Developments in Grassland 2019 by https://padlet.com/hugh_larkin/fmutrekpyswa 5 Year Grassland Management Plan for a County Meath Dairy Farm en-us 2019-02-25 13:05:41 UTC 2023-04-06 01:45:44 UTC hello@padlet.com https://cdn3.iconfinder.com/data/icons/animals-nature-body-add-on/48/v-25-512.png Farm Information hugh_larkin https://padlet.com/hugh_larkin/fmutrekpyswa/wish/334820809
  • Kells, Co. Meath
  • New entrant 
  • 3-way family partnership 
  • 370 cow herd
  • 78 hectares 
  • Stocking Rate = 2.8 LU/ha
  • Grazing platform in one block.
  • Longest walk for cows = 1.2km
    • ]]>     2019-02-25 13:20:40 UTC https://padlet.com/hugh_larkin/fmutrekpyswa/wish/334820809     Farm Location hugh_larkin https://padlet.com/hugh_larkin/fmutrekpyswa/wish/334821247 2019-02-25 13:21:39 UTC https://padlet.com/hugh_larkin/fmutrekpyswa/wish/334821247 Strengths hugh_larkin https://padlet.com/hugh_larkin/fmutrekpyswa/wish/334821656
  • Holstein-Friesian cows suits high intensity system.
  • Education: Youngest member of the partnership has Level 8 Ag Science degree.
  • Experience farming in USA & NZ. 
  • Great land with excellent potential to grow and utilize grass.
  • Large area of grazing platform recently reseeded. 
  • Soil testing carried out last year.
  • Currently utilizing a nutrient management plan
  • Good farm layout.
  • Motivated.
  • On farm staff accommodation 
  • New farm infrastructure (parlour, housing, roadways etc.) 
  • Discussion Group member.
  • Attends farm walks & open days. 
  • Integrates new technologies (grasshopper, Pasturebase, Agrinet etc.)

    • ]]>     2019-02-25 13:22:34 UTC https://padlet.com/hugh_larkin/fmutrekpyswa/wish/334821656     Challanges hugh_larkin https://padlet.com/hugh_larkin/fmutrekpyswa/wish/334821795
  • High stocking rate putting strain on land.
  • Seasonal labour an issue.
  • 3 way partnership = difference in opinions.
  • Juggle dairy with cereal and potato production. 
  • Running out of space for calves.
  • Calving interval could be improved.
  • Space for winter housing.
  • TB in nearby farms.
  • In derogation.
  • Lots of slurry accumulated over winter.
  • Some wet land with heavy soils. 
    • ]]>     2019-02-25 13:22:48 UTC https://padlet.com/hugh_larkin/fmutrekpyswa/wish/334821795     Opportunities hugh_larkin https://padlet.com/hugh_larkin/fmutrekpyswa/wish/334821922
  • Join a grass focused DG
  • Land for sale nearby (expansion). 
  • Avail of young farmer grants.
  • Room for construction in the farmyard. 
  • Walk the land more often.
    • ]]>     2019-02-25 13:23:02 UTC https://padlet.com/hugh_larkin/fmutrekpyswa/wish/334821922     Threats hugh_larkin https://padlet.com/hugh_larkin/fmutrekpyswa/wish/334821997
  • Brexit.
  • Milk price volatility.
  • Extreme weather events.
  • Policy issues (GHG).
  • Price of inputs like fertilizer concentrates.
  • Labour
  • CAP Reform
    • ]]>     2019-02-25 13:23:12 UTC https://padlet.com/hugh_larkin/fmutrekpyswa/wish/334821997     5-Year Plan hugh_larkin https://padlet.com/hugh_larkin/fmutrekpyswa/wish/334823092 2019-02-25 13:25:33 UTC https://padlet.com/hugh_larkin/fmutrekpyswa/wish/334823092 Year 1 hugh_larkin https://padlet.com/hugh_larkin/fmutrekpyswa/wish/334823335
  • Continue with grass measuring with Grasshopper and PB
  • Implement SRP
  • Implement 60:40 Autumn planner
  • Spread lime.
  • Build up winter feed reserves.
  • End of year recap
    • ]]>     2019-02-25 13:26:03 UTC https://padlet.com/hugh_larkin/fmutrekpyswa/wish/334823335     Year 2 hugh_larkin https://padlet.com/hugh_larkin/fmutrekpyswa/wish/334823387
  • Utilise NMP
  • Make a start on land drainage. 
  • Infrastructure plan.
  • Paddock level nutrient plan.
  • Buy Fert when cheap
  • Monitor silage growth
  • Test silage
  • Install more drinkers.
  • Continue with grass measurement. 
    • ]]>     2019-02-25 13:26:10 UTC https://padlet.com/hugh_larkin/fmutrekpyswa/wish/334823387     Year 3 hugh_larkin https://padlet.com/hugh_larkin/fmutrekpyswa/wish/334823434
  • Continue weekly measuring.
  • Soil Test
  • Monitor soil testing progress.
  • Purchase land if it becomes available. 
  • Monitor drainage.
  • Build up winter feed reserves.
  • Review poaching.
  • Bale surpluses
    • ]]>     2019-02-25 13:26:14 UTC https://padlet.com/hugh_larkin/fmutrekpyswa/wish/334823434     Year 4 hugh_larkin https://padlet.com/hugh_larkin/fmutrekpyswa/wish/334823494
  • Grass measuring.
  • Review data collection.
  • Use data collected to analysis:  covers, stocking rates, utilization, silage etc
  • Stitch in clover
  • Improve roadways and drainage

    • ]]>     2019-02-25 13:26:23 UTC https://padlet.com/hugh_larkin/fmutrekpyswa/wish/334823494     Year 5 hugh_larkin https://padlet.com/hugh_larkin/fmutrekpyswa/wish/334823563
  • Continue measuring.
  • Continue previous 4 years work
  • Work on soil test results.
  • Adjust paddock size if necessary (expansion).
  • Field maintenance (fencing, access points, drinkers, rolling, topping, spraying etc.) 
  • Multi species swards?
  • Zero Grazer? 
  • More land

    • ]]>     2019-02-25 13:26:29 UTC https://padlet.com/hugh_larkin/fmutrekpyswa/wish/334823563     hugh_larkin https://padlet.com/hugh_larkin/fmutrekpyswa/wish/334837841 2019-02-25 13:52:24 UTC https://padlet.com/hugh_larkin/fmutrekpyswa/wish/334837841 Introduction hugh_larkin https://padlet.com/hugh_larkin/fmutrekpyswa/wish/334848174
  • Expansion on dairy farms means that the need for better utilization of grass is needed now more than ever.
  • Average dairy farmer on Pasturebase growing 14.1t DM/ha (Pasturebase).
  • Teagasc have set a target to utilize 10 tonne DM/ha and to have 10 grazings per paddock per year by 2020 (Grass10)
  • Increasing the proportion of grazed grass in the diet by 10% will reduce the cost of milk production by 2.5c/litre
  • Each day spent at grass during the Spring equates to a feed saving of €2.70/cow/day (Teagasc).

    • ]]>     2019-02-25 14:09:16 UTC https://padlet.com/hugh_larkin/fmutrekpyswa/wish/334848174     hugh_larkin https://padlet.com/hugh_larkin/fmutrekpyswa/wish/334925357 2019-02-25 16:06:18 UTC https://padlet.com/hugh_larkin/fmutrekpyswa/wish/334925357 hugh_larkin https://padlet.com/hugh_larkin/fmutrekpyswa/wish/334926588 2019-02-25 16:07:57 UTC https://padlet.com/hugh_larkin/fmutrekpyswa/wish/334926588