Livestock farmers hoping for a bumper year to increase forage supplies

Many livestock farmers struggled to bolster silage stocks following the drought last year, so this year, most will be desperately hoping for a bumper year to increase forage supplies.

However, this only be achieved if the soil is in good health warns Lisa Hambly, head of grassland and forage at Mole Valley Farmers.

She says now is the time to assess poorer-performing leys for soil compaction.

“Go out with a spade and dig a hole. If there is surface compaction you can sward slit. This is fantastic to kick start the soil into some action and get air into it. You could see up to a 25% uplift in yields.”

Deeper compaction, she said, caused by traffic or a plough pan, may require more invasive action like sward lifting, so farmers should check before they carry out any soil operations.

Soil tests should also be carried out to ensure soil pH is at the optimum 6.2- 6.5, she advises.

High magnesium soils can make soils tight, which in turn will not create a good environment for water percolation and soils will become unbalanced. An oversupply of potassium locks up magnesium in the soil creating an unfavourable environment, explains Ms Hambly.

“Where pH is below target, a quick fix is calcium lime which can really help open the soil and get the pH up to maximise the uptake of nutrients,” she added pointing out that maintaining healthy soils is key to increasing production from grass.

“You will get swards lasting longer and soils will warm up quicker giving you faster grass growth. It also stands us in good stead if we have another dry summer because the rain can percolate deeper.”

How to prepare for first cut:

1. Decide preferred date of cutting, weather depending.

2. Create a nutrient management plan. Work out how much slurry is required. If slurry has not been tested, use book values to determine the nitrogen value.

3. Work out how much additional artificial fertiliser that grass needs to be nitrate-free by the planned cutting date.

4. Test grass for nitrates the week before cutting.

5. Use strip tests a couple of days before harvest.

If soil samples are required for Government schemes and increased focus on soils from all areas including milk buyers and the Environment Agency, they should be done as soon as possible.

Priority should be given to fields which are likely to need/receive further inputs of nutrients whether that be muck or slurry or purchased fertilisers to ensure that the crop requirements are met.

Mole Valley has the options of a soil sampling service or taking the samples into store where they can be posted to the laboratory. Expectations for time of results should be managed as a basic test for pH, phosphorus, potash and magnesium will come back quicker than some of the more detailed tests such as organic matter and carbon which although important are less time critical when it comes to planning crop inputs.