One of the first things beef farmers should do is to sit down and plan winter feed requirements. People like talking about impending disasters but everybody else’s shortage or problems are not yours – all you have to worry about are your own feed requirements.

Build in a one-month buffer and factor in any meal or straw fed. There is a simple fodder calculator on farmersjournal.ie, which can be completed to ascertain where you are in terms of supply and demand. It’s important to remember that if you have 50% of your forage requirements, you can make up the difference with concentrates. Paying exorbitant sums for average-quality hay or silage is not good value. Buying soya hulls or distillers could be a better option. Table 1 outlines a simple fodder budget.

The amount of fresh fodder in the silage pit can be calculated by multiplying the length by the width by the settled height, and dividing by 1.35. Any bales made or to be made on the farm can be calculated at 800kg.

Forage crop

While it is too late to plant kale for grazing next winter, there is still time to plant a hybrid brassica, eg Redstart, which can be planted up until mid-August. Because it’s a combination of rape and kale, the crop has the ability to grow very fast, while also having good winter hardiness. It can be grazed in situ or baled and wrapped. If the crop is planted in the next two weeks, it could have the potential to yield 5t DM/ha to 6t DM/ha, which could be double the yield of a field if left in grass.

Table 2 outlines the crop establishment costs. Redstart is sown at 3.5kg to 4kg seed/acre, needs good soil fertility and 80 units of nitrogen/acre. Silage or straw will need to be fed along with it if grazed in situ by placing bales in the field at planting time.

Hybrid grasses

With fodder reserves likely to be lower for the next two winters, in terms of longer-term planning, is there scope to plant some hybrid grass as a silage crop? Trials have shown that these grasses are capable of yielding between 12% and 15% more than perennial ryegrass and could be an option for farmers who wish to build fodder reserves in the coming years. Typical establishment costs will be similar to that of standard reseeding, but these grasses tend to last for only four to five years and then die out.

Bedding alternatives

Early straw prices have started out high but volumes traded have been small and traditionally it’s another month before drystock farmers have looked to source. Talk of scarcity has meant people are looking and booking earlier and this has probably fuelled the price.

While some straw will be needed for bedding or feeding on most farms, look at other options. Can you curtail usage in any way, by closing animals on slats during the day, for example? Is peat an option? Based on costs, it should be looked at as a viable alternative on some farms, especially in the midlands where haulage costs shouldn’t be huge. Current prices are €15/m3 to €20/m3 .

Wholecrop cereal silage

Some farmers are looking at wholecrop silage as an alternative feed. This is where a crop of cereal is harvested and ensiled as a crop (grain and straw). It’s important to note that if the crop is poor quality, it will have a lower feeding value and this needs to be reflected in the price paid. Harvested DM yield is likely to be 50% grain and 50% straw for an average yield.

Current costs would make it unattractive for many beef farmers. Table 3 outlines the Teagasc guidelines on valuing a crop of wholecrop silage

Finance

It’s important to be mindful of the extra expenses incurred this year as a result of the storm conditions in spring and drought conditions in summer. Sit down and complete a cashflow plan for the farm, including all expenses and sales. Purchasing extra fodder in spring and summer will put pressure on cashflow on most farms, so talk to your financial institution about a short-term loan or an extension of your overdraft limit.