Top tips for spring grass management
Against a back drop of rising input costs, farmers need to look at maximising the output from their grassland by focussing on a few key agronomy management practices ...
Is the advice from Jim Clark, Carlisle-based agronomist with Hutchinsons.
This means looking at grass more as an arable crop such as creating a long term plan for reseeding and controlling weeds and a soil health plan, he says.
“The most important step is often the first, and managing grassland is no different. Get out and walk the grass, and really look at its condition. Get a spade out and look at the soil, is it poached or compacted? Take some soil samples as you go to check your pH,P and K levels.”
He suggests taking note of how much cover there is across the field. “What is the weed burden particularly in relation to docks, and also any poaching and compaction.”
“In the main, grass is looking good this spring, although the wet January has meant that where sheep were out on pasture there are some padded surfaces and these will need sward lifting- however only about the top 4-5” will need lifting,” he says.
“Poached and compacted soils carry a higher weed burden, chickweed can be a particular issue, but docks are a major problem this spring as a result of a milder winter and stock out-wintered for longer causing bare soil – and docks love open ground.”
Mr Clark suggests choosing grass varieties with the weed burden and herbicide options in mind.
“For example if including clover in the sward, many dock and chickweed herbicides will knock this out as well, so its important to plan ahead when thinking about reseeding and if fields have a high weed burden sow a short term or even a different crop for a few years to get them under control before sowing your clover and herbal lays.”
“Remember that some herbicides are much kinder to the grass when carrying out weed control than others and you don’t want to check the grass growth in spring, so use a softer product based around Fluroxypyr.”
“When reseeding, seed to soil contact is essential for good establishment. So unless the soil is bare avoid a scratch harrow air drill. When direct drilling seeds into the sward, temperature is key to success. Cooler temps of 6-8C suit Italians and Westerwolds, but later perennials and clover need 9-10C.”
He adds that grass should be sown before applying slurry, particularly if going on in bands, as if drilled after the slurry is applied it is much harder for the drills to penetrate the soil which affects soil: seed contact.
Soil sampling: “Interestingly, there has been some re-thinking around the optimum pH for newer grasses or high producing grasses at around a pH of 6-6.5 rather than pH 6, as nutrients are more available to the plant at this higher pH.”
Mr Clark also recommends adding an organic manure measurement to any soil sampling as this will help towards SFI payments and many milk producers are looking for it as standard now anyway.
“With fertiliser prices being where they are, It is also worth using a FACTS certified advisor for the best fertiliser advice.”
Precision farming for grassland
“We are starting to see a precision revolution in grass production as many growers realise the benefits of tools such as variable rate applications of lime, NDVI mapping and yield mapping,” believes Jim Clark.
“Many farmers are increasingly using the Hutchinsons TerraMap soil scanning service that provides greater definition and more accurate soil maps than any other system.”
“It does this by providing high definition mapping of all common nutrient properties, pH, soil texture, organic matter and CEC as well as elevation and plant available water. It also measures the levels of P, K, Mg, pH and % of clay, sand, silt, texture and elevation as well as calcium, manganese, boron, copper, molybdenum, iron, zinc, sulphur, OM, CEC and plant available water, “he explains.
“The results from TerraMap are then used to create maps within Omnia such as variable rate application maps, for liming for example.”
“Many farmers are finding that they are able to make significant cost savings by only putting lime where it is needed.”
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