Since making the switch to dairy farming, Co. Roscommon farmer, Enda Doran believes that following an autumn reseeding plan which focuses on soil fertility and using grass seed of the highest quality has been a major contributing factor into achieving a successful and profitable dairy business.

Located in Kilbegly, Co. Roscommon, Enda runs a spring calving, grass based dairy farm of 140 British-Friesian Holstein cross cows, having converted from sheep and suckler farming in 2016.   

In the video below, Enda outlines the key traits that he looks out for in a grass seed mixture and why selecting the most suitable one for his farm has given him the best return on investment:

Selecting the right grass seed mixture

According to Enda’s local Agritech Sales Representative, Melissa Kelly, “Farmers are increasingly recognising the benefits of reseeding with good quality grass seed. However, in order to get the biggest return on investment, it’s critical that you choose the most suitable grass seed mixture for your own individual system.

“At Agritech, our Tipperary Grass Seed Range has a mixture to suit every requirement, whether that is intensive grazing, cutting, zero-grazing or overseeding. For Enda, Tipperary Grass 4A was chosen as the most suitable mixture as it successfully encompasses all of the key traits that he looks for in a grass seed mixture; high digestibility, palatability and a good inclusion of clover.” 

Tipperary Grass Seed – GroQuik® Benefits

What makes the Tipperary Grass Seed range unique is that every mixture is treated with a biological seed stimulant called, GroQuik®, which accelerates germination and especially root growth in both grasses and clover. The application of GroQuik® is especially beneficial to clover establishment as it has a more extensive and complicated root structure.

Recent on farm experiments have highlighted the benefits of an improved root structure by comparing dressed and non-dressed grass mixture plots. Despite both plots receiving the same management in the same field at the same time, it was found that dressed plots showed a significant increase in herbage yield compared to the non-dressed plots.

Melissa concludes, “Going forward, seed stimulants such as GroQuik® will play a vital role in improving herbage output. Seedling establishment has improved significantly for Enda with results seen just one week after sowing. The benefits of GroQuik®, can also be seen for years after sowing, with older sown paddocks still producing high yields for Enda.”

Autumn Reseeding Tips

On the same day we met with Enda, Melissa Kelly also outlined what she attributes as top tips when reseeding this autumn:

For further advice on autumn reseeding or to choose a suitable grass seed mixture from the Tipperary Grass Seed Range, contact your local Agritech sales rep/distributor or click here.

Increased stocking rates particularly on dairy farms has meant that herbage output is more critical now than ever before. The recent Teagasc Moorepark Open Day highlighted that the anticipated further growth of the national dairy herd must be achieved in an environmentally sustainable way .

The application of biological seed stimulants is a key step in exploiting the potential of grass; something which has been adopted by Agritech from early on. Every grass seed mixture in the Tipperary Grass Seed Range is treated with a unique germination dressing called GroQuik®.

GroQuik® is a biological seed stimulant which accelerates germination and especially root growth in both grasses and clover. Environmental sustainability is very much at the forefront as the ingredients used in its manufacturing are 100% non-chemical and they even qualify for inclusion in grass seed mixtures for use on organic farms.

The application of GroQuik® is especially beneficial to clover establishment as it has a more extensive and complicated root structure. This is critical for Irish farmers, with research by Teagasc continuing to highlight that clover has a central role to play on all farms, whether the farming system is intensive or extensive.

Improved root structure

The benefit of an enhanced and more developed root structure helps to ensure that the grass plant has access to more nutrients from the soil, thereby ensuring improved efficiency and extra herbage yield.

Recent on farm experiments have highlighted the benefits of an improved root structure by comparing dressed and non-dressed grass mixture plots. Despite both plots receiving the same management in the same field at the same time, it was found that dressed plots showed a significant increase in herbage yield compared to the non-dressed plots.

Initially, it was thought that this benefit would last for a few months post sowing, however it is now very clear that the benefits last for years. Commenting on this, Agritech Sales Director, John Kenny states, “Going forward, stimulants such as GroQuik® will play a vital role in Irish Agriculture by increasing herbage output in an environmentally sustainable way. The benefits of the technology can be seen by farmers long after sowing by facilitating healthier plants and improved yields.”

For any further advice on autumn reseeding or to choose a suitable grass mixture from the Tipperary Grass Seed Range, contact your local Agritech distributor or click here.

1. Sowing arable silage or whole-crop silage and under sowing the grass seed
2. Sowing a nurse crop of cereal (reduced rate) along with the grass
3. Sowing fodder rape or Typhon along with the grass
4. Sowing Westerwold grass with perennial ryegrass, to achieve early yields in the first season

While all the above options will give extra yield in the year sown, there are many associated pitfalls which will need to be considered:

1. Whole-crop will be cut first, therefore you cannot early graze to promote tillering.
2. Heavy whole-crop can smother young grass and block out light required to grow properly. This will result in very disappointing crops of grass.
3. Post-emergence weed control is not possible on reseeds without killing all brassicas (kale, rape, Typhon and turnips). The same will apply to whole-crop containing peas in the mix. Heavy crops may help to discourage annual weeds, however docks are very resilient.
4. If Westerwold is being added to the mix, while it is not persistent, it has the capacity to reseed itself from dropped seeds and heading will be earlier than with perennial ryegrass. If these seeds mature and drop off, a new crop of Westerwold can grow, which can be worse than weeds. To avoid this, seed heads must be cut or topped before they mature.

Before making any decisions, it is important to weigh up the pitfalls based on your own situation and see if you can manage them. Always bear in mind that you are sowing a crop of grass for 6 to 8 years, therefore do not take too much risk.

The most important thing is to establish the grass properly. Always pay attention to the detail around achieving a good reseed:

1. Soil test and use results to develop a fertiliser program.
2. Apply required lime. Min-till requires lime in every situation and follow the soil test recommendations otherwise.
3. Apply 3 bags of 10-10-20 per acre or follow soil test recommendations.
4. Make sure post-emergence weed control is carried out 4-6 weeks after emergence. (Clover leaf needs to be unfolded). Use Legumex DB and add Triade if chickweed is a problem.
5. Watch out for slug and insect damage and treat accordingly.
6. If possible, graze lightly to promote tillering when grass is ready.

Tipperary Grass Seed in conjunction with good decisions will give excellent results. For any further advice on reseeding or to choose a suitable grass mixture from the Tipperary Grass Seed Range, click here or contact your local Agritech distributor. 

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One lesson learned from the difficult winter and spring was that farmers who followed plans and put out fertilizer, grew more grass than the ones who waited for the weather to improve before they acted.

On a positive note, there has been a lot of quality silage cut ahead of schedule, something we thought would be impossible three weeks ago.

Even though the moisture deficits are now evident in parts of the country, fertilizer programs should be followed to maximise grass production and keep costs down.

Make sure that you don’t lose focus on opportunities to reseed also. Fields that were impossible to work on for the last two years are now perfect for working on and it is an opportunity not to be missed to get better swards established in these fields with Tipperary Grass seed.

Continue to monitor field performance and identify the poor preforming fields, as they are the ones that will benefit most and give the biggest return on investment from reseeding.

For more information, contact your local Agritech distributor.

On Thursday May 12th, Agritech are delighted to be attending one of Ireland’s biennial national grassland technology events, FTMTA Grass and Muck 2016. Attendance in 2014 reached an impressive 9,500. Again this year, it is taking place at Gurteen Agricultural College Balingarry, Roscrea, Co. Tipperary. Admission is €15 per adult which includes free parking, silage making demos among many other working machinery demonstrations.

Agritech will be located in the trade village where visitors can speak to our grass and re-seeding experts and view our latest product range. Watch out for our branded flags and be sure to come visit us on the day!

Get more information about the FTMTA Grass and Muck 2016 event and how to get tickets here.