Grassland Management

Cumbria: From field to feed barrier - Silage strategies for dairy success

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 16:47:53 GMT

Join us at Moorhouse Hall Farm for a practical, farmer-led workshop with Dave Davis, focusing on how getting silage-making right can help you better prepare for the season ahead.

Home grown forage is the cornerstone of dairy cow nutrition. Great quality silage costs the same to produce as poor quality silage, but the impact on cow nutrition, health, milk production and the farms overall cost of production per litre is huge. When so much is at stake, quality grass, harvesting practices and clamp management are critical. The focus for this event is for you as a farmer, to review and discuss your silage making practice and what steps you can take to ensure excellent quality silage and reduce wastage.

Our hosts, the Bailey family at Moorhouse Hall Farm, consistently produce first class silage with minimal wastage.
Our speaker, Dave Davies, is an internationally recognised expert with both farming and scientific research experience. In this workshop, Dave will highlight the most important practices and ingredients in getting it right and minimising wastage. We'll examine silage samples, look at quality across the clamp and discuss best practice and non-negotiables to minimising wastage from the field to the feed passage.

We hope you can join us at AHDB SDF Moorhouse Hall Farm with Silage expert Dave Davies for a practical, science based, farmer-led workshop on best practices, top tips and decision making to make the most of your 2026 crop.

In this workshop, we will look at:

Right crop, right time to meet your needs
Clamp preparation and ensiling practices
The science of good fermentation
Insight into how small, low-cost decisions can deliver big financial returns

You'll leave with clear, practical actions you can apply straight away to help turn your silage into a profit driver, not a hidden cost.

Light lunch and refreshments will be included, please include any dietary requirements on booking.

Speaker profile

Dr Dave Davies (BSc PhD) is the son of a dairy farmer, he graduated from Aberystwyth University and then conducted a PhD at Manchester Uni linked with the Grassland Research Institute at Hurley. From there he spent 20 Years at IGER/IBERS in Aberystwyth, where prior to leaving was head of forage and feed conservation/preservation and was lead of the Agricultural Outreach team for the whole institute. In 2010 he left academia and established Silage Solutions.

Dave is a world renowned silage scientists and practionary and has been lucky enough to travel widely across Europe and beyond educating farmers but equally importantly learning from farmers. He still conducts research projects. His over 35 years experience have resulted in a broad spectrum of knowledge gained from both his science and agricultural backgrounds. He is no more at home when in front of a silage clamp discussing anything and everything about silage.

Somerset: More from less - making the most of your soils

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 16:23:30 GMT

Join Terrafarmer and LEAF farmers Rob Addicott and Jeremy Padfield for a practical on‑farm event digging deep into soil biology.

We'll assess the opportunities and potential cost saving and efficiency improvements in the latest biological fertiliser technologies.

Agenda

10.30am Arrival and refreshments

11:00am Stratton Farms background and introduction

Rob and Jeremy will outline their ~1800-acre mixed farm partnership with a focus on their 440 acres of permanent pasture, red clover and herb legume leys. Rob and Jeremy are advocates of regular testing of nutrients and organic matter in order understand their soils and to help make their businesses more resilient and sustainable.

11.30am Terrafarmer soil biology and Stratton Farms analysis results

Terrafarmer will present the farm’s recent soil analysis results and outline a ‘What next?’ action plan, including:

Identifying opportunities from the soil data
Potential cost savings and efficiency gains from current biological fertiliser technologies
Approaches to nitrogen reduction and nutrient management
Strategies to support soil health improvement and long‑term farm productivity

12:15pm Lunch

12:45pm Farm walk and Q&A

The guided farm walk will provide an opportunity to see practical examples of the systems discussed, including:

Soil structure, biology and nutrient status in different fields
Establishment and performance of herbal leys
Discussion around nutrient cycling, water quality and grazing management
Demonstration of Tow & Fert machinery

2:00pm Event close

This event qualifies for BASIS points.

Cornwall: More from less - making the most of your soils

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 13:31:50 GMT

Join Terrafarmer and renowned Cornish butcher, James Kittow, for a practical on‑farm event digging deep into soil biology.

We will assess the opportunities and potential cost saving and efficiency improvements in the latest biological fertiliser technologies.

Agenda

10.30 – Arrival and refreshments

11:00 – Kilhallon Farm background and introduction

James Kittow will outline his 130‑acre suckler enterprise and butchery. He will discuss the farm’s current focus on improving productivity on a low input grass-fed system including bale grazing, herbal leys and catch crop kale.

11.30 – Terrafarmer soil biology and Kilhallon Farm analysis results

Terrafarmer will present the farm’s recent soil analysis results and outline a ‘What next?’ action plan, including:

Identifying opportunities from the soil data
Potential cost savings and efficiency gains from current biological fertiliser technologies
Approaches to nitrogen reduction and nutrient management
Strategies to support soil health improvement and long‑term farm productivity

12:15 – Lunch

12:45 – Farm walk and Q&A

The guided farm walk will provide an opportunity to see practical examples of the systems discussed, including:

Soil structure, biology and nutrient status in different fields
Establishment and performance of herbal leys and catch crops
Bale grazing sites and their impact on soil condition
Discussion around nutrient cycling, water quality and grazing management
Demonstration of Tow & Fert machinery

14:00 - Event close

This event qualifies for BASIS points

Lancashire: Squeezing value from slurry and soils

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 13:06:45 GMT

Your slurry and manure are valuable commodities tools that can help you grow more forage, cut fertiliser costs and improve soil health. The key is getting the timing, application and soil readiness right so that your nutrients work for you, not against you.

Join James Bretherton and Paul Hargreaves for a practical, hands-on workshop where you’ll learn how to maximise the value of your slurry and manure while protecting your soils. You’ll see how small, simple changes can pay back in forage yield, nutrient efficiency and long-term soil health, all while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

What you’ll get from the workshop:

Practical strategies for applying slurry and manure at the right time and in the right conditions
How to assess soil readiness using a soil health scorecard, so you know when soils are fit to travel and apply nutrients
A practical look at soil structure and soil biology, including live comparisons between well-managed and poorly managed soils
What earthworms tell you about soil health – and why they matter for drainage, nutrient cycling and crop growth
Tips to grow more forage, reduce fertiliser costs and protect your soil structure
Insights into how better nutrient management can reduce emissions while improving efficiency and profitability

You’ll see real, side-by-side examples as soils are dug and compared on the day, helping you clearly understand what ‘good’ soil looks like and what you can do to move your own soils in the right direction.

You’ll leave with practical actions you can apply straight away to get more from your slurry and manure, improve forage and protect your soils for years to come.

Light lunch and refreshments will be included, please include any dietary requirements on booking.

This event is part of the UK Dairy Carbon Network project, which gives you access to practical, farm-tested approaches that help reduce greenhouse gas emissions while improving efficiency and profitability on commercial dairy farms.

Cheshire: Silage secrets and clamp confessions

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 12:01:23 GMT

*Sgroliwch i lawr am yr iaith Gymraeg*

Good silage isn’t a luxury – it’s one of the most cost-effective ways for you to improve milk output, cut feed bills and protect herd health. Yet many farms are still losing money through avoidable silage losses, poor fermentation and decisions that don’t stack up in the cow or the accounts.

Join Dave Davies of Silage Solutions for a practical, no-nonsense workshop that shows you why producing better silage is often cheaper than producing average or poor silage and why the payback can be huge.

You’ll learn what really delivers results on your farm: more milk from forage, less reliance on bought-in feed, fewer production-limiting diseases and a reduced carbon footprint, all while protecting or improving your margins.

What you’ll get from the workshop:

A clear understanding of how silage quality directly affects your milk yield, herd health and costs
Practical ways to increase milk from forage and reduce your reliance on purchased feed
Guidance on making silage work within your milk-from-grass system
Real-world strategies for dealing with challenging weather and stressed crops
Insight into how small, low-cost decisions can deliver big financial returns

You’ll leave with clear, practical actions you can apply straight away to help turn your silage into a profit driver, not a hidden cost.

Light lunch and refreshments will be included, please include any dietary requirements on booking.

Workshop stations

1: Milk from silage – At the feed barrier

2: Silage in a milk-from-grass system – At the clamp

3: When grass gets stressed – In the field

Swydd Gaer: Cyfrinachau’r clamp silwair

Nid moethusrwydd yw silwair da – mae’n un o’r ffyrdd mwyaf cost-effeithiol o gynhyrchu mwy o laeth, lleihau costau bwydo, a gwarchod iechyd eich buches. Eto mae nifer fawr o ffermydd yn dal i golli arian drwy golledion silwair di-angen, eplesiad gwael, a phenderfyniadau annoeth o ran y buchod a’r cyfrifon.

Ymunwch â Dave Davies, Silage Solutions, ar gyfer gweithdy ymarferol, di-ffwdan sy’n dangos ichi pam y mae cynhyrchu silwair gwell yn aml yn costio llai na chynhyrchu silwair o safon ganolig neu wael, a pham y gall hynny dalu ar ei ganfed.

Byddwch yn dysgu beth sydd wir yn gwneud gwahaniaeth ar eich fferm: mwy o laeth o borthiant, llai o ddibyniaeth ar fwyd a brynir i mewn, llai o glefydau sy’n gostwng lefelau cynhyrchu, ac ôl troed carbon is, a hynny gan gynnal neu wella eich elw ar yr un pryd.

Y budd a gewch chi o’r gweithdy:

Dealltwriaeth glir o’r ffordd y mae ansawdd silwair yn effeithio’n uniongyrchol ar y llaeth a gynhyrchir, iechyd eich buches, a chostau.
Ffyrdd ymarferol o gael mwy o laeth o borthiant a bod yn llai dibynnol ar fwyd a brynir
Arweiniad ar wneud i silwair weithio o fewn eich system llaeth-o-borthiant
Strategaethau’r byd go iawn ar gyfer delio â thywydd gwael a chnydau sy’n dioddef
Esboniad o sut y gall penderfyniadau bach, cost isel, arwain at enillion ariannol mawr

Byddwch yn gadael gyda chamau clir ac ymarferol y gallwch eu rhoi ar waith ar unwaith, i helpu i droi eich silwair yn hyrwyddwr elw yn hytrach na chost gudd.

Darperir cinio ysgafn a lluniaeth. Nodwch unrhyw ofynion deietegol wrth archebu os gwelwch yn dda.

Safleoedd gwaith y gweithdy

1: Llaeth o silwair – Wrth y bariau bwydo

2: Silwair o fewn system llaeth-o-borthiant – Wrth y clamp

3: Pan fydd glaswellt yn dioddef – yn y cae

Mae’r digwyddiad hwn yn rhan o brosiect Rhwydwaith Carbon Llaeth y DU, sy’n darparu mynediad at ddulliau ymarferol, a brofwyd ar ffermydd, sy’n helpu i leihau allyriadau nwyon tŷ gwydr, gan wella effeithlonrwydd a phroffidioldeb ffermydd llaeth masnachol ar yr un pryd.

Grazing for growth: sheep and arable working together

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 13:55:10 GMT

Join us for “Grazing for growth: sheep and arable working together” at Bryce Mackellar’s farm in Stafford.

This practical, farmer-focused event will showcase how integrating sheep into arable rotations can boost soil health, improve crop performance, and support ewe nutrition over winter. Through a guided farm walk, expert-led workshops, and plenty of networking, attendees will explore the real-world benefits of grazing cover crops, fodder beet, and early-stage cereals.

Whether you’re an arable farmer looking to enhance sustainability, a sheep farmer seeking better grazing options, or an adviser working in regenerative systems, this event offers valuable insight and collaboration opportunities. Come along to learn, share experiences, and see mixed farming in action.

What the meeting will cover

Benefits of sheep grazing on cover crops and early-stage arable crops
Impacts on tillering, weed control, and crop performance
Soil health improvements from integrating livestock
Nutritional strategies for pregnant ewes grazing stubble turnips/fodder beet
Knowledge exchange between arable and livestock farmers
Practical demonstrations during the farm walk

Speakers

Amanda Bennett – Senior Environment Manager (soil health & nutrient management)
Bek Hirstman – Agronomy & Environment Manager
Nerys Wright – Sheep consultant

Session timings

10:00 – Arrival
10:30 – Housekeeping and introductions
10:45 – Presentations – providing the context
12:00 – Lunch and networking
12:50 – Leave for farm walk
13:00 – Farm walk
15:00 – Close

Are there any points available?

BASIS

Is the event free to attend?

Yes - funded by your levy

Food available & time

Lunch provided at 12:00

Wiltshire: Extreme Grazing - How to plan for challenging seasons

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 09:40:19 GMT

Cold springs. Hot dry summers. Relentless rain. Over the last few years British farmers have faced some of the most challenging grazing seasons on record. Wolfhall Farm near Marlborough have rapidly assessed and adapted their grazing strategy to ensure grazed grass could be maximised in their diet.

Join us at AHDB Strategic Dairy Farm Wolfhall Farm where herd manager Antony Mitchell and LIC Pasture to Profit consultant Piers Badnell will review the decisions made this season and discuss how to plan for the extreme weather events in the future.

At this meeting we will discuss:

Using grass growth data to plan grazing strategies
Limiting damage in wet conditions
The when, what and how of cost-effective supplementary feeding
Planning winter forage stocks
Inclusion of forages resistant to climatic extremes

About Piers Badnell:

Piers has been working with AHDB for years, as a part of his role with Pasture for Profit, providing consulancy for our Forage for Knowledge network.

Piers recently worked on a case study with Wolfhall as a part of Forage for Knowledge.

If you would like to better understand how to manage a herd in a grass & forage-based system in climatic extremes, such as the prolonged wet weather of 2023/24 or the extreme dry weather of 2025, this practical session will provide the tools, knowledge, and next steps to take action on farm.

Learn more about Wolfhall Farm.

Increased risk of perennial rye-grass staggers this autumn

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 10:20:15 GMT

Increased risk of perennial rye-grass staggers this autumn

Keeping grass in the diet during drought

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 12:51:36 GMT

Keeping grass in the diet during drought

Multi-species – from seed to feed roadshow

Fri, 01 Aug 2025 10:53:00 GMT

Multi-species – from seed to feed roadshow

Essex: Multi-species – from seed to feed

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 11:09:56 GMT

Thinking about drilling a multi-species sward but not sure if it’ll work on your farm? Or maybe you want some solid advice on managing your existing leys?

This levy-funded on-farm event is for you.

Join AHDB, Dr Liz Genever and farm advisor for Catchment Sensitive Farming, Ben Rodgers, to get the lowdown on:

Picking the right seed mixes for your farm
How to get your sward established (yes, including overseeding!)
Grazing and silage tips to make it work in practice
Making decisions based on weather and growth

Plus, you’ll hear from a local host farmer who’s been there, done that and seen the benefits.

Spaces are limited so early booking is advised.

Come and see if multi-species swards could work for you!

BASIS and RoSA CPD points are available for attending this event

Animal feed value of multispecies and clover-based swards

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 09:24:50 GMT

Animal feed value of multispecies and clover-based swards

Forage systems

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 08:35:14 GMT

Forage systems

The role of forage systems in farm management

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 15:51:46 GMT

The role of forage systems in farm management

Integrating livestock and cropping systems

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 15:43:22 GMT

Integrating livestock and cropping systems

The role of forage systems

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 15:38:22 GMT

The role of forage systems

Seasonal management of clover and multispecies swards

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 15:34:53 GMT

Seasonal management of clover and multispecies swards

Timing and frequency of cuts for different species

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 15:26:35 GMT

Timing and frequency of cuts for different species

Storage and preservation of multispecies silage and hay

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 15:20:09 GMT

Storage and preservation of multispecies silage and hay

Cutting and harvesting forage

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 14:54:23 GMT

Cutting and harvesting forage