News & Insight

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News archive

How Much Forage Rape Do I Need For This Coming Winter?
23/08/2024

How Much Forage Rape Do I Need For This Coming Winter?

For accurate feed planning it is essential to measure the DM yield of the crop. This can easily be done by following the steps below. To measure your crop you will need 1m² frame, seed bag, pair of garden shears and scales Read more

New Data From DLF Shows The Value of August Reseeding
16/08/2024

New Data From DLF Shows The Value of August Reseeding

Its time to start planning your autumn reseeds and new data from DLF’s on-farm grass trials shows why this important job should not be left to the last minute. Many farmers prefer to reseed in the autumn months of August and September as both grass demand and workload on farm eases. However, farmers should not leave this important job until too late in the autumn as this can increase the risk of poor establishment and even failure of reseeds in some cases Read more

Uncover The Value Of Catch Crops In Your Rotation
16/08/2024

Uncover The Value Of Catch Crops In Your Rotation

Catch Crops, Cover Crops and Green Manures are terms generally used to describe a crop that is sown between two cash crops. Broadly speaking they all help to improve soil structure, increase organic matter content and help with trafficability, but there are some key functional differences between each type of crop. Read more

New Hybrid Brassica Leading The Way In Irish Trials
22/05/2024

New Hybrid Brassica Leading The Way In Irish Trials

Mainstar promises high yields of leafy forage with excellent utilisation and judging by the data collected so far, it won’t disappoint. Sowing brassicas like forage rape for winter grazing is a cost-effective way of boosting winter forage stocks while also extending the grazing season. Mainstar promises high yields of leafy forage with excellent utilisation and judging by the data collected so far, it won’t disappoint. In 2023 we established a number of forage rape grazing trials on farms across the country to assess the yield, quality and utilisation of Mainstar compared to the leading varieties on the market. The graph below shows some impressive initial results for Mainstar. The DM yield of Mainstar particularly stands out, producing 1.8t/ha more than the next best variety. Read more

Red Clover Silage An Attractive Option For Both Livestock And Tillage Farmers In 2024
22/01/2024

Red Clover Silage An Attractive Option For Both Livestock And Tillage Farmers In 2024

In an effort to reduce the amount of nitrogen fertiliser used on Irish farms, DAFM have announced that last years’ hugely Red Clover Measure will be available again in 2024. The measure is worth €300/ha up to a total of 20ha for each applicant. It essentially means free seed! Read more

Why Sow Multi-Species Swards In 2024?
22/01/2024

Why Sow Multi-Species Swards In 2024?

Would you like to reduce your Nitrogen fertiliser bill by up to 100%?? Interest in multi-species swards has grown rapidly in recent years with an estimated 8,000 acres sown in 2023, a significant increase on the couple of hundred sown just 5 years ago! Read more