Grassland Management Plan on Declan Groarke's Farm by https://padlet.com/andrew_kilduff/zg6bttz2643s Project Plan en-us 2017-02-21 09:26:39 UTC 2025-09-24 15:17:22 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Apple.png Introduction andrew_kilduff https://padlet.com/andrew_kilduff/zg6bttz2643s/wish/155089167
  • Ireland is unique in that 80% of agricultural land is devoted to grasslands (Ref,)
  • Ireland can grow grass for over 300 days of the year which is higher than any other country in the EU (Ref,)
  • The project I am doing is grassland management on the farm of Declan Groarke in Keel,Ballymahon, in Co. Longford.  
  • 140 acre farm all in permanent grassland
  • Integrated production system where all breeding and milking is carried out on the one farm.
  • Holstein Fresian dairy herd  115 cows.
    • ]]>     2017-02-21 09:29:59 UTC https://padlet.com/andrew_kilduff/zg6bttz2643s/wish/155089167     Objectives andrew_kilduff https://padlet.com/andrew_kilduff/zg6bttz2643s/wish/155089651 1. To increase overall grass growth and utilisation on the farm to 13t DM/Ha for the whole farm over 5 years.  
    2.To achieve the highest possible growth and utilisation to from the flood plain using appropriate management practices and seed mixes.
    3. To increase the proportion of grazed grass and grass silage in the animals’ diet, therefore increasing LWG from grass increasing profitability. 
    ]]>     2017-02-21 09:33:03 UTC https://padlet.com/andrew_kilduff/zg6bttz2643s/wish/155089651     SWOT Analysis andrew_kilduff https://padlet.com/andrew_kilduff/zg6bttz2643s/wish/155089786 2017-02-21 09:34:00 UTC https://padlet.com/andrew_kilduff/zg6bttz2643s/wish/155089786 5 YEAR PLAN andrew_kilduff https://padlet.com/andrew_kilduff/zg6bttz2643s/wish/155090215  
    Year 1 
    • Begin grass measuring 
    • Buy a grass hopper
    • Join a dairy based discussion group
    • Join DEP
    • Do a soil test 
    Year 2 
    • Select paddocks for reseeding based on grass measuring results 
    • Include clover in seed mixes 
    Year 3
    • Take soil test 
    • Consider increasing stocking rate 
    • Draw up fertilizer program
    ]]>     2017-02-21 09:36:22 UTC https://padlet.com/andrew_kilduff/zg6bttz2643s/wish/155090215     Current Grassland Management andrew_kilduff https://padlet.com/andrew_kilduff/zg6bttz2643s/wish/155281541
  • No grass measuring or budgeting 
  • A rotational system is in place 
  • Farm divided into 21 paddocks
  • Silage is contracted out 
  • Approximately 10-15% of all paddocks and silage ground is reseeded annually
  • Soil sampling is conducted at least every 5 years and a fertilizer program based on the results is drawn up in conjunction with them. 
    • ]]>     2017-02-21 19:43:13 UTC https://padlet.com/andrew_kilduff/zg6bttz2643s/wish/155281541     andrew_kilduff https://padlet.com/andrew_kilduff/zg6bttz2643s/wish/155289831 Year 4 
    • Continue grass measuring 
    • Assess the performance of reseeded paddocks
    • Implement on/off grazing 
    Year 5
    • Draw up new fertilzer plan
    • Increase soil fertility 
    • Improve fencing surrounding paddocks 
    ]]>     2017-02-21 20:08:43 UTC https://padlet.com/andrew_kilduff/zg6bttz2643s/wish/155289831