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Objectives of grassland management plan 

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Objectives of grassland management plan 

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Is to maximise overall profit/ha from better grassland management practices over a 5 year period. To introduce grass measurement tools and to increase the LU/ha. To become a member of a grass focused DG encouraging a stronger focus on grass growth, quality and utilisation.

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Farm is very fragmented with the inclusion of marginal grazing ground and some mountain.
Potential to grow 12-16 tonne DM/ha on the home block.
Beef system: Store to finish
cattle 1-2: 30
Sheep system: lowland ewes
ewes: 30
store lambs: 10
ram: 1
30 ha grazing ground in home block. 27 ha grazing ground in out farm. Over 450 ha of mountain. Some of which is commonage. 168 ha purchased in December 2018.
Off farm job as well. Farmer is an Agri Contractor. Three part time labour units currently on the farm.

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Agrinet will be used.

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The home farm is located in Newport Co. Mayo.
The out farm is situated near Crossmolina Co Mayo.

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We are currently in no DG's. becoming a DG member will be a great way to mix with farmers and share ideas, skills and knowledge of grassland management practices.

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year one:
mapping and infrastructure plan the home grazing block.
Join a grass focused DG.
Paddock level nutrient plan for the home grazing block.
Learn how to grass measure.
year two:
Grass measure weekly.
Mapping and infrastructure plan the out farm grazing block.
Introduce more drinking troughs.
Paddock level nutrient plan for the out farm grazing block.
Start using Agrinet for entire farm.
year three:
Grass measure weekly and upload data to Agrinet.
soil test the farm, using soil sample results. we will reseed accordingly.
year four:
Review farm output and profit/ ha. look at farm LU/ha.
All farm efficiencies to review and put a plan in place to increase farm efficiencies.
year five:
Host a farm grass focused farm walk.
Reseed paddocks if needed.
Ensure a good fencing and rotational system is in place.

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Buys in young light heifers to suit ground type.
Daughter and son with an interest in farming therefore needs to maximise farm output/ha.
One young trained farmer (level 6 certificate in Agriculture, currently studying level 8 in UCD).
labour units are plentiful in the future.
Potential to grow and utilise grass but there issome heavy ground.
Reseeding programme is in place and all ground is soil tested every 4 -5 years.
reseeding, slurry, fertiliser and spraying for docs/weeds are all carried out ourselves as we are Agri contractors.

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Become a member as a grass focused DG.
Attend farm walks and open days.
Amy is finished college in May and plans to work near home. Pat plans to farm part time as well. Grastec to map.
No grass measurement tools are used therefor can be introduced.
farm is under stocked therefore potential to increase profit/ha.
Farm has the potential to stock 1 ewes per ha. with 1 lambs per ewe on the out farm and 8 ewes per ha with 1.5 lambs per ewe on the home farm.
Neighbours are elderly therefore in the near future long term lease of more dry land is coming available to us to farm.

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Weather events.
Factory price effects over all profit/ha.
Brexit
Amy may have to work away from home off farm. Pat would like to travel after college.
SFP and other schemes as the farm is heavily dependent on them.

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Works as Agri - contractors therefore works away from home a lot, leaving an elderly neighbour in charge Monday to Friday. Time during the week while the younger family are in college is a major issue.
Farm is very fragmented. Home farm is 13 miles from farmers home house, out farm is an additional 20 miles from the home block.
Not in a DG or on the KT (DAFM) compliance programme.
a large portion of the farm is mountain therefore difficult to put into a good grazing system.
Price for both beef and lamb at factories influences cash flow.
Weather conditions, wet winters/ dry summers influences grass growth and ground conditions.