Greenmount Organic Unit - update

As everyone knows it was a very long cold winter, followed by a late cold spring with a distinct lack of rain.

Winter Triticale variety Amarillo was sown on 7 October 2009 at 190 KG/ha. It established well and survived the winter without any problems. It grew away as soon as the ice and snow had gone and has produced a dense crop with little weed. It is now headed and has the potential for a good yield.

Firth oats and Prophet peas were sown on 9 April 2010. Oats were sown at 150 KG/ha and the peas at 50 KG/ha. Germination of the oats was erratic, a problem we have had before, but it is now well established and growing well. Pea establishment was poor and may have been  due to either the method of sowing or birds (crows and pigeons). We are now thinking that drilling rather than broadcasting might be more reliable.

We still require home-grown protein, and are considering sowing winter beans in the autumn.

The sheep flock at the organic unit has finished lambing but unfortunately due to an ongoing liverfluke problem lamb numbers have been affected. The lambing % worked out at 1.5 lambs/ewe. Fluke has been a problem on the unit over the last year due to the wet weather coupled with the heavy nature of the farm has magnified the problem. After consultation with the vet and our organic certification body a derogation has been given to use a different worming programme this year on the ewes.

The new reseed sown in September last year has had an infestation of chickweed, this was stocked quite heavily with sheep in early spring (14 ewes/ha) during periods of frost and this appears to have brought this problem under control.

A faecal egg count was carried out on lambs in late May, egg numbers were negligible however dung samples will continue to be monitored throughout the summer.

The herbal strip which contains chicory and ribgrass survived the winter well and is due for grazing at the start of June. It is approximately 12-15cm in height.

Grazing this area coupled with faecal egg counting will aid worm control in the months ahead. .

The target of having the cows all calved in 12 weeks is on course with 90% of the cows now calved. Blood samples have indicated low levels of iodine in some animals. All the cows have now been treated with Ionox boluses before going to grass this year.

All the beef cattle were sold to ABP Newry with an average price of £3.05/KG received. Cattle were finished on 3KG triticale and red clover silage.

Choice of bedding material has been the biggest issue within this enterprise. In the past woodchip has been used as the bedding material in the beef house, but has been poorly composted prior to spreading on the ground.

This material can act as a nitrogen drain on the soil. Straw bedding has become too expensive.

A composting facility has been erected on the unit and further information is contained within this bulletin.

© CAFRE, June 2010