Fertilising grass at £800 a tonne😳

Grassman · Jul 26, 2022

So one way or another this seasons crop is grown.
Some might of bought fertiliser early at sensible money.
Some might of used less.
Some might not of used any (me! Grass for haylage. Luckily had a carry over from last year.
Some have been lucky with the weather and grass has grown well without fertiliser.
Some got more for their end product to cover the increased cost.

But next year will soon be here. I got away without fertiliser this year. I can't imagine getting away with it two years running.
Prices may not be £800. Could be less. Could be more.
I certainly can't really cover that sort of price.
What are we all going to do?

bobk · Jul 26, 2022

Grassman said:
So one way or another this seasons crop is grown.
Some might of bought fertiliser early at sensible money.
Some might of used less.
Some might not of used any (me! Grass for haylage. Luckily had a carry over from last year.
Some have been lucky with the weather and grass has grown well without fertiliser.
Some got more for their end product to cover the increased cost.

But next year will soon be here. I got away without fertiliser this year. I can't imagine getting away with it two years running.
Prices may not be £800. Could be less. Could be more.
I certainly can't really cover that sort of price.
What are we all going to do?

Have you sheep grazing in the winter ?

Grassman · Jul 26, 2022

bobk said:
Have you sheep grazing in the winter ?

Yes

bobk · Jul 26, 2022

Grassman said:
Yes

You don't need N then , do you ?

Grassman · Jul 26, 2022

bobk said:
You don't need N then , do you ?

Unfortunately sheep don't feed the grass more than the food they take off

Ffermer Bach · Jul 26, 2022

if you don't already rotationally graze, use no fertliser, but institute rotational grazing and get the same amount of grass as you did before!

bobk · Jul 26, 2022

Grassman said:
Unfortunately sheep don't feed the grass more than the food they take off

They do if you hold them to it .
I think N ruins cutting crops , not used any of grass for 10 years , plenty on cereals

jondear · Jul 26, 2022

Grassman said:
So one way or another this seasons crop is grown.
Some might of bought fertiliser early at sensible money.
Some might of used less.
Some might not of used any (me! Grass for haylage. Luckily had a carry over from last year.
Some have been lucky with the weather and grass has grown well without fertiliser.
Some got more for their end product to cover the increased cost.

But next year will soon be here. I got away without fertiliser this year. I can't imagine getting away with it two years running.
Prices may not be £800. Could be less. Could be more.
I certainly can't really cover that sort of price.
What are we all going to do?

Don't use any .Use what dung fym you have .You May be surprised !
Edit .As long as you don't get a drought like now .!

Grassman · Jul 26, 2022

jondear said:
Don't use any .Use what dung fym you have .You May be surprised !
Edit .As long as you don't get a drought like now .!

No cattle here so no large amount of muck available

bobk · Jul 26, 2022

Grassman said:
No cattle here so no large amount of muck available

Do any of your fields get a rest or are they getting cut 2 or 3 x a year

Al R · Jul 26, 2022

Grassman said:
No cattle here so no large amount of muck available

Same, spread 3 spreader loads the other day which was from 2 lambing seasons

I am fortunate that I have taken on more ground so not only able to expand numbers but the are slightly lighter on the ground too.

Grassman · Jul 26, 2022

bobk said:
Do any of your fields get a rest or are they getting cut 2 or 3 x a year

Just one or two cuts the sheep grazing.
Usually use 150kg ish of 20.10.10 for first cut. Soil testing shows that is only just keeping up with requirements

Nearly · Jul 26, 2022

Clover seed in the slug pelleter.

Grassman · Jul 26, 2022

Nearly said:
Clover seed in the slug pelleter.

Clover is not good in haylage

bobk · Jul 26, 2022

Grassman said:
Just one or two cuts the sheep grazing.
Usually use 150kg ish of 20.10.10 for first cut. Soil testing shows that is only just keeping up with requirements

Imo you're pushing your ground , rotate hay ground here if poss , if we can't stick some p and k on .
Got a dairy farmer looking for a home for muck this autumn ... might save us might not

No question fert price is really serious ,

bobk · Jul 26, 2022

Grassman said:
Clover is not good in haylage

Are they new leys or pp

Grassman · Jul 26, 2022

We have nearly 100 acres of old neadow. Most never sees fertiliser. One cut hay and then grazing.
Then 60 acres that gets reseeded regularly which would normally do 2 cuts and grazing. It's this type of grass that needs fertiliser regularly.
I am considering returning everything to meadow grass and just take what comes.

Pennine Ploughing · Jul 26, 2022

May be daft idea, but would putting up a chicken shed not pay for its self getting all the muck out of it, do the chickens on b&b
at current fertiliser prices ?

Henarar · Jul 26, 2022

Grassman said:
So one way or another this seasons crop is grown.
Some might of bought fertiliser early at sensible money.
Some might of used less.
Some might not of used any (me! Grass for haylage. Luckily had a carry over from last year.
Some have been lucky with the weather and grass has grown well without fertiliser.
Some got more for their end product to cover the increased cost.

But next year will soon be here. I got away without fertiliser this year. I can't imagine getting away with it two years running.
Prices may not be £800. Could be less. Could be more.
I certainly can't really cover that sort of price.
What are we all going to do?

I won't be buying it at 800 quid

Chae1 · Jul 26, 2022

Pennine Ploughing said:
May be daft idea, but would putting up a chicken shed not pay for its self getting all the muck out of it, do the chickens on b&b
at current fertiliser prices ?

Yeah, be plenty cheap chicken feed if fert £800/t.

Fertilising grass at £800 a tonne😳

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

0 %

Up to 25%

25-50%

50-75%

75-100%

100% I’ve had enough of farming!

Share this page