Fert prices and stocking rates

[Just because]

Are people thinking of cutting back on stocking rates due to fertilize prices and other rising costs??

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Clover

 

[dinderleat]

Grow more maize, try and use slurry more effectively. Got 50 acres of red clover and Italians

 

[M-J-G]

That will be dependant on various factors
What's your stocking rate and what rate do you apply fertiliser at Currently?
Increase in cost per ewe/cow isn't always huge, plus less stock can mean higher overheads per animal.

Not planning to alter much, but we don't use much on N grass.
That said cull cows are going before weaning as I've been feeding them for the past month or more and they are fat, I see no point in using silage and straw to then have to grow more next year with expensive N

Most cull ewes were sold with fat lambs over the summer mainly to allow grass to build up grass without using N.

Altering stocking rate isn't the plan, but it's certainly not a year for carrying passengers or keeping stock for the sake of it.

 

[muleman]

No.

 

[Bones]

Layers hen manure, free to good or bad home , loader provided, won't deliver, don't buy fert again

 

[Dog Bowl]

Layers hen manure, free to good or bad home , loader provided, won't deliver, don't buy fert again

On grazing ground or just cutting ground?

 

[tinsheet]

Dont use fertilizer only Shite
Currently increasing.

 

[Jdunn55]

Going to see walhat happens after chrsitmas, one for is for certain i will not be buying any fert for more than 400/t and ideally below 300

If the prices havent changed, i will be bulk buying red clover and direct drilling after spraying to clean up weeds

 

[Bill the Bass]

That will be dependant on various factors
What's your stocking rate and what rate do you apply fertiliser at Currently?
Increase in cost per ewe/cow isn't always huge, plus less stock can mean higher overheads per animal.

Not planning to alter much, but we don't use much on N grass.
That said cull cows are going before weaning as I've been feeding them for the past month or more and they are fat, I see no point in using silage and straw to then have to grow more next year with expensive N

Most cull ewes were sold with fat lambs over the summer mainly to allow grass to build up grass without using N.

Altering stocking rate isn't the plan, but it's certainly not a year for carrying passengers or keeping stock for the sake of it.

Similar story here, we have had a very good crop of heifer calves in 2021 for both breeds so a good cull through has already started here with 10 going straight of grass. Pd'ing spring calvers and Johnes testing at the end of this month will no doubt see a few more go and hopefully replaced with young well bred heifers should keep us going forwards breeding wise, the only thing is you get into needing a new bull quicker.

Fert? More and more clover going in here, with Mid Tier and clover/herbal leys over half the farm wont get fertiliser and we get paid for not doing so Over the next three years I hope to not buy any fert at all with my fert budget replaced completed by Lime and Seed

 

[wellingtonfarmer]

On grazing ground or just cutting ground?

I use it on both great stuff

 

[Bossfarmer]

Similar story here, we have had a very good crop of heifer calves in 2021 for both breeds so a good cull through has already started here with 10 going straight of grass. Pd'ing spring calvers and Johnes testing at the end of this month will no doubt see a few more go and hopefully replaced with young well bred heifers should keep us going forwards breeding wise, the only thing is you get into needing a new bull quicker.

Fert? More and more clover going in here, with Mid Tier and clover/herbal leys over half the farm wont get fertiliser and we get paid for not doing so Over the next three years I hope to not buy any fert at all with my fert budget replaced completed by Lime and Seed

does clover stack up without mid tier? fert useage will be less but so will stocking rates

 

[Bones]

On grazing ground or just cutting ground?

Both

 

[Anymulewilldo]

On grazing ground or just cutting ground?

We used too spread it thinly all over the farm. Shower or 2 of rain and it’s washed off the grass and away!

 

[Samcowman]

does clover stack up without mid tier? fert useage will be less but so will stocking rates

Yes it does.
Stocking rates pretty good here. 63 R1 heifers on 25 acres

 

[Ffermer Bach]

Are people thinking of cutting back on stocking rates due to fertilize prices and other rising costs??

much as I dislike the idea of reseeding (because as organic there is a big seed bank in the soil of docks/rushes and once there, very difficult to get rid of), I have noticed that the two highest producing fields are the two that were most recently re seeded, so I think you are right, reseed with highly producing grass species and a good clover mix.

 

[Dog Bowl]

Both

I use it on cutting ground with great effect. Curious how I could utilise it within a rotational grazing system? Would it taint the grass too much which would reduce intakes??

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Yes it does.
Stocking rates pretty good here. 63 R1 heifers on 25 acres
View attachment 989867

Same here

 

[Dog Bowl]

Yes it does.
Stocking rates pretty good here. 63 R1 heifers on 25 acres
View attachment 989867

Look at all that lovely clover . Doing the job right

 

[Fendt516profi]

much as I dislike the idea of reseeding (because as organic there is a big seed bank in the soil of docks/rushes and once there, very difficult to get rid of), I have noticed that the two highest producing fields are the two that were most recently re seeded, so I think you are right, reseed with highly producing grass species and a good clover mix.

What about direct drilling in