Grass growth

[upnortheast]

This part of the country it is very common to have a spell of cold north east winds in April when the grass gets a blue tinge with little growth . Forecast warmer next week so grass should fly

 

[steveR]

Anyone else getting a bit concerned about lack of grass growth?

Nope. Got a surplus already and wondering if my intentions of selling ewes and lambs will be better binned off. Not the greatest quality I'd say, but at least it is there.

Must be our balmy Shropshire weather.... or maybe a tickle of very early N

 

[sticky]

Saw you out spreading thought you must be up for making a few idiot bricks this year

Silage ground, definitely no little bricks, going to go back into cattle like you.

 

[Frank-the-Wool]

Not had to mow the lawn this month yet. Did it at the end of March.

Don't need a Plate meter here to tell me that the grass isn't growing!!!!

 

[beardface]

Not had to mow the lawn this month yet. Did it at the end of March.

Don't need a Plate meter here to tell me that the grass isn't growing!!!!

Still be a waders job on the marshes at the moment?

 

[Frank-the-Wool]

Still be a waders job on the marshes at the moment?

No the Marsh is now getting relatively dry. It is the cold wind that has severely restricted grass growth and the low lying areas that have suffered from the wet.
You have to remember that we have some control over the water levels and keep the water out in the winter, only increasing levels from March.
I do only have around half of the numbers of cattle turned out at present which makes more work still.

 

[Kiwi Pete]

Plate metering weekly at the moment.

Herbal leys are coming on well. Deferred grazing permanent pasture used for cow turn out has recovered sufficiently for lambing ewes.

Higher permanent pasture is less growthy. But it will get there soon enough.

Putting cows into covers of 33-3500. Leaving a 1500 residual. Have another week of this then into the permanent pasture that's at higher altitude, but lower covers. Mostly 25-2800.

Amazing just how well those rested pastures bounce, once they're grazed off.

Might not have the conditions to keep it growing, but at least the plants have some stored energy from their holiday

 

[choochter]

Amazing just how well those rested pastures bounce, once they're grazed off.

Accept that. And the fields around my shed are not rested, the cattle have had access to them for most of the winter
So they've been able to get out as much as they wanted, are healthy back in calf and fit, as are the calves most of whom have been born since October

So thats the price I pay for not resting some fields, but there are other benefits

 

[Aspiring Peasants]

Accept that. And the fields around my shed are not rested, the cattle have had access to them for most of the winter
So they've been able to get out as much as they wanted, are healthy back in calf and fit, as are the calves most of whom have been born since October

So thats the price I pay for not resting some fields, but there are other benefits

I don’t know what straw prices are like with you but here it’s £120 per ton if you can get it. It’s becoming a significant cost to resting pasture in the winter, which is something I have always tried to do

 

[beardface]

No the Marsh is now getting relatively dry. It is the cold wind that has severely restricted grass growth and the low lying areas that have suffered from the wet.
You have to remember that we have some control over the water levels and keep the water out in the winter, only increasing levels from March.
I do only have around half of the numbers of cattle turned out at present which makes more work still.

We have some low ground, which would normally still be wet now. Due to a local housing development meaning the main drain at the bottom of it has to be pumped at all times it's now one of the driest areas on the farm.