first cut

Written by Richard Halleron from Agriland Two new, Agri-Food and Biosciences’ Institute (AFBI) grass varieties – Ballyvoy and Dundrod – are about to be released on to the commercial market . Both head on June 2, and are important new additions to AFBI’s late diploid perennial ryegrass...

Being lazy here, anyone done the rough cost of each, got the kit to do both, clamp tieing up two good barns that could house young stock or straw, have to find an extra set of hands to run trailers for clamp. Use thick side sheet and double top sheet in clamp, use 6 layers of wrap on the 6...

Every day now, I am hearing of larger farms (500 cows plus) either scaling back massively or getting out completely. Not even geographical. Clearly there is a rapidly decreasing appetite for milking cows at scale and you don't hear of many (any?) expanding any more. What hear you?

Written by John Swire from Farm Business For farmers faced with some significant challenges this winter, the first results of maize silage analysed by Trouw Nutrition offer a degree of encouragement. Despite a difficult start to the season, with many crops drilled late and earlier established...

Seven years into my CFA and we finally have some decent infrastructure. For this winter I will get by with the machinery I have but looking forward to next winter I'm still struggling to work out the best way to physically feed silages to the cows. This is the layout we nearly have now...

What would the farming forum recommend We have grown 5 acre of swedes for after scanning time .unsure of what to put on it and what they would require in addition we have some nice first cut and second cut bales for roughage in my head I will put the mule twins on it with silage but will they...

What is the current price for winter clean lowland grazing for lambs or ewes please?

Written by John Swire from Farm Business Protein in first cut silage has dropped to the lowest levels for 25 years. Kite consultant Mike Bray has tested silage at a variety of farms, predominately in the south west, and found protein levels as low as 8%. “I suspect the wet weather that delayed...

As above really. Is there any difference between dribble bar and trailing shoe, ie can I graze it any quicker after trailing shoe than dribble? How soon could I graze after dribble bar/trailing shoe application. Can I cut out artificial nitrogen altogether on my grazing ground or silage ground...

The people who have planted a GS4 option how are you finding they are performing against a decent grazing ley? Drought resistance/tolerance better I assume? Take Nitrogen prices out of the equation as any crop that doesn't need that looks more attractive at present. we would be medium clay...

So at what price point for N do you fallow your farm ? early bought N which seemed expensive at the time now looks cheap, how about selling it on and taking a year out ?

As above. We have a field sprayed off a good three weeks now. We have had a little rain. But not enough to encourage me to drill it yet. How long can I wait ?

Written by John Swire from Farm Business The latest results from Trouw Nutrition GB confirm the early indications for the prospects from first cut grass silages and provide new information on second cuts and wholecrop. They highlight that considerable variability means forages will need...

Evening all, my name is Alex and I'm from Suffolk. Last year my father in law passed away and left my wife and brother in law 5.5 acres of land in North devon. We have been down there afew times when the land was officially passed on to my wife and her brother. And have since spend £5000 getting...

100 cows on 100 acres Cutting frequently to bales or zero grazing. Regular reseed rotation and import quite a bit of nutrients in feed. Not used any p or k for years just urea and sulphur for first 2/3 of the season going little and often. Gone to all umbilical/dribble bar and just put in a...

In this episode, we’re keeping our finger on the pulse of the dairy industry’s most important issue – milk quality. Tony is joined by our Technical Product Development Manager, Beth Parry and Technical Ruminant Manager from UFAC-UK, Mike Chown as they consider everything from first cut silage to...

As above can or can’t I ? spoke to our local water authority re sludge spreading and it would seem they are seriously considering taking the ea to court over this debacle , nfu are you thinking of the same ?

Taken on a piece of grass this year. It was previously self seeded willows that were mulched then sown with grass. First cut was fine but second cut as some willow saplings sticking up about 18 inch and about 10 in diameter. Are the known to be poisonous if fed to cattle and what spray would...

Just watched a YouTube video of Mike Mitchell in Canada starting his harvest. The drought has meant there's virtually no crop but he's out there with the combines trying to collect up enough lentils for some seed to plant next season. It sounds like its not a rare event either. Got me wondering...

So come on let’s have a bit of fun at red tractors expense. we all know it’s a con and the management are a joke but if there was to be a movie who would play the lead and bit part characters? Any actor, personality or character either dead or alive can be included! I will start with the No no...