Countryside Seeds Ltd

Hailes Farm a Centre of Excellence
DLF have been committed to developing new varieties of grass in the UK for 40 years in both forage and amenity since setting up our R & D station in the Cotswolds in 1976. The facility has gone from strength to strength over this period of time, being at the cutting edge of technology as well as a centre of excellence for the trialling and evaluation of grasses for the UK.

We were the first to introduce self-propelled harvesting machines into the UK for measuring yield of the forage trials to enable us to test more varieties, as previously forage grass was all cut and weighed by hand.



DLF were the first to introduce on board near infra-red spectroscopy (NIRS) for the measurement of dry matter (DM) and quality characters on fresh samples as they are being harvested. We have never shied away from investing in the future of varieties for the UK and we are now looking to the future potential use of drones equipped with specialised sensors to measure yield, DM and quality characters in forage and colour and appearance in turf.

All DLF mixtures are fully tested and evaluated by us to ensure that varieties are included in appropriate proportions to give optimal mixture performance in the field, on the pitch, on the course or in the garden.

FORAGE GRASS
The UK forage grass testing and breeding programme at DLF is geared specifically to identifying varieties for the UK farmer, as their requirements are quite different to farmers in other parts of Europe due to the climatic conditions. The UK climate is very suited to growing grass with potential for very high yields and therefore we aim to produce varieties that will make the most of these conditions and maximise forage output under farm conditions.





The UK breeding programme is linked into our global network of testing sites which enables us to test varieties extensively across many different growing environments and conditions to ensure the varieties that we bring to market are able to cope with all that the UK climate can throw at them.

AMENITY GRASS
The UK traditionally grows some of the best pitches and courses in the world and we produce the best green keepers that are respected globally for their expertise and skill. DLF appreciate the high standards that UK green keepers demand and therefore aim to produce the best varieties to satisfy the very high standards that they expect.



DLF test amenity varieties in the UK as part of our Europe wide breeding and testing programme. Varieties are evaluated over five sites across Europe representing a broad spectrum of climatic conditions to ensure our varieties will perform to the highest standards even when conditions become difficult. Varieties are also selected to fit very differing management conditions from the back lawn of domestic houses that are used with minimal inputs by families and pets to the high end users who require the very high standards to produce award winning pitches and courses of premiership football clubs and championship golf clubs.

New design Swardsticks!

I have 10 spare, if you'd like one please PM your name and address and I'll pop one in the post (UK only).

Germinal: Seed Plant Investment Geared to Enhanced Customer Service

A £1.5 million investment in state–of–the art packing facilities and additional storage capacity at Germinal GB’s Lincoln headquarters is part of a broader long-term strategy to increase efficiencies and competitiveness throughout its expanding forage and amenity seed businesses.

So reports Managing Director Paul Billings, who says the improved customer service now resulting from these latest developments is an essential step in future-proofing the company’s interests.


“We’ve installed an automated bag filling, palletising and pallet wrapping line capable of highly responsive functionality and outputs of over 500 bags per hour,” he says. “We’ve also erected a new 18,565 square foot fully racked–out warehouse to effectively double our capacity to store finished goods.

“This means we can meet our customers’ orders for forage and amenity seed faster and more accurately, improving what is already renowned as a very dependable next–day–delivery service.”

Germinal GB’s agriculture division supplies the multiple award–winning Aber High Sugar Grass perennial and hybrid ryegrasses alongside a range of innovative forage crop seeds including white and red clovers, hybrid brassicas, root crops, pasture herbs, lucerne and maize. Innovation in crop types and methods of utilisation has helped Germinal establish a position of leadership in the arena of forage–based sustainable livestock farming.

In the amenity market, Germinal GB supplies landscape, sports turf and amenity grass cultivars, as well as an extensive selection of UK–specific wildflower varieties. The company also distributes a range of state–of–the–art phased–release and speciality fertilisers, backed up by FACTS (Fertiliser Advisers Certification and Training Scheme) qualified support and advice. Germinal’s amenity division now markets some of the best performing tennis, golf, football and rugby seed mixtures and provides no–nonsense product support to the landscaping sector.

Germinal has built a reputation for innovation and knowledge transfer in both agricultural and amenity sectors. The company has also recently announced investment in a new research station that will further improve the quality and performance of its future products.

New Masterline ‘Colour Boost’ flower mixtures add impact to any open space
New for 2018 from the Masterline range are 3 exciting new ‘Colour Boost’ flower mixture formulations designed to create enhanced, attractive amenity spaces. Available in the UK through DLF Seeds, the range also provides an essential food source and habitat for many species of animals and invertebrates, especially pollenating insects.


The mixtures have been designed for maximum floral impact, incorporating both wild flower and garden flowering species, that establish rapidly to deliver a colourful display throughout the whole year. Sowing a colour boost mixture brings many cost savings for the commercial user compared to more traditional bedding schemes – particularly appealing to local authorities and golf courses with increasing pressure on budgets. The mixtures are sown directly onto the final recipient site, requiring little irrigation, fertiliser/chemical application or maintenance throughout the season.

Designed to create a robust and attractive display in any park; open space or golf course, Colour Boost 1, features high impact annuals that are quick to establish and offer a long flowering period from 8 weeks after sowing up until the first frosts. Colour Boost 2 is a low-growing seasonal annuals mix, particularly relevant for areas where final growing height is of paramount importance. Finally, featuring 90% perennial flower species and 10% annual species, Colour Boost 3 high impact perennial mix ensures good adaptability to different growing conditions and provides a colour scheme that changes throughout the season depending on which species are in bloom.

The mixtures within the Colour Boost range feature 100% flower seed which can be notoriously difficult to sow when applying at just a few grams per m2. To combat this and ensure even sowing and correct application rates, the mixtures are sold in conjunction with Rehofix MK1500 corn skin granule – a natural, biodegradable carrier which makes sowing at low application rates easier and saves the more expensive seed mix running out midway through a project.

Lucerne Can Help Build Dairy Farm Resilience
Lucerne could have a key role in helping to future–proof many UK dairy farms, such is its potential as a source of homegrown protein and quality fibre.
This is the view of Germinal GB’s National Agricultural Sales Manager Ben Wixey, who sees the crop as being massively underutilised in the UK despite the availability of semi–dormant varieties well–suited to the climate.

“Lucerne is the world’s most extensively grown forage crop and is popular in countries with similar conditions to our own, such as Germany, and yet it is only grown on a tiny proportion of UK farms,” he said, speaking at a training day for the agricultural trade in Shropshire. “It requires free–draining soils and a soil pH of at least 6.2, but in these circumstances and with the right management it can yield 10–15 tonnes of dry matter that is high in protein, rich in trace minerals and is an excellent source of quality fibre. It is an ideal complement to maize silage in dairy rations and – being a legume that will fix its own nitrogen – can be grown without the cost of artificial nitrogen fertiliser.”






Mr Wixey believes lucerne, which is typically spring–sown from the end of April, could become part of many farms’ forage armoury to help build more resilient businesses in the future.

“Maximising the amount of quality forage that is grown on the farm is the best way to future–proof your business,” he added. “Lucerne could have a part to play in this, especially as a source of protein that reduces reliance on bought–in alternatives, such as soya, which will always be at risk of price volatility.”

When selecting lucerne for UK conditions, Mr Wixey advised farmers to aim for varieties with dormancy ratings of between 4 and 5, and good resistance to common diseases such as verticillium wilt. He also recommended the use of pre–inoculated pelleted seed that was certified ‘dodder–free’.

Lucerne:

Puna II Chicory - The leading perennial chicory for UK farmers'

Forage Brassicas - Cost effective homegrown fodder:

Planning your brassica crops:

Growing brassicas effectively and Monitoring the crop growth:

Feeding Brassicas:

Brassicas boost farm productivity:

New high yielding Swede to suit sheep out–wintering
A new generation high–yielding swede variety ideally suited for out–wintering sheep is now available from Germinal GB following its inclusion on the UK National List.

Triumph, bred in New Zealand by PGG Wrightson Seeds, is a yellow–fleshed mid–maturity variety with good leaf holding characteristics. In the average of six yield comparison trials, Triumph recorded a 21% total dry matter yield advantage over the market–leading variety.

“Swedes are a good homegrown forage option, ideal for feeding sheep during the winter months as a way of reducing bought–in feed costs,” says Germinal National Agricultural Sales Manager Ben Wixey. “Apart from being very high yielding, this new variety has a medium dry matter bulb that will make it particularly suitable for ewes.”

Graded and natural seed is available from Germinal for May or June sowing, with graded seed being suitable for precision drilling. Seed is also available with the Cruiser seed treatment for control of the major soil and foliar pests.

Redstart & Swift - Hybrid Brassicas offer low cost quality feed solution:

Sowing hybrid brassicas in July or August will produce quality forage crops of 5–7 tonnes per hectare in 10–12 weeks at a cost of just 4–5p/kgDM, according to Germinal GB speaking at the Livestock Event Forage Field.

Whether used as a break crop between grassland leys, a short term solution to forage shortfalls or an out–wintering fodder, varieties including Swift and Redstart hybrid brassica offer a low–cost quality forage option.

“These crops are quick to establish and will produce good quantities of forage of over 70 D–value and 15–18% crude protein,” said Germinal GB’s Ben Wixey, speaking during tours at the Livestock Event Forage Field.

“Old pastures destined for re–seeding next spring or fields that have been badly poached over recent weeks could be ideal sites for growing a catch crop of hybrid brassicas.

“There is still ample time to spray off an old sward and establish a crop of Redstart or Swift hybrid brassica capable of producing valuable high quality fodder before the end of the autumn. Similar results can be achieved by direct drilling hybrid brassicas into cereal stubbles.

“Stock strip–grazed on brassicas should be supplemented with baled silage or straw that offers a good source of roughage, as well as a run–back area and easy access to water.”

High Protein Forages key to cutting bought–in feed costs
Growing more high protein forage crops such as clovers, perennial chicory and forage brassicas offers sheep farmers greater control over feed costs and more sustainable businesses going forward.

So said Helen Mathieu of forage experts Germinal at NSA Welsh Sheep, adding that cost control should be a priority for all sheep farmers given growing uncertainty over agricultural support and the likelihood of continued commodity price volatility.

“Forage proteins fit well with the need to reduce production costs and get more from homegrown forage,” she said. “It’s becoming far more relevant to every farming system to reduce costs across the board, particularly in the light of Brexit, and feed costs are a significant input, certainly on most lowland units.”

In addition to reduced reliance on bought–in protein sources, several alternative forage crops also offer advantages in terms of soil fertility, soil structure and pest control, she added.

“Legumes such as white and red clover can fix around 150kg of nitrogen per hectare from the air, thereby reducing the amount of artificial fertiliser required to achieve a given level of forage dry matter,” she added. “Clovers, and deep–rooted plants such as perennial chicory, also help to improve soil structure, when compared with leys that are solely comprised of grasses.

“There are now many modern forage brassica varieties that offer an excellent source of protein and can boost productivity as summer catch crops, autumn grazing or even out–wintering. These brassicas also work very effectively as break crops in grassland reseeding, helping to reduce the threat of common pests such as leatherjackets and frit fly. This is more important as chemical pest control options become more restricted.”

Ms. Mathieu said that the varying attributes and agronomy of forage proteins means farmers should make the decision on which crop to grow based on individual farm conditions and requirements.

“Look at where you can start building protein crops into a rotation if that fits with your system. When growing any crop, it’s important to pick the right field and grow it well. It’s also not just about getting the soil right, but growing enough of the crop to make sure you see the benefits in the ration.”

Step-by-Step Guide to Paddock Maintenance
The Basics

Forage Rape Barcoli:



Forage rape is best suited for either grazing by livestock but can also been utilised by cutting and feeding. Forage rape is also used as a green manure crop because of its high and speedy production of dry matter both above and below ground level.

Very fast autumn grazing option

• Multipurpose forage rape with excellent autumn/early winter feed
• Barcoli is a flexible forage option. It can be spring sown for a late summer feed behind turnips or autumn sown for winter grazing.

• DAIRY
• BEEF
• SHEEP

Forage Rape has a high energy value (10 - 11 MJ ME/kg DM) and a highly digestible crude protein content of 18-19%. In general, the taller varieties develop more stems but, as a compensation, the leaves remain cleaner.

Forage Rape will yield around 3.5t DM/ha and for maximum utilisation, it should be strip grazed using electric fencing. Forage Rape also has some regrowth potential and can also be used as a green manure crop because of its high and speedy production of dry matter both above and below ground level. It shows good tolerance to night frost and has a rapid initial growth rate.

Forage Rape can be sown anywhere between May to early September but always around 15 weeks before the feed is required. While typically sown as pure stands, it can be sown in combination with other forages.

For winter feed, it can be planted with annual or Italian ryegrasses and even as part of a brassica feeding programme with stubble turnips.

Advantages

• Good regrowth potential with excellent winter keeping properties
• Good aphid tolerance
• Fast growing leafy catch crop
• High protein content
• Longer lasting than stubble turnips
• Flexible sowing period
• Sheep, Dairy or Beef production

Management Advice

Plant two-thirds of the crop area in early maturing Barabas and one-third in late maturing variety Barcoli at the same time (not together) to provide high quality summer feed that can be grazed from 60-150 days after sowing.

Utilisation: Graze in situ

Sowing period: Spring & early summer

Utilisation period: Autumn & winter

Days to maturity: 90 - 110 days

Soil type: Grows on most soils ideally with a pH of 6 - 6.5.

Sowing rate: Drilled, natural seed 6 kg/ha - Broadcast, natural seed 10 kg/ha.

Seed bed: Firm, fine level seed bed, can be drilled into cereal stubbles

Always ensure a run back area, fibre, fresh water and mineral source is available for grazing livestock.

Pack sizes: Available in pack sizes of 5kg or 25kg

Stubble Turnips Barabas:



Stubble Turnips have a high leaf to bulb ratio resulting in high levels of protein. The tankard shape bulb enhances utilisation by the grazing animal and these can be fed to sheep or cattle.

High leaf to bulb ratio resulting in high levels of protein

• Fast Growing catch crop
• Very suitable for grazing
• Flexible sowing period
• Very good early vigour
• UK Proven, highly palatable with good disease resistance
• Quick to mature

• DAIRY
• BEEF
• SHEEP

Stubble Turnips have a high leaf to bulb ratio resulting in high levels of protein, and a tankard bulb shape to enhance utilisation

Advantages

• High leaf to bulb ratio resulting in high levels of protein
• Full-leaved late tetraploid bulbing with very good early vigour
• Proven very palatable to grazing animals with good disease resistance
• Early maturing (60-90 days) for excellent summer/winter feed

Management Advice

Plant two-thirds of the crop area in early maturing Barabas and one-third with a late maturing variety, such as Barcoli, at the same time (not together). This will provide a high quality summer feed that can be grazed from 60-150 days after sowing.

Utilisation: Graze in situ

Sowing period: Spring & autumn

Utilisation period: Summer & winter

Days to maturity: 60 - 90 days

Soil type: Grows on most soils ideally with a pH of 6 - 6.5.

Seed bed: Firm, fine level seed bed, can be drilled into cereal stubbles

Always ensure a run back area, fibre, fresh water and mineral source is available for grazing livestock

Sowing Rates

Drilled, natural seed 5 kg/ha - Broadcast, natural seed 7.5 kg/ha. An increased sowing rate will increase leaf percentage and reduce bulb growth.

Spring sown at 3kg/acre (7.5kg/ha) for high leaf percentage

Autumn sown at 2kg/acre (5kg/ha) for larger bulb percentage.



Pack sizes: Available in pack sizes of 5kg or 25kg