Great Grass Maximising Grassland Yields

GREAT GRASS Maximising Grassland Yields OPTIMISING GRASSLAND on farm is one of the most economical means to produce milk and beef. In order to achieve high quality grass, it’s important to put a full reseeding programme in place annually that considers all the elements of reseeding. The ultimate aim is to reseed 10% of the platform annually, resulting in a completely renewed grazing platform every 10 years. Current grassland management figures highlight that every extra tonne of grass utilised is worth an additional €173 to the farm.

We’ve put together an easy guide on the quality products that we recommend for each of these 3 stages, in order to achieve “Great Grass”.

Three stages to Maximise grassland yields

Stage one:

Stage two:

Stage three:

Pre-SEEDING

RE-SeEDING

POST EMERGENCE

Using a quality chemical to burn off means total destruction of old swards, allowing maximum seed emergence in stage 2.

Selecting quality seed is crucial to maximise your grass to milk production and to capitalise on your reseeding investment in the long term.

It is recognised by Teagasc that using a quality post emergence spray to control a broad spectrum of weeds will result in enhanced grassland yields.

Stage ONE: PRE-SEEDING recomMended products

Available to purchase in branch or online at GlanbiaConnect.com

Roundup Powermax 720 10kg • • • • • •

Faster uptake in difficult conditions Less risk of drift Can plough/till after 5 days No need for additional surfactants Safe to use around Livestock Rate: 3kg/ha

RAINFAST

1hr

€140 WAS €162 9082097

SAVE

Roundup Flex 480 15L • • • • • •

€22

Kills a broad spectrum of weeds Cost effective Long lasting Fast acting Grazing: After 5 days Rate: 4.5 litres/ha

€140 WAS €162 9071950

Roundup Gold 450 15L • High concentration, non selective, Gyphosate based herbicide

• Targets annual, perennial and aquatic weeds, woody plants and even orobanchaceae species

• Roundup provides more cover per gallon • Consistent Roundup formulation • Premium surfactant formulation that allows for increased spreading

• Rate: 4.8 litres/ha

€130 WAS €148 9079671

GREAT GRASS Maximising Grassland Yields

Offers valid from 02.08.2020 to 03.10.2020

SAVE

€18

Stage TWO: RE-SEEDING Benefits of mixed grass / white clover swards Animal Sward Economics • Increased dry matter intake

• Increased dry matter production

• Increased milk solids production

• Potential to reduce nitrogen fertiliser

+ 1.5kg DM/cow/day

+ 30kg MS/cow/year

+ 800kg DM/ha

• Increase farm profit by €150/ha

with white clover contents >25%

• Dry matter intake

• Nitrogen use

• Feed quality • Animal performance • Total grass growth

Establishment of a white clover sward 1. HIGH FERTILE SOILS REQUIRED i. Index 3 & 4 for P and K ii. Soil pH 6.3 2. SOWING DATE i. Spring/Early Summer 3. WHEN RESEEDING i. Fine firm seed bed ii. Sowing depth of 10 – 12 mm iii. 1.2 – 3.7kg/ha (0.5 - 1.5kg/ac) iv. Soil contact – roll post sowing

4. WHEN OVER-SOWING

ii. Ensure correct timing of chemical application

i. Ensure existing sward has a high perennial ryegrass content

6. GRAZING MANAGEMENT

ii. Sow immediately after grazing or surplus silage (<4 cm)

In order to maintain a sward clover content of 25%

iii. 3.7 - 5kg/ha (1.5 – 2kg/ac) iv. Ensure soil to seed contact post sowing – roll v. Graze at <1100kg DM/ha for the following 3 rotations 5. POST EMERGENCE SPRAY i. Ensure spray is clover safe

i. Target pre-grazing herbage yield of 1,300 – 1,600kg DM/ha ii. Post-grazing sward height – 4 cm (50kg DM/ha) iii. Grazing rotation of 18 to 21 days mid-season iv. Early grazing in spring to stimulate plant growth

NITROGEN FERTILISER APPLICATION STRATEGY ROTATION /DATE

GRASS 250 KG GRASS-CLOVER 150KG

MID-LATE JANUARY 28

28

MID-MARCH 28

28

APRIL (2ND ROUND) 33

33

MAY (3RD ROUND) 30

9

MAY (4TH ROUND) 30

9

JUNE (5TH ROUND) 17

9

JULY (6TH ROUND) 17

9

JULY (7TH ROUND) 17

9

AUGUST (8TH ROUND) 17

9

MID-SEPTEMBER 33

12

GREAT GRASS Maximising Grassland Yields

Offers valid from 02.08.2020 to 03.10.2020

Stage TWO: RE-SEEDING Fertilisation for reseeding pH and Lime • For good establishment of Grass seeds, pH must be above 6.3 • Always good practice to spread lime before reseeding where the pH is lower than this

• Where the pH is adequate, if there is a significant level of trash on the field, good practice to apply a level of lime here also

• Use either Grow Lime or Granulated Lime

N,P,K Fertiliser • Phosphate is also important for seed establishment. Best to use a fertiliser containing a significant level of N & P

• Use 30-40 units N /Ac and 20–30 Units of P /Ac. A Popular fertiliser to use is 10/20/20 ( 3 X 50Kg/Ac )

• Always make use of soil samples to plan P & K application

BUY 10

WEANLIN BAGS OF G CRUNCH

BEEP PROGRAMME SCALES HIRE 32 Available to hire from

FOR €50 PER DAY

& GET 1 BA G

FREE with eac

h rental

Glanbia Ireland branches

GLANBIA IRELAND LOCATIONS

Scales available to hire from the Glanbia Ireland locations below Graiguecullen

059 9131639

Fethard

052 6131108

Ballywilliam

051 424514

Castlelyons

025 36337

Dungarvan

058 42078

Cappoquin

058 54308

Glenville

021 4880106

Kilmeaden

051 384106

Castlecomer

056 4400834

Ballytore

059 8623105

Shandonagh

044 9342299

Fennor

056 8834104

Monasterevin

045 525337

Inch

040 221734

Piltown

051 643260

Ballyragget

056 8833107

Campile

051 388102

Goresbridge

059 9775155

Windgap

051 648203

Taghmon

053 9134154

Raheen

057 8731104

Ballacolla

057 8734013

Rathdrum

0404 46105

Donoghmore

0505 46315

Kilberry

046 9024204

Graiguenamanagh

059 9724200

Gaultier

051 383124

Athboy

046 9432552

Bunclody

053 9377122

Clonroche

05392 44136

Tullamore

05793 41310

Ballyhale

056 7768603

Contact your local Glanbia Ireland branch for more information GREAT GRASS Maximising Grassland Yields

Offers valid from 02.08.2020 to 03.10.2020

Stage TWO: RE-SEEDING recomMended products

NEW

BIGBAGGER

Available to purchase in branch or online at GlanbiaConnect.com • Mastercrop Premium Grazing Sward and Mastercrop One Cut & Graze NOW in a 12.5KG bag • 1Kg Clover included to comply with Derogation requirements

SUITABILITY:

PREMIUM GRAZING SWARD

Intensive, continuous grazing systems.

ABERGAIN (T)

3.0 Kgs 5th June

DRUMBO

2.0 kgs 7th June

Small & Med clover

1.0 kgs

12.5 kgs

Inclusion of Drumbo and AberGain ensures maximum Spring growth AberChoice and AstonEnergy with their high D values 56% Tetraploid Combination of leading small and medium-leafed clovers Contains top two quality Tetraploid and Diploid varieties available in the market Grass quality is directly linked to increased milk solid production

3.0 Kgs 9th June

Grazing with one large silage cut in late May/Early June.

ABERCHOICE

3.0 kgs 9th June

ASTONENERGY (T)

3.5 Kgs 2nd June

SUITABILITY:

PREMIUM ONE CUT & GRAZE ABERCHOICE DUNLUCE (T)

2.0 Kgs 29th May

MEIDUNO ( T )

3.5 Kgs 3rd June

OAKPARK

3.0 Kgs 2nd June

Med Leafed Clover

1.0 Kgs

12.5 Kgs

MULTI-SPECIES SWARD

Judicious use of Tetraploid varieties which have high yield, palatability and droughttolerance characteristics Also suitable for early grazing before closing up for silage 47% Tetraploid

Comments

ASTON ENERGY PRG

3.0 Kgs

Grass

High digestibility and top graze out variety

OAKPARK PRG

3.0 Kgs

Grass

Excellent Spring growth with high ground cover

TIMOTHY

1.0 Kgs

Grass

Grows well in cold soils, especially in Spring, different root structure to PRG

MEADOW FESCUE

1.0 Kgs

Grass

Thrives in lower fertility soil and fertiliser & offers variety in root structure

WHITE CLOVER

1.0 Kgs

Legume

Persistent under tight grazing, fills in gaps in swards

RED CLOVER

1.0 Kgs

Legume

More erect than white, deeper tap root, not persistent under tight grazing

SAINFOIN

1.0 Kgs

Legume

Antiparasitic ( anti worm ) properties & Tannins that help reduce risk of bloat

RIBWORT PLANTAIN

0.5 Kgs

Herb

High mineral content, deep root structure, robust under intensive grazing, diuretic

CHICORY

0.5 Kgs

Herb

Different root structure, Anti worm properties, used as a drought feed

12 Kgs

Sow 14 Kgs / acre

At Teagasc, Johnstown Castle, multi-species swards with ryegrass, red and white clovers, chicory and plantain fertilised with 150kg of N yielded more than perennial ryegrass receiving 250kg of N under a regular cutting regime.

GREAT GRASS Maximising Grassland Yields

Offers valid from 02.08.2020 to 03.10.2020

Stage three: POST EMERGENCE It is recognised by Teagasc that using a quality post emergence spray to control a broad spectrum of weeds will result in enhanced grassland yields.