Grassland Development Padlet by John Donohoe https://padlet.com/john_donohoe1/wam3cfd1a5ip Shraugh, Ballon, Co. Carlow en-us 2020-02-18 13:47:21 UTC 2025-12-06 10:57:05 UTC hello@padlet.com Objectives: Glassland Plan john_donohoe1 https://padlet.com/john_donohoe1/wam3cfd1a5ip/wish/449586305 Utilize the grazing ground on this farm and implement new measures to ensure grass growth and soil fertility are to the fore, to make a more profiitable family farm business through improving pastures and grasslang quality and increase output, measuring grass and activly use soil tests

]]> 2020-02-24 16:52:43 UTC https://padlet.com/john_donohoe1/wam3cfd1a5ip/wish/449586305 Introduction john_donohoe1 https://padlet.com/john_donohoe1/wam3cfd1a5ip/wish/449586519
  • Located: Ballon, Co. Carlow
  • Family Owned
  • Suckler Beef and Sheep Enterprises
  • Platform of 120 acres - Currently mixed grazing cattle and sheep (Block Grazig System)
  • Spring Calving System: Grass essential from late Feb
  • Stock Numbers: 
    • 40 Cows and 1 Bull
    • 40 yearlings
    • 10 Heifers 
    • 10 Bullocks
    • 200 ewes plus off spring 
  • Coarse sand loamy soil with limestone and is a grey – brown podzol soil 
  • Generally dry land, except following heavy rainfall

    • ]]>     2020-02-24 16:52:56 UTC https://padlet.com/john_donohoe1/wam3cfd1a5ip/wish/449586519     Year 1 john_donohoe1 https://padlet.com/john_donohoe1/wam3cfd1a5ip/wish/451898865
  • Soil Test - All Fields
  • Implement new grazing system - Rotational 
  • Winter Fodder Plan: Outwinter Some Stock if Possible? Rape/Kale/Beet
  • Slurry management - get out earlier
    • ]]>     2020-02-28 11:21:01 UTC https://padlet.com/john_donohoe1/wam3cfd1a5ip/wish/451898865     Year 2 john_donohoe1 https://padlet.com/john_donohoe1/wam3cfd1a5ip/wish/451898974
  • Join grassland discussion group 
  • Complete 70% of total farm to a rotational grazing system - Inclusing water troughs
  • Start to grass measure 
  • Establish PastureBase accounts and Grass Wedge
  • Reseed 10 - 15% of land
  • Increase grazing season
    • ]]>     2020-02-28 11:21:26 UTC https://padlet.com/john_donohoe1/wam3cfd1a5ip/wish/451898974     Year 3 john_donohoe1 https://padlet.com/john_donohoe1/wam3cfd1a5ip/wish/451899023
  • Complete grazing system across all pastures
  • Start using PastureBase Ireland (PBI) fully
  • Cut down on inputs (fertiliser)
  • Soil test field(s) identified for winter fodder/cash crop
  • Reseed field used for winter crop 
  • Increase grass output for winter forrage
    • ]]>     2020-02-28 11:21:37 UTC https://padlet.com/john_donohoe1/wam3cfd1a5ip/wish/451899023     Year 4 john_donohoe1 https://padlet.com/john_donohoe1/wam3cfd1a5ip/wish/451899053
  • Establish Roadways
  • Continue reseeding
  • Expand stock/ Increase stocking rate
  • Venture in other enterprises - Carbon neutrility? - Forestry/Solar Panels
  • Cut excess silage for sale

    • ]]>     2020-02-28 11:21:45 UTC https://padlet.com/john_donohoe1/wam3cfd1a5ip/wish/451899053     Year 5 john_donohoe1 https://padlet.com/john_donohoe1/wam3cfd1a5ip/wish/451899100
  • Continue reseeding (AVG 20%/year)
  • Continue measuring and using PBI
  • Sell excess silage
    • ]]>     2020-02-28 11:21:55 UTC https://padlet.com/john_donohoe1/wam3cfd1a5ip/wish/451899100     Strengths john_donohoe1 https://padlet.com/john_donohoe1/wam3cfd1a5ip/wish/451899167
  • Teagasc member
  • Located on mostly dry ground
  • Young interested family member
  • Soil testing carried out every 5 years over all the farm 
  • Once calved/lambed all stock let out to grass
  • Farming Community
  • Neighbouring Vet
  • Local Contractors and Merchants
  • Silage made on farm 

    • ]]>     2020-02-28 11:22:11 UTC https://padlet.com/john_donohoe1/wam3cfd1a5ip/wish/451899167     Weaknesses john_donohoe1 https://padlet.com/john_donohoe1/wam3cfd1a5ip/wish/451899219
  • Little practice of grassland management 
  • Not member of any discussion group
  • Weed management poor
  • Generational gap (Father - Son)
  • Low Income
  • Current market prices 

    • ]]>     2020-02-28 11:22:21 UTC https://padlet.com/john_donohoe1/wam3cfd1a5ip/wish/451899219     Opportunities john_donohoe1 https://padlet.com/john_donohoe1/wam3cfd1a5ip/wish/451899248
  • Policy changes - Brexit?
  • New trends - Organic Production
  • Good grazing block - Land all together, easy to make a potential grazing system
  • New technologies/techniques - Measuring and Apps
  • Joining a discussion group - focused on grassland
    • ]]>     2020-02-28 11:22:30 UTC https://padlet.com/john_donohoe1/wam3cfd1a5ip/wish/451899248     Threats john_donohoe1 https://padlet.com/john_donohoe1/wam3cfd1a5ip/wish/451899316
  • Weather 
  • Brexit
  • Economy & market prices
  • New Trends - Veganism
  • Overgrazing
  • Labour
  • Cost of inputs (fertiliser and infrastructural)
    • ]]>     2020-02-28 11:22:49 UTC https://padlet.com/john_donohoe1/wam3cfd1a5ip/wish/451899316     john_donohoe1 https://padlet.com/john_donohoe1/wam3cfd1a5ip/wish/451916294 2020-02-28 12:28:02 UTC https://padlet.com/john_donohoe1/wam3cfd1a5ip/wish/451916294 john_donohoe1 https://padlet.com/john_donohoe1/wam3cfd1a5ip/wish/451930772 2020-02-28 13:14:09 UTC https://padlet.com/john_donohoe1/wam3cfd1a5ip/wish/451930772