Dairy farmer William Boothman inspects his first cut silage, before picking up at Blessington, Co.Wicklow. Photo: Jack Caffrey
Contractor Robbie Meade, Lobinstown making silage for Sean Malone at Woodtown, Ardee,Co.Louth. Photo: John Caffrey
After stopping the ground for silage on April 7th and applying 100 units of nitrogen, Patrick Tobin, Ballincurrig, Co. Cork is happy that his grass is in good condition to make top quality silage when testing showed the nitrogen to be gone and sugar levels at 3%. The grass will be wilted for 24hrs before putting in the pit. Photo; Donal O' Leary
Stuart Bryan of Bryan Bros contractors has one pit nearly filled for the Tintur Pedigree herd, Cappoquinn Estate, Co. Waterford. Photo: Donal O' Leary
Kieran McAuliffe, driving for Bryan Bros, contractors is pictured putting up silage on a pit for the Tintur Pedigree herd, Cappoquinn Estate, Co. Waterford. Photo: Donal O' Leary
Roger Barkley is busy covering a pit of silage in Cappoquin, Co. Waterford where he manages the Tintur pedigree holstien herd at Cappoquin Estate. Photo: Donal O' Leary
Last weekend saw every back road in the country bustling with silage trailers from 6am into the dark of the evening, as the 2015 grass crop came into harvest in earnest. Weather conditions were nearly perfect, with great drying to help wilting of crops once knocked down. While sunshine was intermittent, sugars were pretty high. In fact, the hot day on Saturday delivered a growth spurt that lowered sugars. (They have recovered at the time of writing.)
Similarly, there seemed to be no issues with nitrogen remaining in grass – it’s all gone by now. Anecdotal evidence suggests farmers have applied less nitrogen this year, with 90kg-100kg/ha being the typical amount. Growth may have been slow in April, but it was steady, utilising all that was applied.
Yields are surprising farmers and contractors a little, being a bit better than would have been predicted only a fortnight ago. With most dairy farms concluding their first cut over the next week, the attention will turn to drystock farms, which typically have a later closing and cutting date. Keep her lit.
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Pat O’Toole
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Last weekend saw every back road in the country bustling with silage trailers from 6am into the dark of the evening, as the 2015 grass crop came into harvest in earnest. Weather conditions were nearly perfect, with great drying to help wilting of crops once knocked down. While sunshine was intermittent, sugars were pretty high. In fact, the hot day on Saturday delivered a growth spurt that lowered sugars. (They have recovered at the time of writing.)
Similarly, there seemed to be no issues with nitrogen remaining in grass – it’s all gone by now. Anecdotal evidence suggests farmers have applied less nitrogen this year, with 90kg-100kg/ha being the typical amount. Growth may have been slow in April, but it was steady, utilising all that was applied.
Yields are surprising farmers and contractors a little, being a bit better than would have been predicted only a fortnight ago. With most dairy farms concluding their first cut over the next week, the attention will turn to drystock farms, which typically have a later closing and cutting date. Keep her lit.
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