Summary of group meeting – 10 October 2010
15 members attended the final Grass/Clover monitor farm meeting of the season on Paddy McSparran’s farm.
The meeting gave the group an opportunity to view the two new reseeds along with the swards that had been reseeded or stitched with clover since the start of the project.
Stop 1 – Field 3 behind the main yard – 5.27ha
This field was reseeded in May 2010 after being grazed down and sprayed with Glyphosate. The field which is low lying and poorly drained in parts was subsoiled with an Erth Panbuster subsoiler before ploughing.
Grass mixture
| Abermagic Int (diploid) | 3 KG |
| Aberstar Int (diploid) | 4 KG |
| Aberavon Late (diploid) | 2 KG |
| Aberzest Late (diploid) | 3 KG |
| Aberace white clover (small leaf) | 1 KG |
| Crusader white clover (medium leaf) | 1 KG |
| 14 KG |
The grass clover was well established and was being grazed by sheep. This field is normally grazed with sheep so small and medium leafed clovers were used. Paddy was pleased with the results of the subsoiling to date having resolved many of the wet areas in the field. There was some redshank throughout the reseed and docks had established in some parts of the field.
Action
- Sward to be grazed down to 5cm with sheep by November
- A decision on control of the docks will be taken after viewing in the spring.
Stop 2 field 60 to the left of concrete lane on the Ballybrack Road farm 2.06ha.
This field was reseeded in July 2009 and was part of the clover monitor grazing rotation which Paddy had started on this unit in the spring. The reseed consisted of intermediate and late perennials with 2 KG of Aberdai white clover established well but the sward was yellow in colour and the clover did not appear to be as plentiful as it had been last year.
Action
Soil to be analysed during the winter and fertilizer and lime applied based on the results.
Stop 3 fields 61, 62 and 63 to the right of concrete lane at Ballybrack.
These fields were oversown with clover by Guttler drill or by discing and broadcasting seed with a fertilizer spreader. Clover content has improved throughout this block with little difference between Guttler seeding and discing and broadcasting the seed. Botanical analysis will be carried out in 2011 to confirm the observed improvement through stitching in and the new rotational grazing regime established this year.
Stop 4 fields 42 and 32A at the top of the lane. These fields are part of the new rotation and have also improved considerably in terms of sward composition and productivity.
Stop 5 field 49 Ballybrack Rd– 0.97ha.
This field had been reseeded in May with a red / white clover and ryegrass mixture.
The field had a good establishment of both red and white clover but the grass was thin.
May 2010 reseed on field 49
| Abercraigs late (tet) | 3 KG |
| Aberglyn int (tet) | 2 KG |
| Pastour late (diploid) | 3 KG |
| Foxtrot late (diploid) | 3 KG |
| Aberuby Red clover | 3 KG |
| Alice (Large Leaf) White clover | 2 KG |
| 15 KG/acre |
This field had been cut in early September for roundbale silage and will be grazed with lambs.
Action – red clover silage to be analysed and feeding performance monitored.
Back at the yard and after tea and biscuits chairman Kevin MacAuley presented Paddy with a gift for his forthcoming wedding on behalf of the group. He also thanked Paddy for all his good work over the first two years of the project.
