Making grass profitable

Grass is universally acknowledged to be the cheapest source of energy for ruminant livestock. Its use as forage – whether grazed or ensiled - contributes directly to the profitability of the livestock enterprise.

It therefore follows, that any steps taken to further improve the productivity of grassland, through efficient and effective management and use of inputs, will also further improve farm profitability.

Yet the profitability of a piece of grassland is determined not by one management factor but by many. These include: grazing system, ground cultivation, re-seeding frequency, choice of seed mixture and its suitability for the intended purpose, appropriate choice and timely application of fertilisers and herbicides for best results at least cost, cutting dates (silage), clamp management and appropriate use of silage additives. Nor should any one of these factors be considered in isolation, they are all inter-related.

So how can farmers follow ‘best practice’ and ensure that grassland is managed ‘right’ for profit? The answer is an initiative called ‘grassright’ in which free information and advice will be made available to farmers to help ensure the full profit potential of their grass is realised.

This initiative is supported by a group of four companies, each with specific knowledge and expertise in certain areas of grassland management. They are: Advanta Seeds, Dow AgroSciences, Kemira GrowHow and Opico.

The grassright group will also be working with farmers, through practical on-farm trials, to assess the financial returns from adopting an integrated approach to grassland management.