Max Sealy (Chippenham)

For many of our autumn calving clients, demand is now reducing on the platform in line with growth and in many cases (for example the Agri Net – figure 1, below) demand is below growth as cows are dried off.

Figure 1:

Thoughts now turn to providing quality grazing for freshly calved cows where that is part of the system; leaving good residuals now and allowing growth in time for calving is key to that, whilst managing pastures with empty cows and later calving cows, yet to be dried off.

Now is also a good time to look at paddock performance and using Agri Net data (as per figure 2, below), to assess which paddocks perform well and which are in need of attention. Growth data is a good indicator of early and mid-season potential. Despite the difficulties of the 2024 grazing season, the comparative figure is relatively easily achieved from this analysis (previous year analysis obviously factors into this as well).

Figure 2:

Having assessed which paddocks are underperforming; relevant options of overseeding, reseeding, nutrient correction, PH, etc., can all be correctly applied. Timing of all of these is important, particularly to give a good break in the grass ley to allow pest control to be effective so that establishment from August onwards stands the greatest chance of success.

Many clients have entered land into SFI options including herbal leys, and legume inclusion.  Now is a good opportunity to stitch clover into these swards to improve performance and benefit soil health and long-term productivity.

Contact Max at maxsealy@fcgagric.com or your local FCG Office, to assess via a number of methods what swards need prioritising to renew or repair.