Beef and Sheep Monitor Farm Groups

Grass/clover Monitor farm groups are farmer-driven working groups, who have selected one of their group members to act as a central Monitor farm for a period of up to three years. These grass/clover groups will be supported by a CAFRE Beef and Sheep Development Advisor, who will act as the group facilitator, and involve other specialists, to aid in the development and understanding of grass/clover establishment and management, with the aim of increasing the physical and financial performance of their businesses.

The principles of a Monitor farm allow the group to establish what’s happening on the farm at present and then discuss what direction it should go in future. The Monitor farmer will record relevant data such as sward measurements, nutrient inputs to swards, animal performance and soil and forage analysis. On-farm events will then be hosted approximately four times a year, where summaries of relevant data will be presented and various aspects of the establishment and management of grass/clover swards discussed.

The Monitor farm will be a forum where group members talk over ideas and see things done in practice. The group members will then be encouraged to introduce clover into their own swards and manage this to suit their particular enterprise and to monitor and record the performance from their own grass/clover swards.