Grassland management of John Walsh's beef and sheep farm. by https://padlet.com/john_walsh_3/lz5d7ounjdpk Introduction, Objectives, SCOT analysis, current grassland management, 5 year plan. en-us 2017-02-21 09:11:33 UTC 2017-02-27 19:41:00 UTC hello@padlet.com 5 Year Plan john_walsh_3 https://padlet.com/john_walsh_3/lz5d7ounjdpk/wish/155090847 Year 1: 
  • Introduce grass measurement (cut and weigh method) and Pasturebase. 
  • Soil test. 
  • Silage testing.
  • Spread lime and fertilizer based on test report. 
  • Ear mark poor producing fields for reseeding in the Autumn.
  • Join a local grass focused sheep and/or beef discussion group.
Year 2: 
  • Over seed poor producing silage ground. 
  • Reduce paddock sizes in the larger fields. 
  • Purchase weighing scales for cattle.
Year 3: 
  • Further reseeding based on previous measurements. 
  • Assess grass growth and opportunities to increase stocking rate.
  • Possibilities to reseeding using multispecies or introduce a break crop for finishing lambs/over wintering ewes. 
Year 4:
  • Introduce on/off grazing in the spring and autumn.
  • Carry out drainage works on wet/waterlogged fields.
  • Assess reseeded ground and continue with reseeding programme. 
  • Continue to create uniform paddock size with the use of temporary and permanent fencing. 
Year 5: 
  • Replace temporary fencing with permanent fencing. 
  • Continue to match demand and grass cover with the use of measurement and pasturebase. 
]]> 2017-02-21 09:40:01 UTC https://padlet.com/john_walsh_3/lz5d7ounjdpk/wish/155090847 Current Grassland Management john_walsh_3 https://padlet.com/john_walsh_3/lz5d7ounjdpk/wish/155090905
  • No current level of grassland measurement.
  • Large fields laid out by stone walls and mains electric fence.
  • Long rotational grazing system.
  • No reseeding plan in practise, no field has been reseeded in the last 6 years.
    • ]]>     2017-02-21 09:40:20 UTC https://padlet.com/john_walsh_3/lz5d7ounjdpk/wish/155090905     SCOT Analysis john_walsh_3 https://padlet.com/john_walsh_3/lz5d7ounjdpk/wish/155090949 Strengths: 
    • Prolific sheep flock with a high scanning rate.
    • Good free draining soil.
    • Mains water supply in all fields.
    • Farmer has his own machinery for silage making and land reclaimation.
    Challenges: 
    • Lack of grass cover during the shoulders of the year.
    • Spread of cashflow during the year.
    • Split in the lambing season.
    • GLAS LIPP restricts reseeding and N application.
    Opportunities:
    • Decreasing the reliance on concentrates in an effort to substitute for a lack of grass.
    • Applying for TAMS grants for fencing, will reduce costs incurred for reducing field size. 
    Threats:
    • Poor factory price for cattle/sheep.
    • Weather conditions (drought/flooding).
    • High fertiliser/concentrate prices. 
    ]]>     2017-02-21 09:40:39 UTC https://padlet.com/john_walsh_3/lz5d7ounjdpk/wish/155090949     Objectives john_walsh_3 https://padlet.com/john_walsh_3/lz5d7ounjdpk/wish/155091061
  • Increase grass production and utilisation.
  • Implement a five-year grassland improvement plan.
  • Reducing the dependency on concentrates instead of grass.
  • Achieve better quality grass silage.
  • Try to make better use of fertiliser/more fertile soil based on soil sample results. 
  • Aim to finish lambs/steers/heifers off grass and little or no concentrates.
  • Increase stocking rate on a fixed land base.
  • Increase output per hectare.  
    • ]]>     2017-02-21 09:41:19 UTC https://padlet.com/john_walsh_3/lz5d7ounjdpk/wish/155091061     Introduction john_walsh_3 https://padlet.com/john_walsh_3/lz5d7ounjdpk/wish/155091092 My home farm is located in Kilvendoney, in south Mayo. The farm is a sheep and suckler farm. All progeny from the suckler herd, along with some bought-in weanlings and stores, are brought to finish on the farm. There are approx. 140 lowland ewes and 4 Rams comprising of the sheep flock with a split in the lambing pattern. Approximately 40 ewes are lambed from the beginning of February, while the remainder of the flock lamb from mid-march onwards. Average stocking rate on the whole farm is 1.95LU/ha.
    The farm is mainly in one block (49ha), while another out-farm three miles from the home farm (10ha) is used for silage production and grazing for yearlings.
    The location of the farm is in this link: https://www.google.ie/maps/place/Kilvindoney,+Co.+Mayo/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x485be170e53771c3:0x2600c7a7bb4cc362?sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjjx4aMpLDSAhVoIsAKHTvgCNkQ8gEIGjAA]]>     2017-02-21 09:41:28 UTC https://padlet.com/john_walsh_3/lz5d7ounjdpk/wish/155091092