grass seeds on rented land

Kevtherev · Jul 14, 2020

Back to the OP question rather than arguing who’s grass is greener so to speak.
Some fag packet maths.
Lime at £30 ton spread say 2 ton to the acre
£60
A 4-5 year dual purpose ley is going to cost £60 an acre for the seed alone without the tractor and cultivation costs.
I would be correcting the PH first and with good grazing management an improvement will be seen over the next few seasons.
Cheapest fertiliser you will ever buy.

Kevtherev · Jul 14, 2020

neilo said:
On my field that looks similar, I’m wondering if the lower digestibility/higher fibre of the ryegrass stems will help mitigate the effects of a belly full of high protein clover leaves. There are certainly one or two rams a bit looser since the N kicked the grass on a bit.

They are probably selecting the more tender species hence the pooey bums ?

Kevtherev · Jul 14, 2020

@Cab-over Pete how much is an artic load of prilled lime now?

Derrick Hughes · Jul 14, 2020

I though it was quite interesting to explain that using a sward for cutting with heading dates that vary over 20 days was losing up to .20 kg live weigh gain and goodness knows how much milk . Unless you can explain how you cut half the grass at optimum D value and leave the other half till later [emoji19]

neilo · Jul 14, 2020

Derrick Hughes said:
I though it was quite interesting to explain that using a sward with heading dates that vary over 20 days was losing up to .20 kg live weigh gain and goodness knows how much milk . Unless you can explain how you cut half the grass at optimum D value and leave the other half till later [emoji19]

Agreed, it does seem quite strange that a company (any company) should choose to use such a wide spread of heading dates in a mix.

However, it won’t be such an issue under a rational grazing system, as it will be grazed before it shoots to head. Not everything revolves around getting as much grass as possible to make into silage.

Kevtherev · Jul 14, 2020

neilo said:
Agreed, it does seem quite strange that a company (any company) should choose to use such a wide spread of heading dates in a mix.

However, it won’t be such an issue under a rational grazing system, as it will be grazed before it shoots to head. Not everything revolves around getting as much grass as possible to make into silage.

Always thought it was marketed as being an early spring grazing mix?

Great In Grass · Jul 14, 2020

"Widening the gap in heading dates pays off"

Widening the gap in heading dates pays off

www.lgseeds.co.uk

neilo · Jul 14, 2020

Kevtherev said:
Always thought it was marketed as being an early spring grazing mix?

i would suggest that, for the most flexible pasture, you can’t go far wrong with all late heading PRG varieties. Trials done by Field Options at Harper Adams apparently showed very little yield difference between those mixes and the short term ‘mowing’ mixes. However, they are definitely slower to get going in the Spring than earlier heading varieties ime.

The ‘long season’ mix I mentioned earlier is always very quick off the mark in the Spring, only beaten by IRG/Westerwolds in that regard, but it doesn’t last as long before less productive grasses take over.

neilo · Jul 14, 2020

Great In Grass said:
"Widening the gap in heading dates pays off"

Widening the gap in heading dates pays off

www.lgseeds.co.uk

An interesting concept. If you hit enough balls then one will hit the goal I suppose?

HarryB97 · Jul 14, 2020

If you don't want to improve the land and have plenty of grazing anyway then let someone else have it who needs it or negotiate a longer tenancy so you don't loose out financially by improving it.

Derrick Hughes · Jul 14, 2020

Great In Grass said:
"Widening the gap in heading dates pays off"

Widening the gap in heading dates pays off

www.lgseeds.co.uk

So its 22 May your intermediate is at the optimum stage, wait for the rest to catch up or go for it . Weather is good . What do you do ?,
We not realy had a problem getting grass off here as harvesters are so fast, and you have around 8 days either side before it falls away drastically

ploughman1963 · Jul 14, 2020

An ancient git said:
Cotswold seeds are useful , but I'd seriously rate Francis Dunne at Field Options . He knows what he's talking about and would also tell you to not waste money if that was the right answer ......... Your choice in life .....

I would like to second that recommendation- a salesman that can offer genuine advice on management, drilling etc - not what he thinks he read on TFF ? - although to keep things in balance, I have several fields that have excellent mixtures from @Great In Grass that always attract approving comments- though I’d like to think it’s the grazing management that makes them look so good ?

ploughman1963 · Jul 14, 2020

Kevtherev said:
@Cab-over Pete how much is an artic load of prilled lime now?

????

Derrick Hughes · Jul 14, 2020

ploughman1963 said:
I would like to second that recommendation- a salesman that can offer genuine advice on management, drilling etc - not what he thinks he read on TFF [emoji6]

So a contractor farmer who's been direct drilling for many years . Worn one drill out and farms a,lot of stock agaist a rep , but don't know the guy in question. I'm sure he knows his stuff . Who would you, listen to . Not sure if he posts on here mind , I listen to everyone including the 50 odd farmes I spoke to in the mart today

ploughman1963 · Jul 14, 2020

Derrick Hughes said:
So a contractor farmer who's been direct drilling for many years . Worn one drill out and farms a,lot of stock agaist a rep . Who would you, listen to . Not sure if he posts on here mind , I listen to everyone including the 50 odd farmes I spoke to in the mart today

Sorry, did you think that was directed at you?

Derrick Hughes · Jul 14, 2020

ploughman1963 said:
Sorry, did you think that was directed at you?

No not at all, mines not directed at you either. Minds have a great capacity to hold information and work out a,way forward. Like Neilo sorted me out with my lime and spraying problem

neilo · Jul 14, 2020

Derrick Hughes said:
So a contractor farmer who's been direct drilling for many years . Worn one drill out and farms a,lot of stock agaist a rep , but don't know the guy in question. I'm sure he knows his stuff . Who would you, listen to . Not sure if he posts on here mind , I listen to everyone including the 50 odd farmes I spoke to in the mart today

Given that I don’t know whoever you’re talking about, then yes, I would take information from Francis Dunne above talking to 50 blokes in the market every time. I would say the same of Ian Wilkinson at Cotswold Seeds too.

Whenever I have availed myself of advice from either, I have made a point of buying seed from them, even though it obviously carries a premium. Cheap isn’t always best and good advice is worth paying for ime.

Derrick Hughes · Jul 15, 2020

neilo said:
Given that I don’t know whoever you’re talking about, then yes, I would take information from Francis Dunne above talking to 50 blokes in the market every time. I would say the same of Ian Wilkinson at Cotswold Seeds too.

Whenever I have availed myself of advice from either, I have made a point of buying seed from them, even though it obviously carries a premium. Cheap isn’t always best and good advice is worth paying for ime.

I never said take it above them , why does advice after be one or other , listen to everyone and learn , you must be after something coming on here or you would not waste your time apart from the social part, anyway I have learnt no end , thanks for the good advice you have given me
But at least we have come to a conclusion on heading dates
To make top quality fodder you need close heading dates , but if you don't like to risk not having weather to harvest at the optimum time mixed heading dates will lower the risk but will always be a compromise
If you don't mind harvesing a bit later then use late heading grases as they don't lose D Value as fast as Intermediate, this applies to grazing and cutting , so if you see that grass getting away from you dont be to concerned if its late heading , but if its early or mid heading then you need to take action

Kevtherev · Jul 15, 2020

All depends on your livestock system regarding heading dates.
The suckler man will always take a later older cut traditionally.

Derrick Hughes · Jul 15, 2020

Yes

grass seeds on rented land

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