SFI from a dairy perspective

[Derrick Hughes]

what about winter grazing?
does it just disappear like clover?
can it handle being hammerd with sheep?

You could see a spider cross my fields atm , message me I May and I will send you some pictures then ,

 

[frederick]

So the DEFRA view in one of their presentations was for winter bird seed they would expect to see summer flowers and small seeds for birds to achieve the aims.

I'm not sure inspection will be rigorous but I think they will expect to see the required species and would actually like to see them left long enough in the year to flower at some point to achieve sam3.

If farmers expect future progress with schemes then I think that should be their aim as well for the payment.

I have considered buying the seed and still cutting it and fertilising it like normal so it turns into a prg ley for the money but currently my moral compass is saying no.

Considering increasing fields that I could class as clover but think I would prefer to establish the clover and know my claim was safe afterwards rather than claiming in the hope.

If we try to screw them over those above that are aiming to do it properly will be screwed over in return first and a lot of our trust with the public will be lost.

 

[som farmer]

what about winter grazing?
does it just disappear like clover?
can it handle being hammerd with sheep?

we over did the chicory in a ley sown early last sept, it was rather forward, to say the least. Sheep went in early jan, bit to wet really, so it had a bit of a rough time. 2weeks later, chicory shooting back strongly, lambs owner highly delighted with the weight gain.

 

[buffalo_soldier]

Red clover on cutting fields, chicory on grazing, measure hedges, count trees and do some soil samples.

Adds up to more than me sub was.
Got5a be a catch somewhere.

 

[Nathan818]

Will see if I can dig it out
I did some very late bales that were extremely wet
They tested 18% P 11.8 Me
But its not rocket sience
High Energy Ryegrass , we use AstonEnergy
Chicory/ Red Clover

I would also love to see this silage sample just under 13me, especially late season silage. Closest I've ever seen is 12.1, I wasn't sure the tests could read much higher

 

[Beef farmer]

That was late October 23 cut. Get me some herbs next year, and 13me is in my sights

 

[Derrick Hughes]

That was late October 23 cut. Get me some herbs next year, and 13me is in my sights View attachment 1166694

Is there clover in that

 

[Beef farmer]

Is there clover in that

No.
Whys that?

 

[Derrick Hughes]

No.
Whys that?

The crude P is good for just grass

 

[How Dairy]

These events look like they could be relevant here

Curious about clover? | AHDB

Using clover can give a financial and environmental boost to your farm but you need to know and understand its value to your business

ahdb.org.uk

Andre van Barneveld, Helen Mathieu, Paul Morgan, Dave Davies, Rhun Fychan, Hannah Jones, Charlie Cooper-Harding

 

[dinderleat]

The crude P is good for just grass

Must better grass than the stuff you sell

 

[wooly619]

The way NRI machines work analysing grass samples I am informed there is no accurate enough test for measuring herbal ley forage samples.

 

[HarryB97]

Not all sweetness & light with herbal leys … bloat seems to be a major issue especially with young stock

Unpacking Herbal Leys: Balancing Rewards and Risks - Lordington Park Agronomy

Many farmers have been attracted enticed by the £382 per hectare stewardship payment for implementing a herbal ley, often overlooking potential downsides.

lordingtonparkagronomy.co.uk

Never had any issues with sheep or cattle, also makes great silage!

 

[Wesley]

Will see if I can dig it out
I did some very late bales that were extremely wet
They tested 18% P 11.8 Me
But its not rocket sience
High Energy Ryegrass , we use AstonEnergy
Chicory/ Red Clover

Imagine what you could’ve achieved if you hadn’t diluted it with weeds…sorry, herbs

 

[Wesley]

I would also love to see this silage sample just under 13me, especially late season silage. Closest I've ever seen is 12.1, I wasn't sure the tests could read much higher

Been looking back through the samples we’ve had done. Had a 12.1 from this years first cut & some high 11’s. We’ve had protein levels in the 18 & 19’s. But never both together. Must try harder.

 

[sidjon]

Never had any issues with sheep or cattle, also makes great silage!

Plantain causes bloat, have had problems with it when it's strong In a paddock, nightmare sometimes when I've grown clover and Plantain as a summer crop.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Chicory is a know bloat suppressure ,I've certainly not seen bloat in a 3 way clover chicory Ryegrass mix , in NZ the sheep producers call it Rocket Fuel for a reason, the king of lamb Finnishing crops

 

[som farmer]

lambs have just grazed of a chicory dominant new ley, no bloat, serious weight gain.

and the cows graze a lot of plantain at times, no bloat there either.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

lambs have just grazed of a chicory dominant new ley, no bloat, serious weight gain.

and the cows graze a lot of plantain at times, no bloat there either.

You should have the very first TFF Farm Walk , show us what you do there , you seem to prove it works , coming from a farmer some of these on here may start to believe

 

[How Dairy]

You should have the very first TFF Farm Walk , show us what you do there , you seem to prove it works , coming from a farmer some of these on here may start to believe

+1
happy to help organise!! @som farmer message me if you'd consider it (perhaps in June when there is something to see and some analyses from 1st cut).