festolomiums

[som farmer]

we sowed some last spring, not a good take, but bearing in mind the weather, satisfactory, it was the only grass that kept growing here, and I sang its praises on here. now into year 2, grew well, 12 acres, grazed twice, then shut up for silage, good crop, 6 acres cut first, then grazed, fine. now the whole 18 acres has come to a grinding stop. it just seems to have died off, we have 25 bulling hfrs on the 12 acres, and have to feed some straw, and a few I/c hfrs on the 6, and again feeding straw, full reseed planned for the autumn. rather upset about it, it has had the right amount of fert, has anyone else found problems ?

 

[milkloss]

We’ve still got quite a bit of lofa in one of our leys, sixth year I think. Thought it was knackered but a good coating of dung and the field started to really shine again this year so grazed early then cut and growing for another cut now.

I think it wants feeding and cutting well. I don’t think the newer ones, Perseus? Are as persistent.

 

[Kiwi Pete]

Considering the billing it gets on here.. "advanced grasses" FFS

Completely overrated, IMVHO - it still signs off in the heat, as a ryegrass would do.

If you want the benefits of RG and fescue, then sow ryegrass and fescue?

 

[clemmo]

we sowed some last spring, not a good take, but bearing in mind the weather, satisfactory, it was the only grass that kept growing here, and I sang its praises on here. now into year 2, grew well, 12 acres, grazed twice, then shut up for silage, good crop, 6 acres cut first, then grazed, fine. now the whole 18 acres has come to a grinding stop. it just seems to have died off, we have 25 bulling hfrs on the 12 acres, and have to feed some straw, and a few I/c hfrs on the 6, and again feeding straw, full reseed planned for the autumn. rather upset about it, it has had the right amount of fert, has anyone else found problems ?

Perseus or Purun by any chance ?

 

[som farmer]

lofa and perseus, after last years showing we were going to include some in every mix, included lofa on a dry hill reseed, that's not performing as well as it should, but all right,

 

[Jonny_2]

Had a good chat with someone quite high up recently from Barenbrug. Festuloliums varieties at the moment either take 90% towards italian ryegrass or 90% towards tall fescue

 

[som farmer]

Had a good chat with someone quite high up recently from Barenbrug. Festuloliums varieties at the moment either take 90% towards italian ryegrass or 90% towards tall fescue

ah, not quite living up to sales talk !!

 

[Granite Farmer]

I've been growing them for some years now on my land that is in rotation and get on with them well. I find cocksfoot to be better and more persistent for grazing. I should add that I have a quite dry, south facing and free draining farm which I like the festuloliums.

 

[deleted user 837354]

I know fields where the lofa is still growing and getting on for 6 years old now.

My money is on something being wrong with the land itself.

They are big plants and can be killed if you aren't careful. Persus and Perun are huge plants and won't stick being abused i'm afraid.

 

[Kevtherev]

I have found it runs out in year 2-3 especially if used in mixes with other grasses.

 

[Jonny_2]

ah, not quite living up to sales talk !!

The variety you went with maybe more of an Italian type so yielded very well for first year or so.

Also what have you grazed it with? I've read somewhere that sheep preference graze it so maybe its been hit very hard?

 

[som farmer]

The variety you went with maybe more of an Italian type so yielded very well for first year or so.

Also what have you grazed it with? I've read somewhere that sheep preference graze it so maybe its been hit very hard?

dairy

 

[gatepost]

Mine seems to have more or less disappeared yr5, went well to start with though, didn't bother in last reseeds.