Baffled by Grass Mixtures

49801

I must confess I am just totally baffled by grass seed mixtures.

We're going to be sowing 34acres this spring for grazing and I want to get it ordered shortly.
I normally just buy mixes off the shelf and hope that it does what it says on the tin. but if there is significant differences between brands i would not have a hope of cooping it.

soil is sandy friable lite soil (lots of quarries nearby)

Can any1 educate me on how to pick the right mix?

blue5000

Is it for silage or grazing, and do you want clover, also will any sheep be grazing it?
There should be recommended lists somewhere on dept website.

49801

blue5000 wrote: »

Is it for silage or grazing, and do you want clover, also will any sheep be grazing it?
There should be recommended lists somewhere on dept website.

grazing would be the priority.
will be stocked high 2.5lu/ha plus so not sure if clover will have a place.
no sheep. just dairy hiefers 5-21mths of age

i know there is the deptment recommended list but i just cant make head nor tail of it all.

blue5000

http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/media/migration/farmingsectors/crops/seedcertification/cropvarietyevaluationcvepublications/2013/GrassCloverRecommListVarietiesIreland13.pdf

Diploid perennial ryegrass is mostly what you want so. Tetraploids are more open, and suit clover better. If you are putting in clover put in a small leaf variety with good persistency. Seed suppliers are slow to let you know what mixes they are using because of the competition. Have you got any prices yet?

Sam Kade

The best grass seed I sowed for grazing was turbo from Sinclair mcgill. The first time I used it was 1996 and it's still growing strong. Ideal for dairy stock.

49801

blue5000 wrote: »

http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/media/migration/farmingsectors/crops/seedcertification/cropvarietyevaluationcvepublications/2013/GrassCloverRecommListVarietiesIreland13.pdf

Diploid perennial ryegrass is mostly what you want so. Tetraploids are more open, and suit clover better. If you are putting in clover put in a small leaf variety with good persistency. Seed suppliers are slow to let you know what mixes they are using because of the competition. Have you got any prices yet?

cheers
am in that link today alright trying to make some sense of it:o.
no prices yet. wanted to do a portion of research first before getting bamboozled by the sales talk. I am guessing seed will be close to €70 per bag.

delaval

Sam Kade wrote: »

The best grass seed I sowed for grazing was turbo from Sinclair mcgill. The first time I used it was 1996 and it's still growing strong. Ideal for dairy stock.

Put in 50 acres last year cannot say I agree but that said it was a dreadful year really hoping it does better this year:(

delaval

49801 wrote: »

cheers
am in that link today alright trying to make some sense of it:o.
no prices yet. wanted to do a portion of research first before getting bamboozled by the sales talk. I am guessing seed will be close to €70 per bag.

Look closely at the Aber' grasses. I love Tyrella, Cancan and Navan with no clover as it only takes up space in a field.

When you choose varieties any good merchant will be able to get it mixed for you.

Do not make choice based on price:mad::(

bob charles

delaval wrote: »

Look closely at the Aber' grasses. I love Tyrella, Cancan and Navan with no clover as it only takes up space in a field.

When you choose varieties any good merchant will be able to get it mixed for you.

Do not make choice based on price:mad::(

Tyrella and Navan are/were great varieties. Do you find merchants are able to get all varieties. Lots of good varieties seem to be kept by the seed houses for there own mixes. Grass seed up or down on last year? havnt went looking for seed yet as no point planting till 20th of April at earliest probably the 1st of May more like it.

delaval

bob charles wrote: »

Tyrella and Navan are/were great varieties. Do you find merchants are able to get all varieties. Lots of good varieties seem to be kept by the seed houses for there own mixes. Grass seed up or down on last year? havnt went looking for seed yet as no point planting till 20th of April at earliest probably the 1st of May more like it.

Probably old fashioned at this stage but I find them great. Glanbia make mixes for us

Do you direct drill or conventional?

bob charles

delaval wrote: »

Probably old fashioned at this stage but I find them great. Glanbia make mixes for us

Do you direct drill or conventional?

DD the permanent pasture and conventional for the land in crop rotation with 1-3 year grass leys usually coming back out of maize or beet

awaywithyou

Sam Kade wrote: »

The best grass seed I sowed for grazing was turbo from Sinclair mcgill. The first time I used it was 1996 and it's still growing strong. Ideal for dairy stock.

we got grass seed from them in 98.... and its still bursting up through the ground year after year....


are they still in existence? (sinclair mcgill)

delaval

awaywithyou wrote: »

we got grass seed from them in 98.... and its still bursting up through the ground year after year....


are they still in existence? (sinclair mcgill)

Delighted to hear it. We used it last year because landlord supplied it as it was what he wanted hope it picks up

bob charles

delaval wrote: »

Delighted to hear it. We used it last year because landlord supplied it as it was what he wanted hope it picks up

ah FFS, You wouldn't get flea's off my landlords

delaval

bob charles wrote: »

ah FFS, You wouldn't get flea's off my landlords

Bob he is the exception, he also contributes to the cost of lime and P+k's thge rest wouldn't cut you down from a tree

bogman_bass

Does anybody put thimoty in their mixes?

td5man

Anybody using goldcrops mixes ?
Always use mcguinness' here.

RobinBanks

bogman_bass wrote: »

Does anybody put thimoty in their mixes?

I purchased a heavy soils mix from germinal seeds last year. It had Timothy in the mix. It has a very big leaf and appears to be more prominent in the damper patches of the field. I don't think it will be as persistent in dryer areas so unless your land is very heavy I probably wouldn't bother adding it to the mix.

I will update you again after the summer. I might have a different view then!

49801

whats the difference in varieties between?

• Grazing mix
• One cut silage mix
• Extended Grazing mix

st1979

49801 wrote: »

whats the difference in varieties between?

• Grazing mix
• One cut silage mix
• Extended Grazing mix

Not much only the name. Always compare varieties used. And alot of companies stick 6 or 7 varieties in a mix. Which according to teagasc is too much. 3 varieties is enough.

49801

st1979 wrote: »

Not much only the name. Always compare varieties used. And alot of companies stick 6 or 7 varieties in a mix. Which according to teagasc is too much. 3 varieties is enough.

I thought as much!
very confusing marketing!!!

Sam Kade

delaval wrote: »

Put in 50 acres last year cannot say I agree but that said it was a dreadful year really hoping it does better this year:(

Last year would test any seed. First time I sowed it got off to a very bad start because of drought but it took off the following year.

awaywithyou wrote: »

we got grass seed from them in 98.... and its still bursting up through the ground year after year....


are they still in existence? (sinclair mcgill)

They are still here http://www.sinclairmcgill.com/home.html

HillFarmer

Hi All,

We are reseeding 8 acres of land that was drained. Its black peaty soil and farily acidic. Getting soil sampling done.

Does anyone have a recommnedation for grass seed type?

It will be used for sheep grazing in Spring and then Silage/ hay for rest of year.
South kerry so we get a lot of rain!

49801

Looking at DG's number 3 mix for the lot.
Looking at €78/bag but they should do something for me on that price as I could need 40-45 bags for the 34acre


"Mixture No 3 Dairygold Extend (Also available without clover)

A mixture with excellent spring and good autumn growth for intensive grazing situations where extending grazing, especially in spring, is a priority. Also suitable for one cut silage systems.

Tyrella perennial ryegrass (D) 3.25 Kg
Drumbo perennial ryegrass (D) 3.25 Kg
Kintyre perennial ryegrass (T) 4.50 Kg
Clover blend 0.50 Kg"

49801

What do ye make of the following mixtures

Silage and Grazing
0.25 Crusader (Clover)
0.25 Berblanca (Clover)
2 Solomen 21st May
2 Rosetta 22nd May
2 Glenveagh 2nd June
2 Tyrella 3rd June
3.5 Aston Energy 31st May

Grazing Only
0.25 Crusader (Clover)
0.25 Berblanca (Clover)
2 Twymax 21st May
2.75 Pickadilly 22nd May
2.75 Glenveagh 2nd June
2 Tyrella 3rd June
2 Aston Energy 31st May

case885

Whats the best seed for 3 cut silage system only no grazing, was looking at more grass are they good?

Farmer Pudsey

case885 wrote: »

Whats the best seed for 3 cut silage system only no grazing, was looking at more grass are they good?

Any grass seed that is cut three times a year will only survive about 4 years. If cutting 3 times I would consider using red clover in the mix save on nitrogen, increase protein and digestibility.

case885

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

Any grass seed that is cut three times a year will only survive about 4 years. If cutting 3 times I would consider using red clover in the mix save on nitrogen, increase protein and digestibility.

Father rents a field for 3 cuts silage and last year he reseeded it for the first time since 90's :eek: but it had gotten very bad and it was probably helped by all the slurry it was getting. He Used Dairygold mixture 2 on it ands seems pretty good just wondering what are yer thoughts on seed for 3 cuts

Farmer Pudsey

case885 wrote: »

Father rents a field for 3 cuts silage and last year he reseeded it for the first time since 90's :eek: but it had gotten very bad and it was probably helped by all the slurry it was getting. He Used Dairygold mixture 2 on it ands seems pretty good just wondering what are yer thoughts on seed for 3 cuts

I have used Hybrids for a few years however I find that they get stemmy for the second and third cut. I often wonder do the full Italians or Westerwolds do the same. Another disadvantage with any three cut system is that you cannot afford to graze in the spring and the last cut can be quite low in dry matter as you will not get a wilt. However it is the only way to get fairly good silage without having 50% or more of the far closed form April until August.

case885

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

I have used Hybrids for a few years however I find that they get stemmy for the second and third cut. I often wonder do the full Italians or Westerwolds do the same. Another disadvantage with any three cut system is that you cannot afford to graze in the spring and the last cut can be quite low in dry matter as you will not get a wilt. However it is the only way to get fairly good silage without having 50% or more of the far closed form April until August.

We have italian on our home farm and it is great for growing but it does get stemmy and you have to watch out for it lodging before the 1st cut it gets so high. Last year we grazed it in spring got three cuts and grazed twice after but the third cut was light and had to overseed it this year to bulk it up

just do it

HillFarmer wrote: »

Hi All,

We are reseeding 8 acres of land that was drained. Its black peaty soil and farily acidic. Getting soil sampling done.

Does anyone have a recommnedation for grass seed type?

It will be used for sheep grazing in Spring and then Silage/ hay for rest of year.
South kerry so we get a lot of rain!

What did you go for Hill Farmer, and how's it working out? Did you spread much lime?

just do it

A great article for those of us new to reseeding;)

http://www.teagasc.ie/publications/2003/20030716/foragegrain2003_06.asp

Now off to the Department list to select 3-4 varieties for your chosen mix:cool: