Late Perennial Organic

10%

DOLINA

Timothy Organic

10%

WHITE CLOVER

Grazing Blend

Sowing Rate 14-15kg/acre (35-37kg/ha) Up to 7 years permanent pasture Clover fixes nitrogen and improves protein and digestibility Timothy improves winter hardiness and persistence

Selected perennials maximise sward density and production Heading date circa 29 May

TOPGRASS LEY BOOSTER - 70% Organic 35%

MAGICIAN

Tetraploid Intermediate Perennial Ryegrass Organic

35%

POLIM

Tetraploid Late Perennial Ryegrass Organic

15%

LOFA

AdvancedTM Hybrid Ryegrass

15%

WHITE CLOVER

Dual Purpose Blend

Sowing Rate 10kg/acre (25kg/ha) Designed to maintain high yields and quality 70% organic seed content

Contains Polim for excellent digestibility Lofa gives high yields and persistancy

Heading dates are based on figures for central England and should be adjusted for local conditions

**

Equine & Hay Mixtures

22

TOPGRASS HORSE PADDOCK Contains: A mixture designed to withstand the worst effects of poaching and sward degradation which is so often apparent with horse and pony paddocks. We have included cultivars which will exhibit good tolerance to stress, provide a dense grass cover to help eliminate harsh treatment by the animals’ feet and also to provide forage of a low sugar content and high fibre content. The ley can also provide good quality hay, albeit of a softish nature. It is advisable to overseed paddocks each year in the autumn to ensure good ground cover for the following year and good grass cover for feeding and recreational usage.

35%

ORANTAS

Diploid Intermediate Perennial Ryegrass

20%

PREMIUM

Diploid Intermediate Perennial Ryegrass

20%

TODDINGTON

Diploid Late Perennial Ryegrass

15%

MAXIMA

Creeping Red Fescue

10%

TIMOTHY

Timothy Blend

10KG PACK SIZE Sowing Rate: 15-20kg/acre (37-49kg/ha)

Overseeding Rate: 10kg/acre (25kg/ha)

Designed to produce a persistent dense hard wearing sward suitable for horses or ponies Palatable balanced grazing mix Suitable for producing a cut of hay

Creeping Red Fescue included to bind the sward to quickly repair damage by horses Inclusion of timothy to improve palatability

TOPGRASS HAYMAX SHORT TERM Contains: A blend of Italian Ryegrasses to produce quality hay or haylage. The mixture is of 2 years duration and is based on diploid species of Italian Ryegrass and Hybrid Ryegrass.

29%

PERUN

Advanced TM Italian Ryegrass

29%

PERSEUS

Advanced TM Italian Ryegrass

42%

ALAMO

Diploid Italian Ryegrass

Sowing Rate: 14-15kg/acre (35-37kg/ha)

Will provide excellent yields of either hay or haylage Very good early spring growth Mixture can be cut late May/early June, multi-cut options per annum

Varieties have excellent disease resistance Heading date circa 18 May

Heading dates are based on figures for central England and should be adjusted for local conditions

**

Equine Mixtures & Meadow Mixture

23

TOPGRASS HAYMAX LONG TERM Contains: A mixture of 5 years duration provides excellent yields and can be used for both hay and haylage. We do not recommend mixing diploid and tetraploid varieties as this can lead to uneven conditioning of the sward, therefore we only use diploid varieties.

25%

GENESIS

Diploid Early Perennial Ryegrass

15%

BOYNE

Diploid Intermediate Perennial Ryegrass

32%

PREMIUM

Diploid Intermediate Perennial Ryegrass

14%

TODDINGTON

Diploid Late Perennial Ryegrass

14%

WINNETOU

Timothy

Sowing Rate: 14-15kg/acre (35-37kg/ha)

Excellent resistance to foliar diseases Outstanding yields for both hay and haylage with late season grazing

Timothy improves summer palatability and colour of the mown sward Heading date circa 25 May

TOPGRASS COUNTRY MEADOW Contains: A traditional style mixture based around the use of non aggressive grass species like meadow fescue, timothy and meadow grass. These species formed the basis of very early re-seeding mixtures of pasture land in the early 1900’s, long before more intensive farming was the norm. With the advent of farming policy reviews over the last few years, there has been a resurgence of interest in the more extensive ways of producing meat. The following mixture was designed to fill the gap between the more progressive dairy farmer and the land manager who is looking towards lower input and a more environmental approach to farming. The following mixture will make very good hay useful for a winter feed for many types of animal.

40%

MEADOW FESCUE

10%

CREEPING RED FESCUE

21%

TIMOTHY

11%

SMOOTH STALKED MEADOW GRASS

10%

ROUGH STALKED MEADOW GRASS

7%

CRESTED DOGSTAIL

1%

MEADOW FOXTAIL

Sowing Rate: 14-15kg/acre (35-37kg/ha)

Can be grazed or made into hay or haylage Will tolerate very wet conditions and, with the addition of Smooth Stalked Meadow Grass, will withstand the worst effects of summer heat and drought

ForFarmers Crop Protection

24

As the UK’s leading national ruminant feed business, we at ForFarmers understand the importance and the value to your business of growing successful, healthy and profitable crops.

From providing comprehensive and detailed soil samples to advice on rotations, cultivations, establishment and spray programmes specific to your farming situation, our BASIS and FACTS qualified advisers are on hand to offer personal, technical and professional advice tailored to your needs.

We work with industry leading partners to supply the best quality inputs, be it crop protection agrochemicals or fertilisers.

Driven by crop need and supported by the very latest ‘best practice’ advice, we aim to deliver a service designed to meet the needs of our customers.

Whatever your needs, whether it be Arable or Livestock based, fully serviced, one off ad-hoc or something in between, we offer a customer focused, national but local service supplying an extensive range of modern and up to date herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, growth regulators, molluscicides and foliar nutrients, making the difference to your farm business and allowing your crops to fulfil their potential.

As the leading national feed manufacturer we offer all our customers an unrivalled forage and grassland agronomy supply and advice solution that delivers: A national service, backed by our experienced BASIS and FACTS qualified advisers Fully or partially serviced crop walking service for all Arable and Livestock situations In association with our partners, a comprehensive range of crop protection and nutrient products A personal, professional service with attention to detail Crop specific advice tailored to your farming needs Industry leading agronomic advice, driven by crop need and backed by our key supply partners For more information and advice please contact your local ForFarmers account manager or the Forage & Arable customer service team on 0845 070 6280

THE IMPORTANCE OF SOIL ANALYSIS Good crop production often requires the application of lime and fertiliser. Soil testing enables you to find out the makeup of your soil and helps you determine how much lime and fertiliser you need to apply to maximise production Basic soil analysis of pH, Phosphorus, Potassium and Magnesium will give you some very important factors to support your crop.

Basic soil testing is important because: pH – Correct pH for optimum plant growth and uptake of nutrients Nitrogen - If soil pH is under optimum, Nitrogen uptake can be reduced by up to 50% Low Phosphorus = poor root development , poor use of nutrients Low Potassium = poor transport and utilisation of nutrients and poor growth pH & nutrient availability 4.0

5.0

6.0

7.0

NITROGEN PHOSPHORUS POTASSIUM CALCIUM MAGNESIUM IRON

8.0

The table to the left shows that if the soil pHand the soil is the correct and consistent temperature then the uptake of nutrients is greater and when applying fertiliser the plant is utilising all of the nutrients to maximum benefit.

ForFarmers can offer a soil health report which includes measures for soil pH, available phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, soil particle size distribution and soil organic matter.

Growers should consult a FACTS qualified adviser in order to receive professional advice with respect to correcting any soil nutrient inbalance.

MANGANESE BORON COPPER & ZINC

For more information on soil analysis please contact your local ForFarmers account manager or the Forage & Arable customer service team on 0845 070 6280.

Weed & Pest Control

25

Soil Sampling

Pest Control

As with most crops, getting the soil right is one of the most important factors for success. A standard soil sample for pH, Phosphorus, Potassium and Magnesium will enable you to get an idea of the condition of your field. This will highlight whether the field is too acidic or alkaline and also any major nutrient deficiencies. Doing this before planting will give you a chance to correct any problems before trying to establish a new grass ley.

Old grass leys will often contain Fritfly and Leatherjacket.

These pests can decimate a new grass ley rendering a field bare. Many people will try to kill these pests before putting any new seed in the field or it can be done once the new crop is drilled.

Slugs, although not always a problem can cause serious damage to grass and clover seedlings. Slugs should be monitored and when they reach problematic levels then slug pellets should be applied to the field.

Pre Cultivation Clean Up Re-seeding grassland regularly is the best way to maintain beneficial grass species and therefore grass yield. However, to get the best from a re-seed it is important to start with a clean slate. Spraying off the old ley with glyphosate before cultivating the field will ensure all the weeds and weed grasses are dead before you plant any new seed. Just ploughing may not necessarily kill the roots of weeds and they may establish in your new grass ley. Glyphosate will kill the whole plant including the roots giving you the best chance to establish a clean grass ley.

FRIT FLY DAMAGE IN A NEW LEY

Weed Control - New Leys When sowing a new ley it is important to give it the best start in life and encourage vigorous growth. If weeds appear in the new ley then they will compete for moisture, nutrients and sunlight subsequently slowing grass growth. In extreme cases as highlighted above weeds can completely out-compete newly sown grass. Herbicide choice is limited for new leys, especially when clover is planted at the same time.

UNTREATED

WEED CONTROL IN A NEWLY SOWN GRASS LEY

OLD GRASS LEY FULL OF BROAD LEAF WEEDS AND WEED GRASSES

New grass ley with clover

TREATED

Sow grass seed without clover

Choose from a wider range of herbicides to suit your needs.

There are very few herbicides that are safe on newly sown clover. This means that weed control can be limited and expensive.

Broadcast/drill clover later into weed free newly sown grass ley.

ANY CHEMICAL TREATMENTS MUST BE RECOMMENDED BY A BASIS QUALIFIED AGRONOMIST. THE ABOVE NOTES ARE FOR GENERAL GUIDANCE ONLY.

Grassland Weed Control

26

More grass from what you’ve got.

Docks

PRODUCT Select for weed spectrum and lasting control of your weeds RATE Water volume and rate of product are key to getting good coverage and performance INFORMATION Consider intended grass and manure use, grazing and harvest intervals and presence of ragwort DENSITY Number of weeds determine knapsack or overall spray and weed size drives spray timing (see below) ENVIRONMENT Consider water courses, weather, weed health, presence of desirable plants eg clover

PROBLEM

JUST RIGHT

TOO LATE

JUST RIGHT

TOO LATE

Thistles

TOO EARLY

GRAZING INTERVAL

DOSE RATE

WATER VOLUME

Docks and Chickweed

2.0 L/ha or 1.0 + 1.0 L/ha

300-400 L/ha

7 days

Docks, Thistles, Nettles, Buttercups, Dandelions and Ragwort

2.0 L/ha

200-300 L/ha

7 days

Thistles

1.0 L/ha

200-400 L/ha

7 days

4.0 L/ha or 2.0 + 2.0 L/ha

300-400 L/ha

7 days

1.0 Kg/ha

200-300 L/ha

14 days

60 mls

10 Litres

7 days

Docks, Thistles and Nettles Leatherjackets and Fritfly Docks, Thistles, Nettles, Brambles, Gorse and Broom

SOLUTION

TOO EARLY

IN ABSENCE OF RAGWORT

Use plant protection products safely. Always read the label and product information before use. For further information including warning phrases and symbols refer to labels. Dow AgroSciences Limited, Latchmore Court, Brand Street, Hitchin, Hertfordshire SG5 1NH. Tel: 01462 457272. ®TM Trademark of the Dow Chemical Company (Dow) or an affiliated company of Dow. Technical Hotline: 0800 689 8899. E-mail: UKHotline@dow.com Doxstar®Pro contains fluroxypyr and triclopyr. Forefront® T contains aminopyralid and triclopyr. Grazon®Pro contains clopyralid and triclopyr. Pastor®Pro contains clopyralid, fluroxypyr and triclopyr. Thistlex® contains clopyralid and triclopyr.

Grass Diseases

27

Over 150 grassland diseases have been recorded in the UK, fortunately there are only a few that are of real significance. When choosing varieties for inclusion in our mixture range we always pay particular attention to their disease resistance. We have included information on the three main Ryegrass diseases where their disease rating is tested in independent trials.

Main ryegrass diseases that can significantly effect sward productivity and quality

© NIAB

© NIAB

© NIAB

© NIAB

Crown Rust (Puccinia coronate) Crown Rust is probably the most important rust disease in Britain today. It was originally thought to be contained in the southern half of the country but can now be found much further north. It is more of a problem in the later part of the year when warm dry days followed by dewy nights provide the ideal conditions for the disease to develop. Severe attacks will make the grass less palatable to stock and regrowth can be reduced. The first symptoms appear as yellow flecks scattered over the leaves which then turn into bright orange pustules with yellow haloes. Varieties of ryegrass can differ markedly in their resistance to crown rust.

Drechslera (Drechslera spp) Drechslera spp. cause a number of diseases of ryegrass, cocksfoot and fescues. The two most important are Leaf Spot (D. siccans) and Net Blotch (D. andersenii). The symptoms of both diseases are more likely to be seen between September and March, however they can also occur at other times of the year if suitable conditions occur.

Drechslera occurs in all parts of Britain, but symptoms are more severe in the wetter areas. High fertility and extended grazing systems can favour the disease. Varieties of ryegrass can differ in their resistance to Drechslera spp.

Mildew (Erysiphe graminis)

© NIAB

© NIAB

Mildew is a common disease of many grass species, but is a particular problem in ryegrass and cocksfoot. Mildew can be found at low levels in most parts of Britain but favours the drier areas. Symptoms are seen between May and October. On young leaves white or pale grey pustules are seen, which become more discoloured as the plant matures. Wet weather tends to check the disease by washing the developing spores off the leaf. Severe infections can markedly effect yield and quality. Within varieties there can be large differences in resistance to mildew.

grazing and silage Fertiliser for Grazing & Silage

28

Whether you are an intensive dairy farmer with a high The best way toreturn maximise return Whether you are an intensive dairy farmer with a high The best way to maximise the fromthe grass is by:from grass is dependence on grass for grazing and silage, or a more dependence on grass for grazing and silage, or a more extensive beef or sheep farmer grazing and making applying the• correct balance essential nutrients applying theofcorrect balance of essential nutrie extensive beef or sheep farmer grazing and making NPKS hay, getting the most out of grass is important to the NPKS hay, getting the most out of grass is important to the profitability of your business. applying the• most effective nutrient sources, with AN sources, w profitability of your business. applying the most effective nutrient more reliable than ANurea more reliable than urea Recommendations will vary according to the yield of Recommendations will vary to the yield of grass required and site potential, withaccording the rates below applying fertiliser at the right time, with delays in • applying fertilizer at the right time, with delays site potential, withOur the rates below aiming forgrass highrequired yields in and responsive situations. application likelyapplication to reduce DM yieldto reduce DM yield likely for highhas yields in responsive situations. Our Grass Grass Prixaiming competition highlighted that following ensuring that nutrients are spread accurately, Prix competition has highlighted that following our • ensuring that nutrients are spread accurately, our recommendations can produce significantly higher selecting a uniform compound over a blend Knowledge grows selecting a uniform compound over a blend recommendations can produce higher yields of yields of grass over the UK average, whichsignificantly remains well improving the utilisation of what is grown, with the UK remains below thegrass trueover potential.

Noaverage, accountwhich has been takenwell for below the • improving the utilisation of what is grown, with true potential.

No account has been taken for manures, and effective field and clamp management manures, and they are based on the target of index 2 for P & K. they are based on the target of index 2 for P & K.

Fertiliser for grass reseeds Fertiliser for Knowledge grows Product

Rate

Timing

kg/ha

cwt/ac

Nutrients (kg/ha & units/acre )

N

grass reseeds

P 2 O5

K2 O

SO 3

Silage recommendations SulphurCut

March

550

4.5

121

97

22

SulphurCut

Following 1st Cut Following 2nd Cut

475

3.75

105

84

19

15

325

2.5

72

57

13

10

1350

10.75

298

238

54

43

SulphurCut TOTAL

18

77

62

41

33

67

53

36

29

46

36

24

20

190

151

101

82

Grazing recommendations ExtragrasS

Feb/Mar

130

1.0

35

28

7

5

7

5

10

8

ExtragrasS

April

225

2.0

61

49

11

9

11

9

17

14

ExtragrasS

May

185

1.5

50

40

9

7

9

7

14

11

ExtragrasS

June

125

1.0

34

27

6

5

6

5

9

8

ExtragrasS

July

125

1.0

34

27

6

5

6

5

9

8

ExtragrasS

August

100

1.0

27

22

5

4

5

4

8

6

890

7.5

240

192

45

36

45

36

67

53

TOTAL

Please ask about our new Booster range of specialist grassland fertilisers containing sodium and selenium designed to increase intake and improve animal health.

Dry Matter

Dry Matter

Grass Establishment Product

Grass Establishment Timing Product

Autumn Super PK 24 :24 Sown Seedbed Super PK 24 :24

Spring Sown Actyva S

Spring Sown Actyva S

kg/ha

Timing

Autumn Sown

Seedbed

Nutrients (kg/ha & units/acre )

Rate Rate cwt/ac kg/ha

250 Seedbed

375

Seedbed

375

0 2

3

3

P20 5

N

2 250

(kg/ha & units/acre 0 K2 0 ) PNutrients 2 5

N

cwt/ac

0 0

60

60

60 0

48

48

48 60

56

56

SO 3

K2 0 48

45

45

60 60

56 56

SO 3

48 48

45

45

12 12

24

24

10 10 20

20

The amount of phosphate and potash applied for establishment The amount of phosphate and potash applied for establishment may be deducted from thefrom firstthe season’s grazinggrazing or silage/hay may be deducted first season’s or silage/hay requirement. requirement.

The amount of phosphate and potash applied for establishment may be deducted from the first Account for nutrients supplied by manures.

Account for nutrients supplied by manures. season’s grazing or silage/hay requirement.

SULPHUR CUT

Account for nutrients supplied by manures.

SULPHUR CUT

EXTRA GRASS

EXTRA GRASS

Innovative Research with Industry Partners

29

Grass Sense The Project The Project The three year project which started in January

Project Plan Project Plan Step 1 Develop N-Sensor to measure

Step 1 Develop for N-Sensor to measure N requirement optimum yield N requirement for optimum yield and The Yara N-Sensor will be developed The Yara N-Sensor will be developed and calibrated to predict N fertiliser requirement calibrated to apply predict and variably NN forfertiliser a rangerequirement of grass swards and and variably varieties.apply N for a range of grass swards and varieties.

Step 2 Validate N-Sensor technology StepN-Sensor 2 Validate technology The willN-Sensor be tested at a field scale on The N-Sensor will be tested at a field scale on a range of commercial grass crops a range of commercial grass crops Step 3 Quantify effect on feed value Step 3 Quantify effect on feed value The effect of using the N-Sensor to variably The effect of using the N-Sensor variably apply N fertiliser on grass quality to (e.g.

D Value) apply N fertiliser on grass quality (e.g.

D Value) will be measured and the impact on feed will be measured and the impact on feed value estimated. value estimated.

The Yara N-Sensor The Yara N-Sensor The N-Sensor will use spectral reflectance

The N-Sensor use spectral reflectance technology towill estimate grass biomass and technology to estimate and N content. This needs tograss workbiomass across different: N content. This needs to work across different: • grass species & varieties •• grass & varieties cloverspecies contents •• clover contents amounts of lodging •• amounts of lodging farm systems (with and without history • farm systems (with and without history of manure) manure) • of cutting/grazing strategies •• cutting/grazing strategies grass growth class • grass growth class

The work so far indicates that farmers can target nitrogen applied The so far indicates thatcrop. farmers target nitrogen morework effectively to the grass Earlycan indications are thatapplied the more effectively the grassiscrop.

Early indications are that the optimum fertilisertonitrogen greater than RB209 recommendations optimum fertiliser nitrogen greater RB209 recommendations and farm practice.

It is likely isthat manythan farmers have scope to and farm practice.

It is likely that many farmers have apply more N to increase productivity profitably, butscope must to check apply more N to increase productivity profitably, but must check compliance with NVZ rules. compliance with NVZ rules.

ADAS average sites ADAS single site ADAS average sites ADAS single site Optimum kg N/ha Optimum kg N/ha 2014 2015 2014 2015 238 272 238 272

Optimum kg N/ha Optimum kg N/ha 2014 2015 2014 2015 284 281 284 281

RB209 kg N/ha RB209 kg N/ha 2014 2015 2014 2015 220 270 220 270

Overall nitrogen applied to grass in Great Britain from 2009 to 2013 Overall nitrogen toN/ha grass(DEFRA in Great2013).

Britain from 2009 to 2013 was between 55 applied and 63kg was between 55 and 63kg N/ha (DEFRA 2013).

Grass dry weight yield response to N fertiliser for site in Grass dry weight yield response to N fertiliser for site in Pembrokeshire Pembrokeshire

Yield Yield (t/ha) (t/ha)

The which started nutrient in January 2014three bringsyear theproject benefits of precision 2014 brings the of precision technology usedbenefits in the arable sectornutrient to technology used in the arable sector to grassland management. This will be achieved grassland management.

This will be achieved by developing measurement technologies that by developing that enable nitrogenmeasurement fertiliser to betechnologies better matched enable nitrogen fertiliser to be better matched with crop requirement. with crop requirement.

Yara, ADAS UK Ltd, Precision Decisions, Yara, ADAS UK Decisions, ForFarmers andLtd, DLFPrecision were awarded partial ForFarmers and DLFthe were awarded partial funding to develop Yara N-Sensor funding to develop thegrass.

Yara N-Sensor technology for use on technology for use on grass.

14.00 14.00 12.00 12.00 10.00 10.00 8.00 8.00 6.00 6.00 4.00 4.00 2.00 2.00 0.00 0.00 0 0

RB 209 kg N/ha RB 209 kg N/ha Optimum Yield N applied Optimum Yield N applied 100 100

200 200

300 300 N rate (kg/ha) N rate (kg/ha)

400 400

500 500

600 600

30

A Guide to Cost Benefits of Using Forage Additive

With modern silage making techniques and equipment the farmer is often able to make good silage without using a silage additive. In fact, those who are placed in silage competitions are sometimes non additive users. So why should farmer’s treat their silage and spend the extra money? Stock do generally eat on average 5% more treated silage because it tends to be more palatable, but that alone does not justify the extra cost of treatment.

A customer needs to be able to see a return on the money spent on their additive, and understand the cost/benefit. There are four different areas where they can see and potentially measure the return: REDUCED DRY MATTER LOSS DURING FERMENTATION & STORAGE Untreated silages typically lose around 6-10% of their dry matter during fermentation.

The faster drop in silage pH immediately after sheeting and sealing, as a result of inoculant treatment, is very well understood and documented. This faster more efficient fermentation means less crop sugars used and most importantly less degradation of true protein. As a result of treating with inoculant, fermentation losses can be reduced to 3-5%. With silage DM worth on average £120/tonne and an acre producing approx.

5 tonnes of DM. A saving of £24 per silage acre… this alone more than pays for the additive.

REDUCED HEATING & WASTE AFTER OPENING & DURING FEEDOUT Untreated silages between 28 & 40% DM will typically lose 8 to 12% respectively of their DM through heating at the face and trough, plus consequential stock wastage. These figures can be doubled if dry silages are not well sealed or weighted and if feedout is not well managed. The use of an appropriate additive has been shown to reduce these losses by up to 50% as treated silage keeps cooler and fresher for longer. With silage DM worth on average £120/tonne and each acre producing approx. 5 tonnes DM. A typical saving of approx £30/silage acre… but in a range of £24 - £72/acre.

INCREASED MILK PRODUCTION Inoculant treatment of any silage has been consistently shown to produce between 0.8 and 1.5 litres of extra milk/day over a lactation. A result which seems clearly linked to silage dry matter with the dryer silages like Maize, Wholecrop and high DM Grass producing the higher figures. The reason for this miraculous yield increase is now fairly well understood. The faster initial treated fermentation protects true protein and on average 10% more true protein is available in the rumen. This provides more feed for the rumen bacteria, which are then able to break down even more fibre to release extra energy (ME). This effect is regardless of forage, age or quality, but in fact lower ME silages have been shown to produce larger improvements than higher ME silages.

Assume a benefit for any treated silage of 1 litre/cow/day extra, at 20p/litre, over 180 days. Assume a cow consumes 2 tonnes silage DM, and each acre produces 5 tonnes DM. A gain of £90/silage acre… additive cost of £14-24/acre depending on product.

INCREASED LIVE WEIGHT GAIN Inoculant treatment has been consistently shown to produce LWG increases of 7-15%.

The lower figures with maize, and grass finishing, the higher with growing cattle on grass silage. Assume an av. of 10% LWG increase. This means cattle should be ready 2 weeks earlier. Assume the animal consumes 1.25 tonnes silage DM, and an acre produces 5 tonnes DM A saving of £90/silage acre… by saving £1.60/head/day on all feed for 14 days.

Summarising the cost benefits for a typical 30% DM Grass or Maize silage acre:

A Dairy gain of £144/acre…less additive cost av. £19/acre A Beef gain of £144/acre …less additive cost av. £19/acre

Approx 8:1 return

FIREGUARD

FIREGUARD

FIREGUARD

MAIZE-ALL Plus

FIREGUARD

SIL-ALL plus

Silall Products Volac

AGROS corn

AGROS corn

AGROS Hi-Dry

AGROS Hi-Dry

AGROS dominator

AGROS dominator

AGROS clamp

For more information on Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas production contact FMBioEnergy, a division of ForFarmers, email info@fmbioenergy.co.uk” www.fmbioenergy.co.uk”

DAMP GRAIN STORAGE

SLURRY TREATMENT

ECO TMR

TMR TREATMENT

11A44 11G22

D A ECOCORN

ECOCOOL corn

DA ECOCORN

11CFT

11A44

11A44

ECOCORN

11G22

11G22

11AFT

1188

ECOCOOL corn

D A ECOBALE

CLAMP SURFACE

CRIMPED GRAINS

BIOGAS MAIZE SILAGE

BIOGAS GRASS SILAGE

BIOGAS WHOLECROP

ALKALAGE/HDM WCROP

FERMENTED WHOLECROP

MAIZE SILAGE

HAY

BALED GRASS/HAYLAGE

ECOCOOL grass

ECOSTABLE

ECOSYL 100

LEGUME SILAGE

HI DM /ANY FORAGE

ECOSYL 100

GRASS CLAMP SILAGE

Ecoproducts Pioneer

SILASIL ENERGY.XD

SILASIL ENERGY

SILASIL ENERGY.BG

SILASIL ENERGY.XD

SILASIL ENERGY

GOLD FR - maize

GOLD FR - maize

GOLD FR - grass

Schaumann

MICROZYME

PROFRESH PLUS

PROFRESH PLUS

ADVANCE wc

ADVANCE maize

PROMYR silage

ADVANCE legume

PROSID MI700

PROMYR crimp

PROMYR sil. plus

PROMYR sil. plus

PROSID MI700

PROMYR sil. plus

PROMYR silage PROMYR sil. plus

PROMYR silage

PDV SALT

HOME & DRY

Perstorp Acids Others

ADVANCE grass

Micron Bio

ForFarmers Forage Additives 31

Wholecrop and Cereals

32 Wholecrop

Wholecrop cereals have become increasingly popular in many winter diets. The rapid expansion in the use of wholecrop is due to the nutritional, agronomic and environmental benefits that this versatile crop provides. Wholecrop is a good alternative forage in marginal maize growing areas and a useful complementary forage for grass and maize systems. Where forage maize is not a feasible option Wholecrop may be grown, offering good energy levels and higher dry matter contents.

Wholecrop cereals are grown like grain but harvested earlier to make silage. Wheat is the most common species of cereal used, followed by barley, but there is increasing interest in triticale and rye. Wholecrop cereals may be sown with or without peas in mixture.

Benefits of wholecrop:-

Barley

Peas

Oats

Vetch

Total

50%

-

50%

-

100%

Allows increased production from home grown forage

60%

40%

-

-

100%

Produces a high starch feed

30%

40%

30%

-

100%

40%

60%

-

-

100%

-

65%

35%

-

100%

30%

30%

30%

10%

100%

Increases dry matter content of the diet No effluent Improves milk yield and milk quality Harvested earlier than maize in better weather conditions Useful means of establishing a new ley

ForFarmers can also offer wholecrop mixtures to meet customers needs as special mixtures.

All of the above can be delivered in 500kg or 250kg bags. The minimum order size would be 500kg.

Cereals, Pulses, Oilseed Rape and Linseed ForFarmers can offer a full range of wheat, barley, oats and triticale along with peas and beans. A range of oilseed rape products are also available.

Whether you are looking for spring or autumn sown crops we have a wide range of varieties available for the feed or malting sector.

All seed treatments are available for individual field requirements along with different bag sizes to meet your needs.

Mobile seed cleaning is also available upon request.

ForFarmers can offer many oilseed rape and linseed varieties to suit your needs.

For all your cereals, pulse, wholecrop, oilseed rape and linseed requirements please contact your local ForFarmers account manager or the Forage & Arable customer service team on 0845 070 6280

Greening, Environmental and Game Cover Green Manuring

Countryside Stewardship

Green manuring can offer many advantages to todays farmer by:-

Countrywide stewardships main priority is biodiversity and water quality. The scheme also helps to improve flood management, the historic environment, landscape character and genetic conservation

Adding organic matter to the soil Increasing biological activity Improving soil structure Reducing erosion Increasing the supply of nutrients available to plants Reducing leaching Weed suppression.

Green manuring not only improves soil status, composition and nutrient balance, but provides a basis for a more environmentally friendly approach to modern farming.

ForFarmers can offer a full range of straights and mixture options for Green Manuring requirements.

Gamecover Crops and Mixtures Leisure activities are an important part of the rural environment. Today, more farms and estates manage their shoots and environmental conservation together. Whether individual species are required or a mixture of gamecover crops. ForFarmers has a full portfolio of seed to suit all shoot requirements whatever the size and soil constraints.

Straights – Game maize Kale and other brassicas Sunflowers Canary seed Millet Sorghum Phacelia Mustard Triticale Quinoa Chicory Yellow Blossom Clover Gamecover Mixtures – These are formulated to ensure the best can be achieved from your cover crops. Combining different species into a mixture can extend the utilisation period, help to attract and hold specific types of game and provide feed and cover where both are required.

For all your Greening, Stewardship and Gamecover options please contact your local ForFarmers account manager or the Forage & Arable customer service team on 0845 070 6280

33

The scheme helps : Wildlife and nature – restoring habitats, protecting hedges, providing food and nesting resources for birds, insects and other animals and creating farmed areas for rare flowering plants Pollinators – providing pollen and nectar sources and nesting places Forestry – Funding the planting of new trees and supporting the management of woodlands Water / Flooding – making water cleaner and reducing risk of flooding by supporting changes to farming practise such as crop management, improving infrastructure and creating woodland ForFarmers can offer various mixtures in the form of wild bird seed mixtures, buffer strip mixtures and nectar rich mixtures to support all schemes.

Fodder Crops

34

Forage root crops play an important role in livestock diets. They can produce high yields over a relatively short growing period and can contribute substantial amounts of fresh fodder when grazing may be scarce.

Dry Matter Yield T/Ha

Fresh Yield T/Ha

Dry Matter Content %

Crude Protein %

Met Energy MJ/kg/DM

Fodder Beet

13 - 15

80 - 90

12 - 19

12 - 13

12.5 - 13.5

Forage Rape

3.5

24 - 35

12 - 14

19 - 20

10 - 11

Kale

8 - 10

60 - 65

14 -16

16 - 17

10 - 11

Stubble Turnips

3.5 - 4

38 - 40

8-9

17 - 18

11

Turnips

5.5 - 6

60 - 70

8 - 10

15 - 17

10 - 11

Swedes

7 - 10

70 - 80

9 - 13

10 - 11

12.8 - 13.1

Fodder Beet

Forage Rape

High yield potential and is grown as a main root crop. The roots have excellent feed quality and are very palatable.

The tops can also be utilised, however seek advice before feeding as can cause scouring.

Very quick growing crop suitable for grazing by sheep or cattle. Can provide valuable autumn and winter grazing feed. Excellent break crop. Can be utilised between 13 - 15 weeks from sowing.

SOWING PERIOD

March - April

SOWING PERIOD

May - August

UTILISATION

October - March

UTILISATION

July - December

PRECISION DRILL

50,000 seeds depth 2.5/3.0cm

DIRECT DRILL

2kg / acre

BROADCAST

4kg / acre

Kale

Stubble Turnips

Highest yielding of all the leafy brassicas. Very adaptable, traditionally grown for grazing cattle but can also be cut and fed to stock ‘in house’ or be ensiled. The feeding value of kale is related to the proportion of leaf to stem.

Excellent fast growing catch crop which can produce nutritious, highly palatable feed, in just 12 - 14 weeks from sowing. For larger acreages sequential sowing is recommended.

SOWING PERIOD

April - June

SOWING PERIOD

April - September

UTILISATION

August - March

UTILISATION

June - December

DIRECT DRILL

2kg / acre

DIRECT DRILL

2kg / acre

BROADCAST

3kg / acre

BROADCAST

3kg / acre

Fodder Crops and Your Countryside Swede

Fodder Mixtures

Swedes provide high energy feed which can be grazed in-situ or lifted. The winter hardiness of swedes makes them suitable for the coldest sites.

Excellent fast growing catch crop which can produce nutritious, highly palatable feed, in just 12 - 14 weeks from sowing. For larger acreages sequential sowing is recommended.

SOWING PERIOD

April - September

UTILISATION

August - March

SOWING PERIOD

April - September

PRECISION DRILL

150 - 350g / acre

UTILISATION

June - February

DIRECT DRILL

1 - 2kg / acre

DIRECT DRILL

2.5kg / acre

BROADCAST

2kg / acre

BROADCAST

3 - 4kg / acre

FOR ALL BRASSICA CROPS: Stock should be introduced gradually over a two week period and an area of grassland should be available for animals to return to; water and hay or straw should also be made available.

Your Countryside Our 2016 guide to Game Cover, Environmental Stewardship and Fodder Crops is available on request. This year it has been fully updated to include information on Green manuring, option for Biogas production and the CAP reform implications. This guide is your comprehensive reference for growing and utilising the many crops found within.

For a free copy contact your local ForFarmers account manager or the Forage & Arable customer service team on 0845 070 6280

35

ForFarmers Forage & Arable offers knowledge, expertise and a wide range of seed, fertiliser and forage additive products to improve feed and forage efficiency. With the correct management and utilisation through effective cutting, grazing and feeding strategies, modern seed varieties can have a significant impact on farm profitability.

Seeds Grass, maize, cereals, pulses, oilseed rape and roots

Fertiliser Compounds, blends and straights for all crops

Additives and inoculants A wide range of forage additives to treat grass, legume, wholecrop and maize silages as well as preservatives for crimp, hay, TMR, cereal grains and slurry treatment

Analytical services Soil testing, grass analysis, silage analysis, water and slurry testing

Crop protection A wide range of crop protection products and advice for forage and arable crops

To maintain quality and productivity and take full advantage of all that modern agronomy has to offer contact ForFarmers Forage & Arable, where we believe it is vitally important to select seed varieties for optimal quality and performance, choose the correct fertiliser to maximise yield and use specific forage additives to improve feed efficiency.

ForFarmers Forage & Arable 0845 070 6280 info.forage@forfarmers.eu www.forfarmers.co.uk