Discuss

[Poorbuthappy]

I have to honest about natural swards here.

I took on land three years ago that had been grazed with sheep, with perhaps one cut off it per year, for probably 15-20 years at a guess. I'd guess it got very little fertiliser in that time.

In the first year, it wasn't worth tuppence for yield. Poor wouldn't have been the word. But going into the fourth season, with a new ryegrass ley from last summer, and some dairy slurry taking effect, it's starting to look like it will yield now. There's an awful lot of very poorly productive swards in the locality,and they are mostly natural species, managed extensively.

When you say "managed extensively", you mean set stocked?
Nothing's going to perform like that.

 

[pappuller]

Been to a herbal ley meeting today.
The stand out aspect is £309/ha for 5 years.
Spent the afternoon milking running figures through my head,

So....half the cows, half the staff, no fert input so another saving.

Easy milkings with parlours at half capacity.

Once your in mid tier then acsess to grants for hedging and fencing.

Make no mistake the £309/ha coupled with an easier life is what makes it look attractive.

I consider herbal leys a bit like rare breed livestock, they've become rare for a reason [emoji23]

 

[Ducati899]

I consider herbal leys a bit like rare breed livestock, they've become rare for a reason [emoji23]

It’s all about the ‘erb’s

 

[HasthorpeGrange]

So what was the conclusion on this one @Beef farmer? Worth a go?

 

[Beef farmer]

So what was the conclusion on this one @Beef farmer? Worth a go?

It would need a whole different direction of how we farm now, change is scary.

Not sure with a mortgage to pay im brave enough to try it, as what we do now does work. It does really intrest me, and we will eventually be banned from using any artifical n so it would then come into its own.

Did i read this week the government have pulled the support?

 

[Blue.]

Did i read this week the government have pulled the support?

Yes

Not read the thread,but not being able to use nitrogen doesn’t bother me.

 

[pappuller]

Yes

Not read the thread,but not being able to use nitrogen doesn’t bother me.

We have a dribble bar coming for our tanker so hoping to make better use of the slurry for the zero grazer

 

[The Agrarian]

It doesn't make that big a difference over plate. There'll be a lot less grass produced if nitrogen goes. Especially up north here.

 

[Blue.]

We have a dribble bar coming for our tanker so hoping to make better use of the slurry for the zero grazer

It doesn't make that big a difference over plate. There'll be a lot less grass produced if nitrogen goes. Especially up north here.

Regular re-seeding makes the biggest difference,well it does here.

 

[The Agrarian]

Very opportunistic thing though. Some years there's weather and conditions for very little tillage.

 

[Beef farmer]

30kg of carbon released for every kg of urea. Only learnt that yesterday.

 

[The Agrarian]

No nitrogen means less cows. Less cows means less slurry. Less slurry means less grass. Less grass means less cows, means less slurry, means even less grass....

 

[Beef farmer]

No nitrogen means less cows. Less cows means less slurry. Less slurry means less grass. Less grass means less cows, means less slurry, means even less grass....

Less cows more money?

 

[The Agrarian]

Well, a one off as you sell them.

 

[Henarar]

we will eventually be banned from using any artifical n

worldwide ?

 

[Beef farmer]

worldwide ?

Ah look im just putting thoughts out there, but 20 years ago who would imagine the little chemical choices we would have.

 

[Henarar]

Ah look im just putting thoughts out there, but 20 years ago who would imagine the little chemical choices we would have.

N being pulled worldwide would most likely be good for farmers but just the UK probably not so much