Slow growth has been the theme so far this year with many reseeding plans on the main grazing block have either been placed on hold or delayed.

However, its important once growth allows that we get back on track with replacing old swards to optimise production off the grazing platform. For many, mid-summer/early autumn reseed is the preferred option to reseed grazing ground due to reduced demand and the increased availability of grazing ground after second cut silage.

The target of 10% reseeded annually on the platform can be difficult to achieve when availability/growth is poor for a portion of the year, however, it is worth considering that in any year where the 10% target is not achieved, there is rarely the opportunity in the subsequent year to take out 15%-plus of the grazing block over one season.

Remember, an unproductive sward could be losing you 3t of Dry Matter/ha/year – with input prices where they are currently, swards with low percentages of perennial ryegrass not producing sufficient levels of grass in the shoulders of the year and have a poor response to N can’t be let linger into ‘the following year’.

Timing is critical – The earlier we plan on completing our reseed, the more flexibility we have regarding grazing and weed control. The target turnaround should be 50-60 days with a reseed. Post-emergence spraying is always your best chance to control weeds, typically applied approximately five to six weeks after sowing; and delaying reseeds into late autumn always increases risk of not getting post-emergence completed.

Creating a firm seedbed is all too often overlooked. You often see new plants emerging quickest where the tractor tyre marks are, or in the headlands due to the increased contact. This is a typically the first sign that the field has been inadequately rolled where moisture is adequate. Ensure the seed bed is firm – not fluffy – roll prior to sowing if necessary to firm up.

For more information, contact your local Agritech Sales Advisor or visit www.agritech.ie

Reseeding should be considered as a long- term investment. It is advised farmers should aim to reseed approximately 10% of their grazing grounds every year, resulting in a renewed platform every 10 years.

Current grassland management figures highlight that every extra tonne of grass utilised is worth an additional €173 to the farm.

Grass utilisation hinges around grassland management practices and soil fertility. At the root of this needs to be a pasture that is palatable, has the ability to grow sufficient levels of grass, especially in the vital periods of the year, and is accommodating to the establishment of clover.

Choosing the right grass seed mixture

Grass seed costs typically account for 20% of the total reseeding spend. It is important to assess what mixture will best suit your system, as these grasses will be in situ for the next 8-10 years.

The least performing paddocks must be identified first. Take into consideration poor total annual yields, poor response to applied fertiliser, slow recovery post-grazing, high weed burden, low perennial ryegrass %, and low or no clover establishment. Once you have identified the poor-performing paddocks, the next step is to choose a grass seed mixture that will best suit the desired system. Whether that is for grazing, silage, zero-grazing, 1-cut and graze.

When it comes to selecting the correct grass seed mixture, only varieties on the Irish Grass and Clover Recommended List should be considered. Selecting a grass seed mixture with varieties from the Irish Grass and Clover Recommended List gives farmers the confidence that they are selecting a mixture that has been tried and tested, with proven performance in Irish growing conditions.

Diploids vs Tetraploids 

Questions regarding diploids versus tetraploids, and what the ‘best’ ratio of inclusion is for grazing are often asked. In the past it was thought that diploids were a requirement for heavy ground as they were more tolerant against poaching. However, research shows that persistency on wet farms between diploids and tetraploids is insignificant, with grazing management carrying much more weight in this area.

Tetraploid-dominant mixtures should be considered in all systems, as tetraploids typically perform better for grazing utilisation and offer faster recovery post-grazing or cutting. Ground cover is often also thought to be poorer in tetraploid dominant mixes, however with the inclusion of new varieties such as Nashota, this allows for high percentages of tetraploids to be used without having to compromise on ground cover. The number of varieties sown in a mixture should be limited to three-four perennials. Sowing a mixture with more varieties than this can dilute certain desired performance characteristics.

Grass Seed: Desired characteristics 

A grass seed mixture should contain varieties that offer a blend of key traits. These key traits should centre around spring growth, total yield and grazing ultisiation.

Grass availability during the shoulder seasons of the year (spring and autumn) is vitally important, with spring carrying the highest weight. According to Teagasc, spring grass has a value of €0.17c/kg DM, relative to summer grass valued at €0.04c and autumn grass valued at €0.11c/kg DM.

Grazing utilisation is important and should be a key factor when selecting a grass seed mixture As part of the Pasture Profit Index (PPI), grazing utilisation is given in a star-rating scale 1-5 and should be part of every farmer’s decision making when choosing a grass seed mixture. According to Maeve, the winning and losing of every reseed will be how satisfied the herd are when grazing it.

Grass Seed Mixtures 2023

Agritech’s grass seed mixtures for 2023 include leading varieties Nashota, Aberplentiful, AberClyde and Callan.

• AberClyde is the number 1 listed variety on the PPI for a consecutive fourth year. An intermediate tetraploid that is suitable for both silage and grazing mixtures.
• Nashota is a unique and exciting variety that has ground cover scores on par with top diploids, while also having the desired characteristics of a tetraploid – this year a 5-star variety for grazing utilisation.
• Aberplentfiul is a highly rated variety, ranking as the number 1 late tetraploid for spring growth and total overall annual yield.
• Callan is the number 1 diploid for grazing utilisation and is very highly rated for spring growth.

GroQuik®: Proven Results 

All of Agritech’s grass seed mixtures are treated with a unique biological seed stimulant, GroQuik®. GroQuik® has been proven to enhance seedling establishment and accelerate germination and root development in both grasses and clover. In recent commercial field trials, GroQuik® dressed grass seed mixtures was proven to increase plant emergence by 14.8%, leading to 8.3% more grass availability in the first grazing and 5.4% more available grass in the first season of ley establishment.

Further information: 

To learn more about our Tipperary Grass Seed Range, contact your local Sales Advisor.

As Irish farmers, we must be relentless in the pursuit to maximise the use of our unrivalled global advantage, growing grass. Alongside good grassland management, improving soil fertility and grazing infrastructure, reseeding is a critical pillar in optimising output from the grazing platform, be it for milk or meat production.

Reseeding a pasture should be viewed as a long-term farm investment over 8-10 years. The aim is to reseed 10% of the grazing platform annually, resulting in a completely renewed platform every 10 years. However, currently only 7% of the land area on specialist dairy farms in Ireland is reseeded annually (approx. 2.5% nationally if we look at the country’s entire grassland area).

A low proportion of perennial ryegrass in the sward is costing farmers up to €300/ha in lost grass production during the growing season. While according to national farm survey data, increasing total herbage production when coupled with good grassland management, can result in an additional €173 profit for every extra tonne of grass utilised on farm.

The key benefits that come with reseeding:

• Increased growth rates in the shoulders of the year.
• A sward that is approximately 25% more responsive to applied nitrogen.
• Higher feed value.
• Faster regrowth post-grazing or cutting.

In many situations due to increased demand in the spring, reseeding plans are postponed until autumn. However, this shouldn’t be the case- the higher performance post-reseeding typically compensates for loss of performance during the reseeding process and the poor performance of the sward prior to reseeding. This coupled with the fact that growth rates elsewhere on the platform at this time of year will be at their highest.

Also, compared to autumn reseeding, spring reseeds generally allow greater flexibility for post-emergence weed control, with post-emergence weed control being crucial for long-term success of a sward.

Further information: 

For further advice on spring reseeding, view our top tips here. 

To learn more about our Tipperary Grass Seed Range, contact your local Sales Advisor.