Countryside Seeds Ltd

Countryside Seeds Ltd

As of the 1st July a slight change to the business, it's become incorporated and with it a change of name. Farm machinery sales have not been a part of Farm Equip's business for a number of years and we felt now was the time for a new name to reflect more of what we do, so Countryside Seeds Limited was born.

We still offer friendly service and advice with up to date products at keen prices.

Company History

Farm Equip was launched by myself (Kevin) on the 1st January 1980. Initially selling farm consumables from the back of a yellow transit van.

Over the past few years the business has become almost predominately the sale of seed in its varies guises where it be a single bag of lawn seed to tonnes of grass/cereal seed.

I am in the very lucky position to be a distributor for some of the UK’s leading seed houses which include Barenbrug UK Ltd, DLF Trifolium Ltd, Grainseed Ltd and Soya UK to name a few.

I am more than happy to work with the customer on compiling their own mixture.

To contact me you may PM through the forum or I am very happy to be telephoned on 07881 804442.
Email: [email protected]

As like a lot of you I'm self employed so no 9-5 here so please telephone at your convenience.

 

[Great In Grass]

St Andrews host the 150th Open​

An Open Championship at the Home of Golf, St Andrews Links, is always special, but when it is also the 150th time the most famous tournament in golf has been played, it adds something extra to the sport’s showpiece.

"Our ongoing supplier agreement with Barenbrug for grass seed is valued. We always strive for the best, and the quality of products and support we receive is second to none in my opinion".
Sandy Reid, Director of Greenkeeping

Open Championship at the Home of Golf, St Andrews Links​

The world’s best golfers will descend on the Auld Grey Toon in July and play on the hallowed turf of the legendary Old Course for the Claret Jug and the title of “Champion Golfer of the Year”. The hallowed turf may feel as if it has been there forever but is under a regime of constant maintenance and inevitable replacement, by means of divot fill and overseeding. For almost thirty years, St Andrews Links Trust has used Barenbrug grass seed for this essential work.

Fescue, Fairway, All Bent and Ultrafine products are key to keeping the Old Course in excellent year-round condition, which is no mean feat with 50,000 rounds of golf, a constant stream of caddies, and (literally) every man and his dog walking over the public ground on a normal Sunday.

Gordon McKie, Course Manager on the Old, is happy with how preparations have gone for the Major championship and commented on how increased bentgrass overseeding in recent years has improved density on the world-famous double greens.

Sandy Reid, Director of Greenkeeping, is looking forward to his first Open at St Andrews, after working several at Carnoustie previously. He stated, “Our ongoing supplier agreement with Barenbrug for grass seed is valued. We always strive for the best, and the quality of product and support we receive is second to none in my opinion.”

Barenbrug sends Sandy, Gordon and the whole team at St Andrews Links Trust best wishes for another iconic Open Championship.

 

[Great In Grass]

Cover Crops for Arable Rotations:​

The introduction of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) this year, allows farmers who currently receive Basic Payment Scheme payments to apply for SFI, under which payments will be made for soil improvement.​

The are 3 levels of payment for the Arable and Horticultural standard:

• Introductory level – 70% of land must have a sown green cover or weedy stubble over the winter months (Dec-Feb)
• Intermediate level – 70% of land must have a green cover crop during the winter months, of which 20% must be sown with a multi species cover crop
• Advanced level – details to be announced in 2023

The use of green manures, catch and cover crops will help to:

• Enhance the natural health and fertility of our soils
• Contribute to our efforts to reach Net Zero

Fodder radish has deep roots & good biomass

There are many species of catch and cover crops to choose from; fodder radishes such as Romesa, have good biomass and are very deep rooting to help compacted soils.

White mustard is another useful cover crop – Severka is fast growing and if sown early, can produce bags of biomass in a short period of time.

Multi-species seeds mixtures such as Green Reward are also useful and contain 7 species to comply with the Intermediate level.

Lift N Fix contains vetch, along with Humbolt winter rye. This mixture is a highly effective nitrogen lifter and provides great cover, which helps suppress weeds before incorporation into the soil.

Downloads​

• LG Soil Improvement Solutions

 

[Great In Grass]

Sowing a forage crop and taking a ‘cereal break’ is a win-win!​

Give the arable crop rotation a break and sow a forage crop this autumn, to help achieve better weed control and boost homegrown feed supplies. Mixed cereal and livestock units are encouraged to think about growing forages on some of their arable land, as this will help weed control by breaking the life cycles of some damaging weeds and diseases.​

Forage crops – and any grazing livestock – add organic matter to the soils, which is especially valuable in nutrient-depleted soils. Soil structure and condition warrant attention on many arable units, and rotations that include forage crops are more sustainable in the long run.


Forage crops, such as; fast-growing brassica and root crops, and short-term grass leys, can be sown post-harvest to give a much-needed break in the cereal rotation, as well as providing a valuable feed crop.


Roots and brassicas can be grazed-off ahead of a spring-drilled cereal crop, or ahead of a grass reseed. Leaving a grass ley down for two to three years will also help break the blackgrass cycle.

Interval Rape Kale Hybrid

There are plenty of high feed value varieties to choose, that can improve livestock growth rates and performance.

Our recommendations are:

Samson stubble turnip – for grazing October onwards
Interval rape-kale hybrid – high protein leafy forage
Meatmaker and Autumn Keep brassica mixtures – contain stubble turnips, forage rape and Kale. The high protein content of both forage rape and Kale complements the high energy stubble turnip bulbs to provide an excellent, well balanced winter feed.

Downloads​

• LG Essential Guide to Forage

 

[Great In Grass]

Grow your future with grass - Sustain your farm’s resilience by maximising homegrown forage​

If you have livestock, what would you say is your farm’s most productive asset? You may say it’s your dairy cows or your breeding ewes. We believe it’s your grassland; at least, it should be.

There is no mystery in the benefits of well-managed grassland, providing a source of quality nutrient-rich forage as well as increased farm biodiversity, increased soil health, the potential for reduced inputs, and one of the most sustainable cost-effective feed for livestock farmers. Grow your Future with grass – sustain your farm's resilience by maximising your grassland.

The value of your grass​

Grass remains the most cost-effective livestock feed. It is the primary source of quality, nutrient-rich forage which, when managed well, will increase farm biodiversity and soil health while maximising farm productivity, resilience and sustainability. With the potential to reduce inputs, both in fertiliser and brought-in feed, and produce a high-quality feed, this translates into increased grass yield and more litres of milk and animal weight from more nutritious forage, while supporting animal health and maintaining overall farm productivity.

All too often we take grass for granted: if the field looks green, it must be healthy, and if we’re getting plenty of bales from it, it must be productive. “Much of our grassland is often old and tired, with weeds and little of the original selected productive species left,”

How to increase your grassland productivity​

Increasing your grassland productivity will at some point mean reseeding, ensuring the highest performing species are available. But what does that really mean? Grassland will always see weed ingress; this reduces the quality of the field overall as the original productive species is no longer available. Over time, more and more weeds will take over - taking a highly productive field at GI5 (Grass Index 5) down to a field with low productivity of GI1(Grass Index 1). Find out more about Barenbrug’s Grassland Index Guide

Research shows that just one year after reseeding, weed species can make up to 18% of a sward. After four years, that figure has more than doubled to 38% and, after eight years, weeds will be starting to dominate the sward. The highest performing grassland is at GI5, where the original selected productive species makes at least 80%, resulting in maximum productivity to deliver more energy resulting in more weight gain and higher milk yields. Maintaining your grassland at maximum productivity (GI5), by reseeding or overseeding poor-performing fields, will make your grassland your most productive asset.

Research shows that one of the biggest barriers to reseeding old pastures is cost, in particular worry about return on investment. “Reseeding is a big cost, there’s no doubt,” says David. “But don’t fixate on the cost of the machinery, labour, fuel, seed, fertiliser – instead focus on the long-term benefits secured by reseeding. “First of all, be assured that grass seed is far from the most expensive part of a reseed. Then consider that you’re planting a crop that’s going to yield continuously for at least five years and probably more.”

A reseed might need an investment of around £900/ha, dependent on soil type and other factors. But if reseeding a low-performing fi eld-GI3 (50% sown species and 50% weed species) - to achieve a GI5 then the first year will offer 15tDM/ha, against just 7tDM/ha from a GI3. With a DM value of £140/t, that’s an additional £1,120 in increased yield.

“We don’t tend to think about grass as a crop in the same way we regard wheat or barley. Yet modern grass varieties are as carefully bred and selected as any cereal variety, offering valuable new genetics that confers better quality, improved disease resistance, and a significant jump in yield potential. “By adopting a cropping mindset – ‘what does the crop need to achieve its greatest return?’ – livestock farmers can absolutely turbo-charge this most productive of farm assets,” stresses David. Focus on what the crop needs to achieve the greatest return, by maximising and improving it each year. Grassland farmers need to be replacing nutrients following a cut and taking soil samples to monitor crop performance. By feeding and managing the soil, grass can reach its full potential.

We believe you can Grow Your Future with Grass to help sustain farm resilience, and want to reinvigorate thinking about the value of good grassland – how it can elevate productivity, make more efficient use of inputs and provide environmental benefits

 

[Great In Grass]

Barenbrug invests to future-proof its Suffolk production site​

A £2.2 million investment in automated packaging facilities will see one of the UK’s largest growers and processors of grass seed increase efficiency, quality control and staff safety.

Barenbrug UK, the Bury St Edmunds grass-breeding company with a customer base that ranges from dairy farmers and local authorities to Premier League football clubs and Ryder Cup golf courses, produces up to 4,500 tonnes of seed every year.

“Our forecasts suggest demand for our UK-specific grass varieties will continue to grow,” says Nicole Watkins, Commercial Operations Manager for Barenbrug UK, “particularly in the agricultural sector where post-Brexit reforms are likely to favour farming practices where grass plays a more important role.

“Outdated packaging facilities simply hold us back and stop the company from reaching its full potential, in terms of quality and throughput.

“Added to that is the opportunity this project provides to make a parallel investment in our team of dedicated staff. By increasing the level of automation, we not only improve their welfare by reducing the amount of manual handling necessary but also allow us to focus on upskilling – equipping the team with valuable new skills and new prospects within the company.”

The company began making plans for the new line in June 2020, researching options and requirements before deciding to partner with REM Project Management and Symach Barry-Wehmiller Packaging.

Organised to fit in around Barenbrug’s highly seasonal processing and manufacturing schedule, the project is due for completion by December 2023 – giving Barenbrug UK the most up-to-date facilities within the parent company’s 22-country global operation.

“This project sees us making an investment that effectively future-proofs our facilities here in Suffolk,” says managing director Paul Johnson. “It’s exciting to be installing such a modern, innovative new line within our Suffolk headquarters.

“Once completed, it will allow us to move forward with confidence as we seek to continue our leading position as a responsible, forward-thinking grass breeder, firmly committed to serving our diverse UK customer base.”

 

[Great In Grass]

First ever Grass Clinic at UK Dairy Day​

Often imitated, never bettered, when it comes to dairy there’s no doubt about it: grass is the original sustainable feedstuff. Grass breeding specialist Barenbrug UK are sponsoring the first ever Grass Clinic at UK Dairy Day, encouraging farmers to be more ambitious about maximising from their grass by visiting the drop in clinic.

“Cost-effective, sustainable, with benefits for soil health and biodiversity, good quality grass – whether grazed or conserved – is the cheapest feed for the dairy cow,” says Barenbrug’s Agriculture Manager, David Linton.

“When managed for maximum productivity, grass delivers astonishing levels of dry matter and energy. At grass, cows can convert around 85% of that energy into milk. Grass really is the basis for profitable, sustainable, productive dairying.”

The Grass Clinic at the event on September 14th, is available for anyone with a query about their grass to drop in and speak to Barenbrug’s grassland experts for insight and advice.

“The secret to good grassland is to ‘think crop’,” says David. “But grassland agronomy doesn’t have to be complicated. In just a few steps, underperforming grassland can quickly become good grassland.”

There’s no need to book for the Clinic, just drop in, Barenbrug’s team will be available all-day at the stand near the main entrance. David says attendees will get most value from it if they first index their fields using Barenbrug’s ‘Grassland Index’ guide. “That will help our experts to suggest the best course of action and offer the most appropriate advice along with tips on species and variety selection. Farmers really can Grow their future with grass to help sustain farm resilience by maximising quality homegrown forage.”

Alongside Barenbrug will be Yara UK, Lancrop Labratories- Trusted suppliers of independent analysis for more than 40 years and Corteva - helping farmers grow the best quality home-grown feed for their animals.

Lancrop Laboratories
Analysis has a key role in economically and environmentally sustainable crop management timely and accurate analysis allows efficient nutrient management planning and underpin effective land management activities.

Lancrop Laboratories offer analysis services to the agricultural, horticultural, environmental and amenity sectors. We analyse a wide range of sample types including soil, plant tissue, petiole, grains, forage and feeds, composts, waters, manures, slurries, digestates, fertiliser, lime and environmental wastes. Crop specific interpretation and fertiliser application recommendations are included in sample reports. Technical advice is also available from a team of FACTS qualified advisors.

Corteva
Offering grassland crop protection prodcuts. Controlling weeds is an important part of ensuring your grassland remains productive and efficient, Corteva's product range covers crop protection herbicides to control docks, thistles, nettles as well as other broad-leaved weeds.