WHEN carrying out a grassland reseed or overseed, don’t be afraid to change the approach away from the norm and implement new techniques, advises David Linton, from seed breeder Barenbrug.
“Part of the joy of farming is being able to explore new practices, especially if the old ones aren’t working. There is little benefit to the farm from trying to implement something that you know has little chance of reaching its potential – it is a waste of time and money.”
Farmers should be looking to sow modern varieties of grass seed at least once a year as part of an integrated grassland management plan, to freshen up tired swards or start again with unproductive areas. This helps to build the farm’s resilience and make the most from grassland production.
Taking works in-house
Employing a contractor for these types of annual jobs can become expensive, especially if
the workload is increasing, so doing some or all the work yourself can relieve some financial stress, but only if you have the resources available. Even taking the preparation work in-house and getting a contractor in to sow the seed can offer decent savings, explains Mr Linton.
“There are plenty of farms with the tractor power to carry out most of the tasks and small investment in some second-hand implements will allow a timely approach to seedbed preparation. It may not be with the fancy kit of a contractor, but the savings in contractor hire costs could add up significantly.”
However, getting the new sward established when the weather is on your side should be of greater importance.
Local contractors have invested significantly in machinery in the past few years to carry out complete re-seeds. “If they are available and you need to prioritise other jobs, it’s a no brainer,” he said.
Mr Linton says he has seen a shift to farmers wanting control of the process to avoid getting caught out by the weather when carrying out autumn reseeds. There are also further benefits as farmers will know where water pipes and field obstacles are, which can help mitigate any further damage and cost.
“Being forced to abandon an autumn reseed for a spring one can significantly increase the weed burden on an establishing grass crop, so completing works in the autumn is a preferred option for many.”
By carrying out the work yourself it can offer greater control of the process helping to establish swards in good time and reduce the number of unproductive days. “Farmers can’t afford to be without good grassland, so timing is key,” says Mr Linton.
Cost of the operation
A recent cost analysis by Barenbrug using standard indust-ry figures has calculated that an older or damaged sward, comprising 50 per cent sown species, has a yield potential of 7t DM/ha, whereas a new sward could yield up to 15.5t DM/ha with modern varieties of grass which, with DM typically valued at €160/t, offers an extra €1,365/ha.
“Each extra tonne of DM can provide approximately 11,000 MJ of energy, which is enough – at 5.2MJ per litre – to produce nearly 2,000 litres of milk. Compare this to an eight-year-old field that typically yields around 5.5t DM/ha, it means you could be missing out on three times as much grass,” advises Mr Linton.
Leave the soil undisturbed
Managing a large weed burden will be familiar to many farmers and undersowing oats or barley with a grass crop can offer grass a head start, whilst at the same time leaving the soil undisturbed to avoid giving weed seeds that injection of life.
New machinery techniques, such
as direct drilling, are now helping farmers maintain soil structure that is so crucial to top performing grassland. The requirement to
plough, power harrow and roll soils before drilling is up for debate, although will still be preferred when a sward has reached the end of its life, as Mr Linton explains.
“Turning over an unproductive sward to create a tilth for some modern grass seed offers the new crop a great chance of getting established. However, for those that have a good mix of existing productive species, direct drilling or overseeding could be a viable option.”
There is also significant fin-ancial and time savings with direct drilling for those willing to embrace the new technique. “It won’t be for everyone, but machines such as the Erth Agriseeder were designed for the Irish market and are growing in favour for grassland operations.
“Choosing the establishment method that suits your farm and soil is critical, but it is worth exploring something new if the current system is failing. As ever, getting the right advice is essential,” concludes Mr Linton.
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