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.
 
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Great In Grass

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Another new maize variety for 2016, ES Heracles listed fourth on the second choice favourable sites NIAB Descriptive List.

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RadiMax – New research project sheds light on plant roots


A new, large facility at the Institute of Plants and Environmental Sciences at the University of Copenhagen allow scientists to use underground cameras to keep track of root development.

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The aim of the RadiMax-facility is to gain knowledge about the stress levels of plant roots in order to develop durable crops able to withstand the changing global climate.

The four plant research companies behind the RadiMax project is DLF, LFK Vandel, Nordic Seed and Sejet.

- The RadiMax project has been on the top of our wish list for a long time. Drought is one of the greatest challenges for future plant production. There is a global need for plants with higher performance abilities, more durability and abilities to ensure a minimal waste of important nutrients. We hope to develop species that are more drought tolerant, than the species, we have today, says Project Coordinator Christian Sig Jensen, Senior Scientist, DLF.

- One of the reasons we find it interesting to participate in this project, is the fact that we are not able to mobilize a research project of this scale on our own, says the DLF scientist.

The project has a total budget of 21M DKK. The Danish foundations Innovationsfonden and Gottfried-Birkedal Hartmann Family Foundation have funded the research project.
 

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Barenbrug reveals initial observations from AD grass trial November 15

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Barenbrug, one of the largest grass seed producers in the UK, today announced initial observations from a research trial assessing the suitability of different grass varieties and mixtures as feedstocks for anaerobic digestion (AD) plants.

At its 15-acre Cropvale trial site in Worcestershire, Barenbrug’s agricultural team is mid-way through a two-year programme evaluating the AD potential of a range of shorter-term grasses, hybrid mixtures and perennial species.

Barenbrug's AD trial was established in autumn 2014 and will run for two harvest years. Plots of Italian ryegrass, hybrid ryegrass and tall fescue have been sown alongside a number of areas containing mixtures of these varieties. Two cuts have been taken so far in 2015 and initial observations suggest that the mixtures are out-yielding the straight varieties and that Italian rye-grass-based blends are performing best of all.

Achieving high yields of dry matter per hectare is the key objective for farmers entering the AD field, so Barenbrug is investigating the impact of delayed cutting on achieving extra bulk versus quality. The company is also looking at the adaptation of grass swards to multiple applications of digestate, building up a bank of knowledge to support farmers looking to branch out into this fast growing aspect of the agriculture industry.

Mhairi Dawson, Forage Research & Development Manager at Barenbrug UK, said: “By the end of 2017 it is estimated that the UK will have more than 75,000 hectares of land producing forage crops for AD plants. Currently, the majority of feedstock grown in the UK for AD is forage maize. However, with numerous new sites planned up and down the country – some in areas where maize will not be suitable – grass is set to become far more commonplace as an input stream.

Building an AD unit makes good financial sense for many farmers. Different government subsidies are available plus a number of UK energy providers are actively seeking farm partners that are willing to either supply feedstocks or build AD plants in return for long-term rental payments. As more farmers start to consider AD as an extra revenue stream, we’re ramping up our research so we can give them solid scientific advice on the best grass varieties to grow for this purpose. We look forward to seeing if the trends that we’ve spotted so far continue or if the longer-term species will offer a higher yield overall over the term of the trial.”

The number of AD plants operational across the UK has grown significantly in recent years. A market report published by the Anaerobic Digestion & Bioresources Association (ADBA) in July 2015 revealed that there are now more than 400 AD plants up and running nationwide. Many of these are farm-fed and many more are awaiting planning permission. In 2010 there were just 200 AD plants in the UK. By the end of 2015, forecasters predict that there could be 500 units – a figure that could more than double again by 2020.
 

Great In Grass

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Persistency and palatability key to Scottish grassland success in 2016

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Scottish farmers advised to consider other factors alongside yield

AgriScot 2015, The Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh - 18 November 2015

Scottish livestock farmers considering reseeding fields and pastures in spring 2016 should think carefully about the persistency and palatability of seed varieties as well as anticipated yield per hectare – that’s the advice Barenbrug will take to Agriscot next week.

Overall, 2015 was another challenging year for Scottish livestock farmers. When it came to grass a cold spring meant the grass-growing season got off to a slow start and the summer that followed was unusually cool and wet with temperatures consistently below the seasonal average by one or two degrees. While silage results were generally good, and autumn grass growth has been better than average, results across Scotland were varied.

To give Scottish farmers the best chance of grassland success in 2016, regardless of weather, Barenbrug is advising them to pick persistent grass varieties that deliver good spring growth to combat the shorter Scottish grass-growing season. The business is also recommending that farmers try out seeds that provide a tight persistent sward as they will be more resistant to compaction and poaching. When it comes to palatability, Barenbrug recommends that farmers consider not only disease resistance and fertility but general grazing management too. Just as humans tend to eat more of the foods they like, livestock will eat more if the palatability is high – typically when grass is young, dense and leafy.

Mhairi Dawson, Research & Development Manager for Forage at Barenbrug UK, said, “We believe there is huge potential for Scottish farmers to boost the quality and quantity of grass they are producing and ultimately improve their profitability. When making a decision about which type of grass to go for, yield figures are of course important but there are other critical factors too – including persistency and palatability. The problem is that many farmers stick with the same grass seed varieties and mixtures year after year – even if they aren’t getting the best results. Few farmers would rely on genetics from the 1950s for livestock breeding so why do the same with grass.

“Grass seed research and development has come a long way in recent years and there are many new forage strains and blends available, which are proven to dramatically improve the performance and productivity of animals. High levels of dry matter production will always be a priority but consideration must also be given to palatability and persistency as well as nitrogen efficiency, drought and disease tolerance, winter survival, rumen stimulation and protein production.”

Barenbrug’s advice to farmers selecting grass seed for spring 2016 is to decide if they want a good all-round grass or a highly specialist breed or blend to suit a particular habitat, microclimate or management programme. The selection process can be simplified by thinking about how long the sward needs to last and the growing challenges in the area. Are there disease pressures from, for example, drechslera? Will the grass sward need to resist poaching or tolerate intensive silage production? And would adding clover into the mix be beneficial?

Armed with this information it’s possible to apply some general rules of thumb. If the grass will be used for silage, pick a mixture with a tight heading date to help optimise yield output. If high quality grazing grass is the aim, consider your livestock’s nutritional needs carefully. Choose a mixture that meets your turnout schedule and will grow consistently from spring to autumn.

Concluding Mhairi said, “Finding the ideal grass seed mixture can seem daunting but it doesn’t have to be. Pick from recommended lists so you know that yield, persistency and palatability have been rigorously tested. And if you’re still unsure, ask your local seed merchant. They should know what performs well in your area and can best meet your requirements”

Barenbrug has a grass seed research site near to Aberdeen where it is screening trials of varieties and species particularly well suited to the Scottish market. The site is part of the SAC National and Recommended List trials at Blackburn.


Attached: Grass & Clovers varieties for Scotland 2015-2016
 

Attachments

  • grass_clover_varieties_scotland_2015_2016.pdf
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Great In Grass

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Persistency and palatability key in 2016 - Farmers advised to consider other factors alongside yield

Livestock farmers considering reseeding fields and pastures in spring 2016 should think carefully about the persistency and palatability of grass varieties as well as anticipated yield per hectare.
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Overall, 2015 was another challenging year for UK livestock farmers. When it came to grass a cold spring meant the grass-growing season got off to a slow start and the summer that followed was unusually cool and wet with temperatures consistently below the seasonal average by one or two degrees. Whil e some silage results were very good, and autumn grass growth has been better

than average, results across the country were extremely varied.

To give farmers the best chance of grassland success in 2016, regardless of weather, we are advising them to pick persistent grass varieties that deliver growth in the correct season that their enterprise needs.

We're also recommending that farmers try out varieties that provide a tight, persistent sward as they will be more resistant to poaching. When it comes to palatability, we recommend that farmers consider not only disease resistance and fertility but general grazing management too. Just as humans tend to eat more of the foods they like, livestock will eat more if the palatability is high - typically when grass is young, dense and leafy.

Mhairi Dawson, Research & Development Manager for Forage at Barenbrug UK, said, "We believe there is huge potential for farmers to boost the quality and quantity of grass th ey are producing and ultimately improve their profitability. When making a decision about which type of grass to go for, yield figures are of course important but there are other critical factors too - including persistency and palatability. The problem is that many farmers stick with the same grass seed varieties and mixtures year after year - even if they aren't getting the best results. Few farmers would rely on genetics from the 1950s for livestock breeding so why do the same with grass.

"Grass seed research and development has come a long way in recent years and there are many new forage strains and blends available, which are proven to dramatically improve the performance and productivity of animals. High levels of dry matter production will always be a priority but consideration must also be given to palatability and persistency as well as nitrogen efficiency, drought and disease tolerance, winter survival, rumen stimulation and protein production."

Choosing grass for 2016

Our advice to farmers selecting grass seed for spring 2016 is to decide if they want a good all-round grass or a highly specialist breed or blend to suit a particular habitat, microclimate or management programme. The selection process can be simplified by thinking about how long the sward needs to last and the growing challenges in the area. Are there disease pressures from, for example, drechslera? Will the grass sward need to resist poaching or tolerate intensive silage production? And would adding clover into the mix be beneficial?

Armed with this information it's possible to apply some general rules of thumb. If the grass will be used for silage, pick a mixture with a tight heading date to help optimise yield output. If high quality grazing grass is the aim, consider your livestock's nutritional needs carefully. Choose a mixture that meets your turnout schedule and will grow consistently from spring to autumn.

Concluding Mhairi said, "Finding the ideal grass seed mixture can seem daunting but it doesn't have to be. Pick from recommended lists so you know that yield, persistency and palatability have been rigorously tested. And if you're still unsure, ask your local seed merchant. They should know what performs well in your area and can best meet your requirements"

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Download the BarForage News autumn 2015 edition

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See our range of agricultural grass and forage seed mixtures
 

Great In Grass

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Matching grass to boost yield and nitrogen use efficiency
Some people seem to be made for each other. But what about grasses – does the perfect couple exist? A new research project called “GreenSelect” is aiming to answer that particular question.

Matching grass to boost yield and nitrogen use efficiency

Many people undoubtedly as themselves: How do I find the best partner? Well, breeders at DLF ask themselves the same question on behalf of the forage grass they are improving each year. Is it possible to localize the perfect match that will always ensure the best offspring? In order to answer the question the breeders have teamed up with scientists at Aarhus University in Denmark. Together, they will test more than 500 crossing combinations in order to find exactly those grass plants that give birth to the highest yielding- and most nitrogen use efficient (NUE) offspring. While this is not breaking science, it definitely is investigating how two genetic profiles should look in order to for the optimum match.

By the use of genome wide selection (GWS), which is now part of DLFs forage breeding program, it is possible to predict a plants performance in relation to yield, disease resistance, digestibility, etc., based on its genetic profile. The new research will allow breeders to predict whether a cross between two parent plants will become a success or not. Such information will help streamlining the breeding process and produce new high yielding NUE varieties for the benefit of farm gate economy, the environment, and our climate.

The project also include Tystoftefonden, who will conduct field trials for NUE determination. The project will run over the next four years. It has a total budget of 2.3 M € of which 1.8 M € is financed by GUDP.

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DLF in new research project: NCHAIN
In the pasture, they have their individual strengths, but together they can do something unique.

Higher yield, more protein from an extraordinary trio: Grass-Clover-Rhizobium
In the pasture, they have their individual strengths, but together they can do something unique, make good, high protein forage with limited input. A new research project called NCHAIN is going to explore the interplay between grass, clover, and Rhizobium in an attempt to find the most optimal combinations.

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Maintenance of a positive nitrogen balance is one of the great challenges in organic plant production. This challenge is at play every time nitrogen is removed through the harvested plant material without equal substitution with fertilizer nitrogen. In this scenario, the grass-clover field really has its strength, as it is self-supplying almost all the necessary nitrogen.

Usually, we think of clover as the active supplier of nitrogen, but actually it all starts with a small and unobtrusive actor; Rhizobium, which fixates atmospheric nitrogen inside the clover root nodules.

This unique cycling is now subject to a major investigation with the objective to reveal the genetic factors, which will ensure the most successful interplay and thus the highest yield and the best protein supply. The aim is to make a statistical model, which can be used to select the grass- and clover breeding lines, which utilizes Rhizobium best. In order to do so, breeders and scientists will make systematic collections- and DNA sequencings of different Rhizobium strains, grass- and clover varieties to make unique gene profiles for each organism. These profiles will be linked to the screening results of thousands of combinations between the three organisms. At later stages, superior selections will be tested in the field.

The project has a budget of 17 M DKK, runs over four years and receives financial support from the Danish Innovation Foundation. It is led by Aarhus University, Denmark, in collaboration with DLF, the University of York, UK, Legume Technology, UK, and SEGES, Denmark.
 

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New for 2016 - Silostop Bale Wrap Film

What is Silostop Bale Wrap Film?
Silostop Bale Wrap Film is the world's first oxygen barrier bale wrap film. It is a thin (25 micron) film which prevents the entry of oxygen into the silage bale. It can be used in exactly the same way as conventional silage wrap, with the same level of stretch and the same basic handling and storage rules.

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Source: Independent test - Innoform, Germany 2015

The oxygen transmission table shows that independent lab tests prove that SILOSTOP Bale Wrap Film is almost 100 times more of a barrier to oxygen than leading conventional silage wrap brands.

It also shows that SILOSTOP Bale Wrap Film is much more resistant to the stretching process and maintains its thickness on the bale.

Benefits of Silostop Bale Wrap Film

  • Reduces dry matter losses by more than 40% per bale during storage.
  • Less risk of diseases from accidental ingestion of mouldy silage by animals.
  • Yeast counts are reduced.
  • Better palatability and animal intake.
  • Less film per bale results in time saving and lower recycling costs.
  • Designed to be used in all bale wrapping systems, with round and square bales.
  • Almost 100x more effective at stopping oxygen than conventional bale wrap films of the same thickness.
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Great In Grass

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2016 HF Seeds catalogue now available for England & Scotland in either PDF or hard copy (when they arrive) format, please feel free to ask for your copy now on these excellent quality grass ley mixtures & fodder crops.

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Two new agriculture perennial ryegrass varieties launched by Barenbrug January 16
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Moira and Fintona developed in partnership with AFBI and DARD.
Two new high yielding perennial ryegrass varieties will be available to UK farmers this spring thanks to a long-term partnership between Barenbrug, the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) in Northern Ireland.

Fintona is a new intermediate tetraploid perennial produced from a cross between Malone and Dunluce – two existing intermediate tetraploid varieties. A valuable grass for farms that want to maximise silage yield on a two-cut system, Fintona combines favourable attributes of both parents and sets a new standard in forage production for intermediate tetraploid perennials in UK and Republic of Ireland Recommended List trials.

Results show that Fintona has a better total silage yield than other AFBI varieties that are already performing well in grazing and silage mixtures. (See supporting diagram, which shows Fintona has improved 1st and 2nd cut silage yields over Dunluce (listed 2005), Malone (2006) and Seagoe (2011)).

Moira is an intermediate diploid perennial ryegrass that provides excellent spring growth. Trials show that Moira delivers total silage yields that are 8% higher than Spelga, the variety it was bred as a direct replacement for. The parentage of Moira includes Dutch grass genetics, acquired through Barenbrug breeding stations, which are located worldwide.

Moira and Fintona have taken almost 15 years to develop as part of a specialist grass-breeding programme at AFBI Loughgall in County Armagh. The ten-acre site – where Barenbrug has been a commercial partner since the 1990s – was established in the 1950s to produce grass varieties optimised for the UK farming sector.

The selection procedures used by AFBI in breeding Moira and Fintona were developed in close cooperation with grass experts from Barenbrug’s international network of breeding stations. This allowed access to novel breeding materials with favourable attributes such as high spring growth, disease resistance and winter hardiness. To support the trials at Loughgall, the selection and evaluation process was carried out at Barenbrug sites in England, France and the Netherlands, where disease and winter damage is usually more extreme than in Northern Ireland. This data was invaluable in identifying the best parental stocks.

Mhairi Dawson, R&D Manager for Barenbrug UK, said: “Grass is one of the most important on-farm crops. So it’s important that varieties are bred carefully to maximise productivity in the places where they’ll ultimately be grown. That’s the purpose of our work at Loughgall, where we are helping to bring new varieties to market to will meet the needs of UK farmers. From start to finish the process of developing a new grass variety is incredibly long and represents a significant investment by all parties involved. Offering excellent performance throughout the United Kingdom, we anticipate strong commercial demand for Moira and Fintona and are delighted to bring them to market in partnership with AFBI.”

Over the years, work undertaken at Loughgall by AFBI with partners such as Barenbrug has had a huge impact on the productivity of UK grassland. Analysis of data from trials conducted at AFBI, and maintained under the same management over 30 years, has shown a gradual increase in production equivalent to about 0.4% per annum. That means varieties, such as Moira and Fintona, which are being commercialised now, are at least 24% higher yielding than the best available varieties six decades ago.

The launch of Moira and Fintona follows the successful commercialisation of Clanrye, Seagoe and Glenariff, which have been established on hundreds of UK farms and have created excellent swards. AFBI has further new varieties in the pipeline, which are being multiplied by Barenbrug UK at present. These include new intermediate tetraploids Ramore and Caledon as well as a new late diploid, Glenarm. At an earlier stage of development are Glasker, Carland and Gosford.
 

Great In Grass

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iSeed®50 is dead long live ProNitro®

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from DLF Seeds Limited


Pelleted N seed coating

Efficient seedbed fertiliser placement.
  • Increases forage yield and therefore more meat and milk
  • Emergence, sward density and persistence are significantly improved
  • ProNitro® is a coating of grass seed with nutrients located around the seed, as a supplement to the seeds own reserves.
  • With ProNitro® there are easily accessible nutrients on each individual seed.
  • Contains 10% N
  • Sow at 15kg / acre (37kg / ha) for overseeding.
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ProNitro®3 days after sowing vs untreated seed



This results in a number of advantages:
  • Enhanced early growth and improved tolerance to stress.
  • Fertiliser application exactly in the root zone = Better utilisation of nutrients and reduced loss to the environment.
  • Bigger and heavier seeds in better contact with soil surface.
  • Feeds only the seed not the weed or surrounding grass.
  • Better root and shoot extension.
  • Average of +30% more viable plants.
  • No application costs.
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Great In Grass

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New 2016 DLF HF seed catalogues now available for England & Scotland;

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Attachments

  • DLF - HFSeeds England 2016 WEB.pdf
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  • DLF - HFSeeds Scotland 2016 WEB.pdf
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SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

  • 0 %

    Votes: 78 42.9%
  • Up to 25%

    Votes: 63 34.6%
  • 25-50%

    Votes: 30 16.5%
  • 50-75%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 75-100%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

    Votes: 5 2.7%

Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

  • 1,286
  • 1
As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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