Where has all the grass gone?

[willie waver]

haven't even turned out here yet, fields still soft, nearly got the tractor stuck a couple of times in the wet patches

 

[Ysgythan]

...and when will it start growing again? We had enough grass a month ago and could almost have turned the cattle all out. Fast forward four weeks and the place looks like a desert. Spring calving cows have been out for three weeks and are still eating silage. We have had some rain but not much. The main problem is that it's very cold still and the wind has been from the north or east for a while now. Couldn't even consider shutting off silage fields yet as the sheep need every possible acre.

What's it like around the country?

Slowed to grow a bit, sheep have got on top of current fields quite quickly, but the next fields are there. It will put the silage crop back a bit, but that's OK. Got plenty over from last year so don't need to panic. Hopefully won't need take a crop off later to clean up the fields.

 

[Nithsdale]

BBC TV weather last night, next week sees a slight drop in temps with mixed/unsettled weather coming. Hopefully we all get a drizzle.

Our last rain was 2 weeks ago last Sunday. Bloody chucked it down all day. We aren't desperate yet, but some of the soggy stuff would be nice.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

I know when it'll start raining....silage/hay time! And it won't stop! 2012 anyone

 

[AvonValleyFarmer]

View attachment 510506

Some strong paddocks getting the chop , should be nice stuff for ewes

I haven't even shut my hay fields up for my ewes yet! Haven't had bugger all rain for 2 months. Desperately need a few inches.

 

[ThatsSomeSheep]

What a difference in 24hrs (here at least)!

Still no rain, but we have now had 2 nights with heavy dampness and some decent warm sunshine today.

Grass has really got going. Hope it continues.

TSS

 

[Great In Grass]

"Becva" Westerwolds/Festulolium being cut 25th April, direct drilled late October after Maize near Tiverton, Devon.

 

[cotswoldcs]

Looking good @Great In Grass. I wish my Westerwolds looked like that. Any idea how much fertiliser was applied?

 

[Great In Grass]

Looking good @Great In Grass. I wish my Westerwolds looked like that. Any idea how much fertiliser was applied?

70kg/acre of N I'm told.

 

[Great In Grass]

Photo's taken 27th April, sugar level in the standing crop was showing 10%, the mixture consists of Perseus, Lofa (Festuloliums) and Red clover. No applied nitrogen, just FYM.

 

[Kiwi Pete]

Wow, thats got big muscles!!
Might have to get some dotted in around here...

 

[Great In Grass]

If anyone is interested Merviot was the Red Clover used in the above photos.

 

[Great In Grass]

Wow, thats got big muscles!!
Might have to get some dotted in around here...

Doesn't look to shabby does it.

 

[Guiggs]

Had a couple of nights with some sort of damp/ drizzle but the forecast on metcheck is showing a lot of rain for Friday,
Not very often I ask for rain but I'm hoping they're right this time!

 

[David.]

I'm only surprised that Metcheck aren't calling blizzards.

 

[Guiggs]

They're not very accurate but 100 times better than accuweather or the BBC

 

[JohnGalway]

Had a couple of nights with some sort of damp/ drizzle but the forecast on metcheck is showing a lot of rain for Friday,
Not very often I ask for rain but I'm hoping they're right this time!

Want rain here too, some thought regarding the possibility for the weekend. Honestly can't remember when it rained here last. We have "local flooding" warnings for last Sunday, never happened, I was out in my tshirt. Some parts of the farm, outside of the very very shallow around exposed bedrock etc., are looking like they want to start turning brown now.

 

[David.]

BBC has gone to pot.
Suspect they are in some way working as fifth-columnists for EU.

 

[Ysgythan]

BBC has gone to pot.
Suspect they are in some way working as fifth-columnists for EU.

Of course, that explains everything.

 

[GTB]

BBC has gone to pot.
Suspect they are in some way working as fifth-columnists for EU.

BBC weather on the internet is pretty good here. The 10 day forecast is never too far out.