At a recent training session for FCG consultants, the elements of grass budgeting were covered in depth. Some readers will be familiar with the principles of this, but essentially it is a method for matching the farms’ grass and forage resources with the requirements of the grazing stock (whether dairy, beef or sheep).  Clearly, in a herd that relies very much on grazing, this is crucial to get right during the grazing period.  The growth rates of heifers and all youngstock are important to attend to as well, to maximise profitability.

But more importantly, it really comes into its own if you are offered the opportunity to buy land, or (alternatively) if you are about to lose some land because, for instance, a tenancy is ending.  The main message we all took away is that it is not simple.  Land is very expensive, so the answers need to be good and well-argued ones.

Other items that must be considered in the calculations are silage needs, concentrate feeding levels, and fertiliser policy.  These are all crucial items to get right for a profitable dairy farm.  A carefully considered grass and forage budget can help provide the best possible answer for your farm.

Contact Charles Holt at charlesholt@fcgagric.com or your local FCG office, to see how robust your financial budgeting is in relation to the physical farm budget.