Assess your options to boost forage stocks

According to forage specialists, adopting the right strategy over the coming months is an opportunity to put the recent deluge in the past and build a platform for greater productivity in the future.

Helen Mathieu, from Germinal GB, says: “We are seeing a wide range of situations that are beyond the norm and a direct result of the extraordinarily wet conditions that many have endured over the last six months or more.

“It is important to start by assessing what you are dealing with and then putting the right plans in place.

“In the case of bare soils that have been waterlogged, which will include fields earmarked for autumn or spring cereals that have not been drilled, or maize ground harvested too late for a following crop, the first step is to assess soil health and decide what is required to put land back into good order.

“Take a good walk across fields and assess the situation, digging holes where necessary to establish where any compaction layers might be.

“It may be that simply working the surface is enough to create a good enough seedbed, or ground may need sub-soiling to the appropriate depth, or even ploughing, to rectify the problem. Soil testing should also be carried out to
ensure nutrient levels and pH are as they should be for the best possible establishment and future crop performance.”

Ms Mathieu acknowledges there will be varying scenarios facing farmers, including undrilled land, grassland swards requiring renovation, and swards that are now beyond their productive life.

In most cases, she recommends a minimum tillage solution, avoiding any significant soil disturbance.

“Unless fields are badly rutted or poached beyond easy repair, the best approach when establishing grass or forage crops is going to be to broadcast the seed and follow with a pass with a set of ring rollers,” she says.

This should, in most cases, create enough tilth to allow good seed-to-soil contact and lead to good germination and establishment.

“The other important considerations are to ensure soil temperatures are adequate for the species being sown and there is sufficient soil moisture,” she adds.

“Italian ryegrass and westerwolds require 3-5degC, perennial ryegrass likes it a little warmer at around 5-7degC, but if you are including clovers, for example, soils should be at least 7degC and higher.”

Undrilled land

Fields that have been left undrilled over winter may need structural restoration. In these cases, Ms Mathieu says once the appropriate cultivations have been carried out the best solution is going to be to grow a crop that is fast growing and has vigorous root activity.

“Sowing a mixture with Italian ryegrass and westerwolds will give quick establishment and produce a significant amount of dry matter within about 12 weeks.

Newly drilled swards requiring renovation

Conditions for establishing new grass swards last autumn were less than ideal and some may require attention this spring in order to maximise their potential.

“We ideally want to see a good even coverage of perennial ryegrass, with around 85 per cent ground cover or greater,” says Ms Mathieu.

“I am seeing swards with 70 per cent or less ground cover as I walk fields this spring and, in many cases, I am recommending that farmers over-seed using the same mixture at one-third or one-half of the original seed rate, depending on how open the sward is.

“Where weeds such as chickweed are present, spray to control these in advance and, after the appropriate time interval, broadcast and either roll with a ring roller or flat roll to ensure good soil-to-seed contact.”