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]

LGAN Grass Seed Mixtures delivering the highest quality Animal Nutrition by design.

Read more here: https://www.lgseeds.co.uk/crops/grass/agricultural-grass/lgan/ …

 

[d williams]

Cereal producers looking to introduce a forage crop post-harvest could do worse than grow the new winter hardy forage rape variety, Rampart.

Introduced commercially in 2018 by Limagrain UK, this new generation of forage rape has been bred for its flexibility and feed quality.

“Rampart is especially valuable as a forage crop for cereal producers as it can be sown post-harvest and it is ready for grazing – by sheep or cattle – from October to February,” says Limagrain forage crop manager Martin Titley. “It is winter hardy, so it can provide a high-quality feed that retains its palatability.”

Limagrain trials show that this fast-growing brassica, that can be sown from June to August, produces a fresh yield 6% above the control variety used in the trials, and 2% higher dry matter yield. It also scored ‘8’ out of a maximum of ‘9’ for mildew and Alternaria resistance.

Forage rape has an estimated growing cost of £408/ha and yields between 4t and 5t of dry matter/hectare. It has a crude protein among the highest of any forage crop of 19% to 20% and an energy content between 10 and 11 ME/kg DM.

“Forage rape is a great break crop – and a catch crop,” adds Mr Titley. “It can break the pest and disease cycle that can hinder cereal production, and the dung from sheep and cattle, plus any green material that’s ploughed in post grazing, improve soil fertility and soil health. And growers also like the ground cover on arable land which is essential over winter to prevent water runoff and nitrogen leaching.

The minimal effort required to grow forage rape is also attractive to cereal producers. Stubble can be harrowed and the seed then planted with nitrogen fertiliser applied at a rate of 40kg to 50kg per hectare. The crop is also a good user of farm yard manure. After grazing, the land can be prepared for a spring cereal crop or a grass reseed.

Limagrain’s latest forage rape trial results are available HERE.

supplied by: View attachment 692812

Can I have a price please Kevin and availability

 

[Great In Grass]

Limagrain UK has added the new, highly prolific plantain variety Tuatara, to its portfolio, in spring 2018.

Bred in New Zealand and used widely by its cattle and sheep producers, Tuatara has established a reputation as a high yielding and high feed quality forage.

Trialled by Limagrain in 2017, it out-performed the control variety Tonic, in fresh and dry matter yields.

Seven cuts were taken from the plots at Limagrain’s trial site in Lincolnshire, between April and September. Tuatara produced fresh yields of 91.4 tonnes/ ha and an average dry matter yield of 12.76 tonnes/ha, compared to a fresh yield of 72 tonnes/ha and a dry matter yield of 10.4 tonnes/ ha for the control variety Tonic.

Dry matter contents were 14% and 14.4% respectively. “Tuatara is a variety especially well-suited to drier conditions, and this was reflected in the trial results in 2017,” says Limagrain UK’s grass seed manager Ian Misselbrook. “We found that yields of Tuatara were up to three times greater than those for Tonic in May and June. Although yields of Tonic were around 20% higher later in the season, yields overall for Tuatara were higher.”

Tuatara is included in Limagrain’s multi-species mixtures, to help to boost yields in mid-summer when the growth of other species slows down. It is also available to growers wishing to add it to a grass seed mixture or for those growing a single crop of plantain; a successful practice carried out by many farmers in New Zealand.

Forage plantain has fibrous roots so it can withstand drought and grow well when grass growth has slowed down in mid-summer, when rainfall is generally lower. “Tuatara appears to be especially suited to this situation and it will be very beneficial to include in grass sward mixtures,” adds Mr Misselbrook.

Plantain is easy to grow, but a free draining soil is preferable. A firm, fine and weed free seed bed is required and it is best sown into warm soils above 10 degrees celcius. Sowing is best through spring and up to July, and at a depth no greater than 10mm. It is an excellent source of key minerals required for livestock such as calcium, sodium, copper and selenium.

Intakes and yields of milk solids have been shown to be higher in dairy cattle grazing swards that included plantain, compared to ryegrass-only swards. Likewise, plantain-rich swards have been shown to support higher stocking rates and liveweight gains in lambs.

 

[Great In Grass]

RAGT Seeds UK breeding programme aims to produce high yielding, high quality varieties with excellent resistance to disease (in particular crown rust and dreschlera).

RGT Kirial

RAGT’s grass breeding programme aims to produce high yielding, high quality varieties with excellent resistance to disease (in particular crown rust and dreschlera). Varieties are screened across three locations in the UK before entering the National List trials.

RGT Kirial - This hybrid tetraploid has performed very well in both NL and RL trials and has been on the RL since 2012. It performs particularly strongly in the second and third harvest years, having the highest yield of all tetraploid hybrids on the RL in the third year. Excellent disease resistance and very good quality have made RGT Kirial a popular choice for the last two years.

CHARACTERISTICS:
> Excellent disease resistance
> High yields, particularly in years 2 & 3
> Good digestibility

 

[Turra farmer]

What can I sow now to feed lambs or cows on over the winter , ?

 

[Great In Grass]

What can I sow now to feed lambs or cows on over the winter , ?

'Interval' or 'Rampart' Hybrid Kale.

Interval: https://www.lgseeds.co.uk/products/forage-crops/interval/
Rampart: https://www.lgseeds.co.uk/products/forage-crops/rampart/

 

[Great In Grass]

Lift N Fix - Provides excellent weed smothering properties

A fantastic mixture to follow cereals. The mixture will help penetrate compacted soils and will provide excellent weed smothering properties.

The inclusion of vetch will fix nitrogen and will benefit subsequent crops, especially spring sown root crops. Winter grazing rye has a good ability to uplift N and is very winter hardy.

Also suitable for Countryside Stewardship Schemes;

Countryside Stewardship Option – SW5 & SW6

This mixture is also suitable for Ecological Focus Areas (EFA) fallow land option

Mixture Formulation:

70% Winter Rye
30% Vetch

• Rapid establishment
• Excellent winter ground cover
• Excellent tillering and weed suppressant
• Winter rye Humbolt is an effective nitrogen lifter
• Nitrogen is made available for following spring sown crop
• Deep roots help penetrate compacted soils
• Improved drainage
  
  

Seed packed in 20kg bags.

Sow August to the end of September at 60-70kg per hectare.

 

[Great In Grass]

Sprinter is very fast to establish and can help reduce blackgrass.

Ideal mixture for use as an EFA catch crop (31st August to 1st October).

Mixture Formulation:

70% Black Oat Silke
30% Vetch

Strengths

• Very fast to establish
• Can help reduce blackgrass levels
• The pure oats produce a substance called Avenocins, which is antagonistic to blackgrass germination
• Ideal mixture for use as an EFA catch crop (31st August to 1st October)
• Black Oat Silke is a non-host to Root Lesion and Stubby Root nematodes
• Very good weed suppressant

Technical Information
Seed packed in 20kg bags.

Sow August to September at 25-30kg per hectare.

 

[Great In Grass]

Soil Improver
Root structure covers different levels of the soil profile

Ideal to follow cereal harvest.
Also suitable for Countryside Stewardship Schemes;

Countryside Stewardship Option – SW5

This mixture is also suitable for Ecological Focus Areas (EFA) fallow land option

Mixture Formulation:

85% Winter Oats
5% Lucerne
5% Mustard
5% Phacelia

Strengths

• Fast to establish
• Ideal to follow cereal harvest
• Combination of different species
• Root structure covers different levels of the soil profile
• Improves organic matter content
• Helps retain moisture for the following crop
• Can also be used for gamecover

Technical Information
Seed packed in 20kg bags.

Sow August and September at 40-50kg per hectare.

 

[Great In Grass]

Brassicas Provide Solution to Forage Shortages
Brassica fodder crops could provide a much–needed boost to feed stocks as livestock farmers battle forage shortages due to the widespread drought conditions.

This is the message from forage experts Germinal, who point to several options that can be adopted to suit varying situations.

“A number of brassica fodder crops can be drilled during the summer months to provide additional feed to any class of ruminant livestock through the later summer, autumn or even over winter,” says Germinal GB National Agricultural Sales Manager, Ben Wixey.

“These could be established as break crops between grass leys or could go in after harvesting cereals for whole crop or grain. The first step is to work out when additional grazing will best solve the farm’s forage shortage and grow the crop that will be most beneficial.”

The quickest source of feed could come from a grazing turnip such as Appin, which can take as little as six weeks to produce a leafy forage crop. Stubble turnips are another option, with varieties like Vollenda producing a higher energy bulb within 12–14 weeks. Hybrid brassicas, such as Redstart or Swift, will take 10–12 weeks before a crop is ready to graze, but offer yields of as much as 6tDM/ha and – if drilled early enough – could provide multiple grazings. These hybrid brassicas are also cold tolerant, so can provide forage for out–wintering.

“Brassicas can fill grazing gaps, extend grazing or provide the basis for out–wintering,” says Mr Wixey, “and in doing so they will take the pressure off conserved forage stocks.

“When used between grass leys, brassicas also act as a very effective break crop, disrupting the life cycles of the pests that can do considerable damage to newly established leys. This could also be a factor in helping to boost future forage stocks.

“However, as with any crop establishment, it’s important to do the job right, by ensuring soil nutrition is adequate and a good seedbed is created before drilling.”

Germinal’s advice for the remaining months of this season is to drill brassica fodder crops in July or as early in August as possible, provided there is sufficient moisture.

“Delaying drilling by two weeks in August will halve fodder available later in the year,” says Mr Wixey, “whilst earlier establishment of hybrid brassica and grazing turnips will increase the likelihood of re–growths and multiple grazing.”

Please contact to discuss details and prices

 

[Great In Grass]

Need to Know: Growing Lucerne in the UK
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.

Simon Gittins is growing a semi–dormant lucerne variety supplied by Germinal and is embarking on a zero–grazing and crop–drying enterprise that he hopes will produce a valuable high protein dairy feed.



“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.

Lucerne silage is a rumen–friendly forage that provides a valuable source of protein and quality fibre.



“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’.


Watch agriculture expert Helen Mathieu on farm in Shropshire advising on drilling lucerne, followed by real life footage of harvesting and drying the crop in preparation for baling to produce a high protein and high fibre feed.


Top 10 Tips for Lucerne Profitability

Download our Top 10 Tips for Lucerne Profitability by clicking here.


More About Lucerne

You can find out more about growing lucerne in our Lucerne Growers Guide.

You can also find out more on our lucerne product page where you will also find a link to our lucerne product brochure, click here.

 

[Great In Grass]

Forage Choices Autumn 2018
A late spring followed by drought conditions have created a potential fodder shortage. Whilst we understand that conditions are difficult, there are still some options farmers can take to help alleviate deficits.

• Forage Choices Autumn 2018
  Click to read online
  
  

It is important to remember that earlier sowing will increase the yield potential of these crops and good weather conditions are required at and after sowing to maximise their potential. The crops listed have the potential to produce tonnes of dry matter in the short term, an invaluable resource where fodder is scarce.

A 2ha crop yielding 6tDM/ha should keep 50 weanlings for 53 days.
Hybrid Brassica
Hybrid brassicas have the potential to yield 6tDM/ha when sown in early August, and can be grazed in situ. Suitable for feeding dry cows, replacement heifers, weanlings and store cattle, advice pertinent to feeding brassicas applies of course. They are an appropriate choice for maximising yield when a full reseed is planned next year or as a catch crop after cereals.

Varieties of choice – Redstart and Swift



Hybrid Ryegrass
Hybrid ryegrass does not have the same short–term yield potential as hybrid brassica, but does have other potential benefits. There will be extra grazing available in the spring, and in the context of building fodder stocks on farms in the next couple of years, this crop could play an important role. Hybrid ryegrass has the potential to yield 16tDM/ha, but it is important to use varieties with good quality. There are debatable economies when sown as a catch crop, but where fodder is scarce this should be considered.

Varieties of choice – AberEve and AberEcho

Italian Ryegrass


Italian ryegrass is similar in profile to hybrid ryegrass; it has similar short–term yield but less persistency than the hybrids with potential lower quality.

Variety of choice – Dorike (t) / Kigezi (t) / Shakira / Alamo



Forage Rape


Sown in early/mid–August, this crop has the potential to yield 5tDM/ha, and can be grazed in–situ. Management appropriate for a growing and feeding a brassica crop should be applied. This is not a difficult crop to grow and is a suitable option as a catch crop or in a field targeted for reseeding.

Variety of choice – Stego / Avon

Westerwolds Ryegrass
This is an annual form of Italian ryegrass. It only grows for one year, so is not as suitable where the intention is to build forage stocks for the long term. In the short term it will deliver yields similar to hybrid ryegrass.

Variety of choice – Libonus/Peleton

Stubble Turnips


Stubble turnips sown in early August have the potential to yield 5tDM/ha. They are not as winter hardy as hybrid brassicas such as Redstart and Swift and are only suitable for grazing in situ. Management appropriate to a brassica crop should apply.

Variety of choice – Vollenda

Leafy Turnips


Leafy turnips can be sown from July to the end of August. This quick growing forage crop is capable of producing 4 – 5 tonnes of DM/ha in 6 – 8 weeks. This could be valuable forage to help manage grass stocks recover from the drought.

Variety of choice – Appin

Available from: Countryside Seeds Limited.

 

[Great In Grass]

Brassica & Forage Crops
Instantly download our Brassica & Forage Crops Guide for practical management advice.

Download

 

[Great In Grass]

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

• 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
  
  
  

 

[Great In Grass]

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.

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

 

[Great In Grass]

Westerwolds:

 

[Great In Grass]

Forage Rape & Hybrids;

 

[Great In Grass]

Samson, Delilah and Rondo Stubble Turnips;

 

[Great In Grass]

Don’t let seed quality let you down

Field operations may go well with a grass reseed, but if the seed quality is not up to scratch, then the resulting crop will not be as good as anticipated.

Limagrain grass seed manger Ian Misselbrook encourages contractors to make sure that they are using good quality clover and grass seed mixtures, and preferably seed that has been tested and treated to promote rapid establishment and reduced weed infestation.



“Contractors can be doing a great job of preparing a fine seedbed and ensure good sowing procedures, but if the seed quality is below par, the crop won’t meet expectations,” says Mr Misselbrook. “This isn’t an ideal scenario, and to counter this, contractors may be better sourcing seed on behalf of their customers, or at least making sure the seed is of a reputable quality.”

Testing and treatment procedures offers those using Limagrain seed a quality assurance. “We have two ISTA-regulated seed laboratories that test seed samples regularly. And most of the grass seed mixtures and pelleted clover seed sold through Limagrain is coated with the biological germination accelerator Headstart

Gold.”

“…if the seed quality is below par the crop won’t meet expectations” Says Mr Misselbrook

Headstart

was originally developed for seed used in the renovation of winter sports pitches and it is now used by more than 60% of premier football clubs and rugby clubs. It contains a balanced package of minerals and trace elements that are essential for the successful establishment of seedlings. The advantages of this treatment are translated to forage grasses too.



“We’ve seen significant advantages in trials over untreated seed in the germination of the crop, even in a difficult season. And in the case of clovers, seed treated with Headstart

is easier to sow and heavier, which improves the soil to seed contact.


“Sowing high quality, treated seed is a damage limitation exercise really,” he adds.

 

[Great In Grass]

Recently published trial results show that higher yields are achieved when stubble turnips are sown earlier.