Sheep on rented ground

Upstream

Hi, the cattle are in off some rented ground, and another neighbour asked if he could graze some sheep on it over the winter. The owner has no issue with this as long as the department are OK with it and that's what I'm wondering too.

It would make a good job of the ground but is it acceptable from a Department/SFP point of view? If it's not OK I'll let it go there but I thought I'd ask her before I gave the Dept a call.

Greengrass1

Ground we leased this yr had sheep on it till Christmas. We took it mid feb. No grass on it till mid march

Upstream

Greengrass1 wrote: »

Ground we leased this yr had sheep on it till Christmas. We took it mid feb. No grass on it till mid march

I suppose it would leave the grass a bit later in the springtime alright, but it's not great grass so a good tight grazing maybe followed by spraying off the weeds when the regrowth starts might leave it in better shape for the rest of next year

Farrell

They'd thicken the sward too.
Could it be grazed in different stages (field by field), which would allow the earlier closed to have cover for spring

J.O. Farmer

I don't think the department will have a problem if stock from 2 herds aren't mixing. I think it's up to the man with the sheep to notify the department of sheep moving to temporary grazing.
Other than that sheep will graze it like a putting green on a golf course but you should get nice regrowth in spring. In 2010/11 when evey field was yellow from dead grass after the snow our fields were green even if they hadn't much on them because sheep had grazed it so tight.
Greengrass might count no grass for cows until mid march a bad thing (and it probably is on his farm) but in some places getting cows out by mid April is an achievement.

Greengrass1

J.O. Farmer wrote: »

I don't think the department will have a problem if stock from 2 herds aren't mixing. I think it's up to the man with the sheep to notify the department of sheep moving to temporary grazing.
Other than that sheep will graze it like a putting green on a golf course but you should get nice regrowth in spring. In 2010/11 when evey field was yellow from dead grass after the snow our fields were green even if they hadn't much on them because sheep had grazed it so tight.
Greengrass might count no grass for cows until mid march a bad thing (and it probably is on his farm) but in some places getting cows out by mid April is an achievement.

Ah well this ground wasn't looked after needed 5t lime
That had alot to do with it too. Closes up now will be out by mid feb with heifers I hope

Farrell

Greengrass1 wrote: »

Ah well this ground wasn't looked after needed 5t lime
That had alot to do with it too. Closes up now will be out by mid feb with heifers I hope

On that, what's bthe max amount of lime you can put on in a spread, without impacting ground conditions
Got soil test for rented groung done, requires 11.25T/Ha.

Greengrass1

Farrell wrote: »

On that, what's bthe max amount of lime you can put on in a spread, without impacting ground conditions
Got soil test for rented groung done, requires 11.25T/Ha.

3t per yr if your ploughing in ive heard of lads do 3t plough then 2t on top.
Went with two bags of gran lime this yr getting 3t lime soon and another 2 bags of gran lime in spring

J.O. Farmer

Greengrass1 wrote: »

Ah well this ground wasn't looked after needed 5t lime
That had alot to do with it too. closes up now will be out by mid feb with heifers I hope

In fairness a lot of ground with sheep on it till Christmas won't have grass till mid march regardless of the lime. That said I've got to respect that you're certainly looking to maximise output from grass.
My point was that you're farm is dry enough to carry heifers in mid February where as you let heifers in to places down the west in mid march and they'll leave it ready for spuds so no grass isn't really a problem if you only keep cattle.

sea12

Op no issue with the dept. Sheep man needs to notify dept if there is other livestock on the ground. Otherwise I don't think they even need that

Farrell

Greengrass1 wrote: »

3t per yr if your ploughing in ive heard of lads do 3t plough then 2t on top.
Went with two bags of gran lime this yr getting 3t lime soon and another 2 bags of gran lime in spring

Thanks, is now a good time to spread?
Was thinking more early spring

Greengrass1

Farrell wrote: »

Thanks, is now a good time to spread?
Was thinking more early spring

Were going now because ground us still fairly trafficable and it'll be ready to go by spring. Late autumn best as it has winter to get into soil