Hitting the grass 23

Bald Rick · Apr 26, 2024

Wesley said:
Are they just physically drinking more or do you think it was affecting their metabolism in some way?

Both. American research on high Mn water v low Mn clearly demonstrated a link between intakes, lying time and fertility.
Before there was a lot of standing around and lapping. Now they eat, drink and lie down with very obvious less perching.
For us it has been a game changer ... and I can't say that very often

ollie989898 · Apr 26, 2024

Bald Rick said:
Both. American research on high Mn water v low Mn clearly demonstrated a link between intakes, lying time and fertility.
Before there was a lot of standing around and lapping. Now they eat, drink and lie down with very obvious less perching.
For us it has been a game changer ... and I can't say that very often

Very interesting, thank you for explaining this.

Beef farmer · Apr 26, 2024

2nd cut won't be long

Jdunn55 · Apr 26, 2024

Beef farmer said:
2nd cut won't be long View attachment 1178513

What are you applying fertiliser/slurry wise and when are you hoping for second cut?

I was thinking 100kg/acre urea and 2500gallons of slurry/acre cutting last week of May/first week of June?

yin ewe · Apr 26, 2024

Beef farmer said:
2nd cut won't be long View attachment 1178513

Neither was the 1st..................

Beef farmer · Apr 26, 2024

yin ewe said:
Neither was the 1st..................

Your humor is lost on me

Beef farmer · Apr 26, 2024

Jdunn55 said:
What are you applying fertiliser/slurry wise and when are you hoping for second cut?

I was thinking 100kg/acre urea and 2500gallons of slurry/acre cutting last week of May/first week of June?

Half the fert, touch more slurry

Jdunn55 · Apr 26, 2024

Beef farmer said:
Half the fert, touch more slurry

50kg urea and 3500 gallons slurry? How many weeks (ideally) until you'd be cutting?

Beef farmer · Apr 26, 2024

Jdunn55 said:
50kg urea and 3500 gallons slurry? How many weeks (ideally) until you'd be cutting?

Slightly less. Only slightly. And yes about that much slurry.
28/35 days when it's ready and about to head. Take 2 weeks to green up.

Wesley · Apr 26, 2024

Beef farmer said:
Slightly less. Only slightly. And yes about that much slurry.
28/35 days when it's ready and about to head. Take 2 weeks to green up.

Protected urea I hope

The normal stuff turns evil after March…or so they claim

The Agrarian · Apr 26, 2024

The book might say that's right, but in my humble experience, that's quite a lot of nitrogen for a four to five week interval. Assuming your ground is already strong in the first place and had fertiliser and slurry this year already.

Beef farmer · Apr 26, 2024

The Agrarian said:
The book might say that's right, but in my humble experience, that's quite a lot of nitrogen for a four to five week interval. Assuming your ground is already strong in the first place and had fertiliser and slurry this year already.

You talking to me?

ollie989898 · Apr 26, 2024

Wesley said:
Protected urea I hope The normal stuff turns evil after March…or so they claim

It's ok- he is going to apply the urea and then 'make it rain' by putting slurry on...

ollie989898 · Apr 26, 2024

The Agrarian said:
The book might say that's right, but in my humble experience, that's quite a lot of nitrogen for a four to five week interval. Assuming your ground is already strong in the first place and had fertiliser and slurry this year already.

2 units per day of rest in optimal conditions is the absolute maximum. 50 units for a second cut is standard practice for many around here. Another 30 units or so for a third cut would be considered fair, too.

But as you say, you might be able to get away with a whole lot less, depending on how well you know your land and how much fertility it has.

Folk should be wary of robbing land of potash with repeated heavy cuts if no potash is being put back but in reality a lot of farms will have a K index of 3+ anyway so it's unlikely.

frederick · Apr 26, 2024

ollie989898 said:
2 units per day of rest in optimal conditions is the absolute maximum. 50 units for a second cut is standard practice for many around here. Another 30 units or so for a third cut would be considered fair, too.

But as you say, you might be able to get away with a whole lot less, depending on how well you know your land and how much fertility it has.

Folk should be wary of robbing land of potash with repeated heavy cuts if no potash is being put back but in reality a lot of farms will have a K index of 3+ anyway so it's unlikely.

Question is with the season are we looking to grow a second cut having already mown. Think we are aiming for a first cut just taking it second.

Aftermaths are taking a while to green up in this weather.

ollie989898 · Apr 26, 2024

frederick said:
Question is with the season are we looking to grow a second cut having already mown. Think we are aiming for a first cut just taking it second.

Aftermaths are taking a while to green up in this weather.

I wouldn't want to risk having nitrates in the silage. It's also an expensive game but then I accept cutting another time is not without cost, either. Arguably one has a better handle on silage quality if they are taking multiple cuts as more bites at the cherry and more likely to get grass at the optimum stage??

Trouble is, the more N you apply the longer you are supposed to let the crop go on so there is no right answer. Gut feeling is surely that we're due a dry spell (famous last words) to balance out this all wet weather we've had.

frederick · Apr 26, 2024

ollie989898 said:
I wouldn't want to risk having nitrates in the silage. It's also an expensive game but then I accept cutting another time is not without cost, either. Arguably one has a better handle on silage quality if they are taking multiple cuts as more bites at the cherry and more likely to get grass at the optimum stage??

Trouble is, the more N you apply the longer you are supposed to let the crop go on so there is no right answer. Gut feeling is surely that we're due a dry spell (famous last words) to balance out this all wet weather we've had.

But most fields are in an N cycle deficit because they haven't had enough for first cut as well so the field needs a feed as well as the grass.
If 2 units a day is correct for first cut, in good growing conditions for second you can get away with at least 2.5

So a 35 day second cut can easily cope with 90 units.
So at 2500 gallons an acre that's 12-15 so 75 from the bag now I switch units so thats 235 kg ha of a 40 0 0 14.

I actually only went with 180 but got over 20 units from my slurry as the store has a roof. Plus unlike most my first cut got it's full allocation.

So I can agree with @Jdunn55 levels since he didn't get much on for first.

crashbox · Apr 26, 2024

Jdunn55 said:
I was thinking 100kg/acre urea and 2500gallons of slurry/acre cutting last week of May/first week of June?

100kg/acre of 46% N is 115kgN/ha. With slurry on top adding another 20 ish kgN/ha, that's a big dose.

Back the artificial off by half, maybe more.

Beef farmer · Apr 26, 2024

The Agrarian said:
The book might say that's right, but in my humble experience, that's quite a lot of nitrogen for a four to five week interval. Assuming your ground is already strong in the first place and had fertiliser and slurry this year already.

That's sand as deep as you want, the ground won't hold or build any fertility, so no, 40 units of N and some slurry isn't excessive at all. 10 ton fresh 1st cut draws a lot of nutrition and needs replacing on hungry ground

ollie989898 · Apr 26, 2024

frederick said:
But most fields are in an N cycle deficit because they haven't had enough for first cut as well so the field needs a feed as well as the grass.
If 2 units a day is correct for first cut, in good growing conditions for second you can get away with at least 2.5

So a 35 day second cut can easily cope with 90 units.
So at 2500 gallons an acre that's 12-15 so 75 from the bag now I switch units so thats 235 kg ha of a 40 0 0 14.

I actually only went with 180 but got over 20 units from my slurry as the store has a roof. Plus unlike most my first cut got it's full allocation.

So I can agree with @Jdunn55 levels since he didn't get much on for first.

'N cycle deficit'? I'm afraid you've lost me.

Was always told 2 units/day was the limit in optimum conditions.

I don't know anyone around here who would really be pushing the boat out with the nitrogen rates you are suggesting here to be honest, it's an expensive business and there will definitely be some nitrogen in the ground becoming available as the soil warms up- it must be there or else people wouldn't have grass worth even looking at despite the fact a portion of farmers didn't manage to get much on the first time around. Some folk haven't really been able to put any slurry out until now.

Hitting the grass 23

Moderator

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