Content related to the topic: grassland-management

23 October 2020

Planning for silage 2021

Contractors like big kit. Modern forage harvesters, therefore, can clear huge amounts of grass leading to greater efficiency and a better cost structure. But this can also lead to poor consolidation at the clamp if loads are heavy and delivered too quickly within a given hour.

23 October 2020

Ten minutes a day is all it takes to minimise silage waste!

To protect quality silage this winter – and feed it efficiently – Dr George Fisher of CF Fertilisers stresses the key message is simply to keep it clean. This reduces spoilage and wastage and basically involves cutting the clamp face cleanly, keeping it tidy, and getting rid of any bad silage. Remove spills often and clean out troughs and feed passages routinely.

23 October 2020

Are you testing your silage?

Silage clamps should ideally be tested every four weeks over winter to maintain ration consistency for high-yielding herds. Even grass that is properly clamped averages 12% losses in dry matter over time, which affects intakes.

28 September 2020

The SUPER-G project: Sustainable permanent grassland

The SUPER-G project is a European wide project aiming to work with farmers and policy makers to develop sustainable & effective permanent grassland systems. Aims of this project include optimising productivity, supporting biodiversity and delivering a number of other ecosystems services.

28 September 2020

GrassCheckGB: Getting started with rotational grazing

Join the GrassCheckGB team for a webinar on ‘Rotational grazing: principles, practices and tips’. The speakers are James Daniel, Founder and Director of Precision Grazing; John Frizzell, Business Development Manager for Datamars Livestock UK and Dane de Boorder, Youngstock and Grazing Manager for Pomeroy farm who are a part of GrassCheckGB. The conversation was chaired by Nia Davies, Hybu Cig Cymru (HCC) – Meat Promotion Wales.

28 September 2020

Grassland soils: knowing what you’ve got and how to improve it

Join GrassCheckGB and Elizabeth Stockdale, NIAB for a webinar on focusing on the importance of soil health for grassland productivity. Soil is the basis of every grassland system and aiming to constantly improve soil health will pay dividends in grassland productivity. Knowing and correcting soil pH alone can reduce the risk of yield loss, which can be up to 20%.

28 September 2020

Herbal leys: establishment – looking forward to 2021

AHDB supported a panel discussion with the British Grassland Society (https://www.britishgrassland.com/), on practical advice for establishing herbal leys in 2021 and beyond. The panel will included Kate Still, Soil Association and FAB farmers facilitator, Robert Thornhill, dairy farmer and Nuffield Scholar and Dafydd Parry Jones, organic beef and sheep farmer and Farming Connect mentor.

28 August 2020

Meet Forage for Knowledge contributor Keith Davis

As herd manager for Lydney Park, Keith Davis has been growing and measuring grass for the past 12 years but has found this year’s weather ups and downs tiresome.

14 May 2024

Establishing and growing clover

Read our advice to help you learn how to establish and grow clover.

6 January 2025

Secure straw to avoid winter shortage

Livestock farmers are encouraged to forward buy or secure their straw requirement, or look at alternative bedding options for this coming winter, sooner rather than later.

31 July 2020

Meet Forage for Knowledge contributor Phil Asbury

Phil Asbury has been measuring grass for 13 years for his 212-cow spring block herd in Cheshire – this year has had its challenges…

27 July 2020

Herbal leys – livestock performance and environmental improvements

AHDB supported a panel discussion from the British Grassland Society https://www.britishgrassland.com , featuring a conversation between Paul Muto, Natural England; Professor Chris Reynolds, University of Reading; Sam Lane, Cotswold Seeds and dairy farmer, Rob Richmond.