Farmers attending the OPICO/ACT grassland demonstrations will be able to see how to reduce soil compaction without ruining the ley, by using a sward-lifter.

Yorkshire livestock farmers can learn how to make more profit from boosting the productivity of their grass by attending one of a series of working demonstrations of grassland machinery, jointly organised by OPICO and ACT, and held through March.

The on-farm demonstrations will include, weather permitting, sowing with OPICO's harrow and seeder combination, and subsoiling to reduce soil compaction in grass leys using the sward-lifter.

OPICO's Mike Burley adds: "Grassland has suffered badly this past year due to all the wet weather. Not only was autumn reseeding prevented on many farms, there has also been more poaching of ground by livestock. At these events, farmers can see how simple it is to oversow existing pastures to boost grass production, or reseed new ones, and how the grassland sward lifter will remove compaction without ruining the ley."

These working demonstrations will take place on Wednesdays in March on Yorkshire farms in the following areas: Ripley (4 th ), Pickering (11 th ), Hoylandswaine (18 th ) and Skipton (25 th ). For more details, farmers and contractors should contact their local OPICO dealer or ACT representative, alternatively call OPICO's Mike Burley on 07971 484408.