The Grass Measuring Thread

Keepgrowing · 11-08-2018 9:36am

AFC 850 here. We got a massive hit from the 38mm of rain we got. Growth 60 in the last 4 days but has slowed significantly so we’re back in with pulp.

Offered a farm with standing hay on it last week as the elderly owner can’t graze it. It’s 140 ac with 12 sucklers on it. Moved all our incalf heifers there yesterday. We’ve set it up to be block grazed. This will allow us to cut silage from their usual ground if it would bloody only rain. Walked the heifer ground yesterday and it’s totally parched for the want of rain.

freedominacup · 11-08-2018 9:39am

Keepgrowing wrote: »

AFC 850 here. We got a massive hit from the 38mm of rain we got. Growth 60 in the last 4 days but has slowed significantly so we’re back in with pulp.

Offered a farm with standing hay on it last week as the elderly owner can’t graze it. It’s 140 ac with 12 sucklers on it. Moved all our incalf heifers there yesterday. We’ve set it up to be block grazed. This will allow us to cut silage from their usual ground if it would bloody only rain. Walked the heifer ground yesterday and it’s totally parched for the want of rain.

We're steeped around here by the sound of things. Got a downpour on Thurs morning before dawn and gook a while for the sun to come out and place is soaked atm. No downpours just misty drizzly day that you'd hate if the weather was generally poor. Keeping things moving.

whelan2 · 11-08-2018 9:43am

Reading in the journal that the Greenfield farm will be down 20 to 25% on milk supply this year. Surely most farms won't be that much down?

mahoney_j · 11-08-2018 10:29am

whelan2 wrote: »

Reading in the journal that the Greenfield farm will be down 20 to 25% on milk supply this year. Surely most farms won't be that much down?

Most wont with all extra feed going in

whelan2 · 11-08-2018 10:32am

mahoney_j wrote: »

Most wont with all extra feed going in

That's what I was thinking

mahoney_j · 11-08-2018 11:00am

whelan2 wrote: »

That's what I was thinking

Spring totally fooked then I’d say beteween all the confusion the time of the snow and slow grass growth farm never really had a chance this year also cow type and the ability to convert it to milk and solids at appreciable rates would be an issue and just to note that’s not a dig nor anything else sinister before someone jumps on it just a fact

GrasstoMilk · 11-08-2018 5:13pm

mahoney_j wrote: »

Spring totally fooked then I’d say beteween all the confusion the time of the snow and slow grass growth farm never really had a chance this year also cow type and the ability to convert it to milk and solids at appreciable rates would be an issue and just to note that’s not a dig nor anything else sinister before someone jumps on it just a fact

The new farm manager is going about things a different way. That farm will be at different level with him behind the wheel

freedominacup · 11-08-2018 5:39pm

GrasstoMilk wrote: »

The new farm manager is going about things a different way. That farm will be at different level with him behind the wheel

How do you mean? One thing that struck me lately about that place is the level of staff turnover.

visatorro · 11-08-2018 5:42pm

GrasstoMilk wrote:

The new farm manager is going about things a different way. That farm will be at different level with him behind the wheel

Read his posts on another platform. He seems fairly open, just wondering what exactly he can do differently? Are his hands not tied to the way the project is run?

jaymla627 · 11-08-2018 6:07pm

visatorro wrote: »

Read his posts on another platform. He seems fairly open, just wondering what exactly he can do differently? Are his hands not tied to the way the project is run?

Maybe he might get feeders in the parlour, expecting lads to shovel nearly two tons of nuts into cows daily during certain periods of the year is bananas

whelan2 · 11-08-2018 6:20pm

How many years are left on the lease?

mahoney_j · 12-08-2018 6:30pm

visatorro wrote: »

Read his posts on another platform. He seems fairly open, just wondering what exactly he can do differently? Are his hands not tied to the way the project is run?

That’s his big problem I think ,place has turned over lots staff and managers since it’s induction .current guy sounds very good and his weekly notes are good honest reading wouldn’t be surprised to hear someone snaps him up before long

visatorro · 12-08-2018 7:35pm

mahoney_j wrote:

Thatâ€™s his big problem I think ,place has turned over lots staff and managers since itâ€™s induction .current guy sounds very good and his weekly notes are good honest reading wouldnâ€™t be surprised to hear someone snaps him up before long

Yeah the grass based thing and minimal spent is understandable. Not going to start that debate. But think Jay is right about something simple like feeders. I stood on the farm and laurence shaloo defended not having feeders. Fact is he wasn't shovelling meal. I don't think new generation of farmers are afraid of hard work, but nobody is going to break their back doing jobs that can be done mechanically for small money.

Buford T. Justice XIX · 12-08-2018 7:52pm

visatorro wrote: »

Yeah the grass based thing and minimal spent is understandable. Not going to start that debate. But think Jay is right about something simple like feeders. I stood on the farm and laurence shaloo defended not having feeders. Fact is he wasn't shovelling meal. I don't think new generation of farmers are afraid of hard work, but nobody is going to break their back doing jobs that can be done mechanically for small money.

I did it myself until about 5 years ago because needs must. But it wasn't really fair on relief milkers to horsing stuff around so we put in feeders.

It's easy to talk about what return you are going to have on feeders but the needless hardship involved will mean you won't be getting the top managers working for you and the results won't be nice to look at.

I have yet to meet a farmer regretting putting in feeders.

Mooooo · 12-08-2018 8:12pm

Spent 15 + years throwing out ration with buckets. The daybthw feeders went back on was one of the classic " why the fcuk wasn't that done years ago" moments. Quota is gone, labour , land and nitrates are gonna be the new limiting factors. If we want to keep labour or even get lads/ ladies in to cover for the wkend we are gonna have make jobs streamlined and straightforward. I'm learning that more now with last year having a part time person here now. Cost saving is all well and good but simple jobs that will be done near on every day more often than not should be automated. Shovelling ration and scraping **** are not gonna keep lads around when they could be doing better work and returning more to the business.
When we were throwing ration out for the cows after milking it was taking say 30mins a day, between throwing out and them eating it. For say 280 days at grass that 140 hrs at 15 an hour that's 2100 a year payed out to shovel ration as well as that hour lost in terms of efficiency.....

FeirmeoirtTed · 15-08-2018 8:21am

Anyone use the teagasc pasture sward stick for grass measuring? How did he find its accuracy?

alps · 16-08-2018 9:56am

Finally, back on track to some extent, even though feeding 6kg...all Silage ground closed for another effort, so unless we get growth 50+, will have to stick with the feed.
Growth now 49, so expect an increase..

White Clover · 16-08-2018 10:05am

alps wrote: »

Finally, back on track to some extent, even though feeding 6kg...all Silage ground closed for another effort, so unless we get growth 50+, will have to stick with the feed.
Growth now 49, so expect an increase..

Out of interest, what is the send to Twitter tab about?

alps · 16-08-2018 10:10am

White Clover wrote: »

Out of interest, what is the send to Twitter tab about?

Never saw it till now....guess if it's you want to go willy waving..

Buford T. Justice XIX · 16-08-2018 10:37am

alps wrote: »

Never saw it till now....guess if it's you want to go willy waving..

Bit cold for that today, wait till tomorrow at least and see then:p

greenfield21 · 30-09-2018 9:00pm

What are ye giving ground that the cows have recently grazed lads. Going with watery slurry here but think I'm wasting my time as it seems to be just drying on to the but of left over grass. Its not real watery would there be much value in it?? Dont want to spoil the next grazing as we are a bit light ahead of them. Stopped with ureu now as its heavy land and I think I will see feck all results with it.

farisfat · 01-10-2018 10:44am

greenfield21 wrote: »

What are ye giving ground that the cows have recently grazed lads. Going with watery slurry here but think I'm wasting my time as it seems to be just drying on to the but of left over grass. Its not real watery would there be much value in it?? Dont want to spoil the next grazing as we are a bit light ahead of them. Stopped with ureu now as its heavy land and I think I will see feck all results with it.

Watery slurry here to .....I think we'll get enough rain to wash it in.

Buford T. Justice XIX · 14-01-2019 4:51pm

Thought a few might be interested in a mentored grass measuring course being run by Teagasc.
https://twitter.com/teagasc/status/1084817154153873408?s=19

freedominacup · 20-05-2019 1:22pm

Did a walk on Friday. Everything seemed grand. No major concerns either way. Did another one this morning based on clear outs over weekend. 10% of grazing area being mowed shortly. Sr before taking this out was over 5/ha on grazing area. Only concern now is am I going hard enough at 10%. No idea of AFC or gr other than what my eyes are telling me about covers and clearout.

Mooooo · 20-05-2019 1:25pm

Doing the same here, half of heifer ground taken as well with some burned off. Stocked around 4.5 with this out but twill be back fast

mahoney_j · 20-05-2019 3:31pm

freedominacup wrote: »

Did a walk on Friday. Everything seemed grand. No major concerns either way. Did another one this morning based on clear outs over weekend. 10% of grazing area being mowed shortly. Sr before taking this out was over 5/ha on grazing area. Only concern now is am I going hard enough at 10%. No idea of AFC or gr other than what my eyes are telling me about covers and clearout.

Did simillar here ,was getting tight last week going in hard leaving 13 days ahead .rain promised at end of week so gambling a bit but should be ok .will have about 2.3 bales of very good silage per milking cow made after this

TooOldBoots · 20-05-2019 3:41pm

Met.ie up to there old tricks again. Rain that was forecast for
midweek has been pushed out till the weekend. Same as last weeks forecast.
Another week of this and grass will start browning

White Clover · 20-05-2019 3:53pm

TooOldBoots wrote: »

Met.ie up to there old tricks again. Rain that was forecast for
midweek has been pushed out till the weekend. Same as last weeks forecast.
Another week of this and grass will start browning

We got a small sup Friday night. The grass is growing away ok, what we need is a few days heat in the low 20's to keep it going.

Timmaay · 20-05-2019 7:53pm

freedominacup wrote: »

Did a walk on Friday. Everything seemed grand. No major concerns either way. Did another one this morning based on clear outs over weekend. 10% of grazing area being mowed shortly. Sr before taking this out was over 5/ha on grazing area. Only concern now is am I going hard enough at 10%. No idea of AFC or gr other than what my eyes are telling me about covers and clearout.

Spent the last 2wks with the afc on the floor stocked at about 4.3, only shot off last 4days I'd guess, and suddenly half a dozen paddocks are at 1100, I'll keep a close eye on them but no plans to take out any paddocks yet. Last year I ended up with one big 1st cut late May (any surplus paddocks went into the pit also), and as a result the afc was on the floor waiting for aftergrass that barely came with the drought, so I was feeding heavy from early June. I've split the cuts this year, 25ac out last week and hopefully that will be fit to graze in 3wks time, half the drycow stuff coming early June and the rest mid June.

Ground is drying out rapidly however, I've zero plans for any 2nd cut off the main block here at the minute here, however doing a deal for a 2nd cut crop from a neighbour.

whelan2 · 20-05-2019 8:19pm

We got a massive shower of rain during milking. Heavens opened for half an hour. Deluge stuff. Rivers running down yard. That'll do for a while

freedominacup · 27-05-2019 7:28am

freedominacup wrote: »

Did a walk on Friday. Everything seemed grand. No major concerns either way. Did another one this morning based on clear outs over weekend. 10% of grazing area being mowed shortly. Sr before taking this out was over 5/ha on grazing area. Only concern now is am I going hard enough at 10%. No idea of AFC or gr other than what my eyes are telling me about covers and clearout.

Gr has fallen dramatically in the past week. Going premowing paddocks stopped for second cut this morning.

Bought in around 5.5t/cow of first cut on Saturday. Costing close to €200/cow with harvesting costs included but at least have the flexibility to take ground out of second cut now. Just enough rain after falling in past week to annoy anyone trying to cut silage.

Heifers going to contract rearer tomorrow so sr is falling dramatically. Will be under 3 tomorrow evening. Could well be on a fairly heavy feeding regime by the middle of June as things are going even at the lower sr.

Timmaay · 27-05-2019 8:30am

freedominacup wrote: »

Gr has fallen dramatically in the past week. Going premowing paddocks stopped for second cut this morning.

Bought in around 5.5t/cow of first cut on Saturday. Costing close to €200/cow with harvesting costs included but at least have the flexibility to take ground out of second cut now. Just enough rain after falling in past week to annoy anyone trying to cut silage.

Heifers going to contract rearer tomorrow so sr is falling dramatically. Will be under 3 tomorrow evening. Could well be on a fairly heavy feeding regime by the middle of June as things are going even at the lower sr.

Been back to 2.9 here the last week also, made zero attempt to stop anything for 2nd cut. This time last yr I ended up with one large 1st cut end of May with any excess paddocks pitted also, as a result I had to start feeding early in June ugh. As things stand now I should get into July without much buffering.

I have 8ac of a reseed that has struck but is static the last 2wks now, do I have any options for that now??

mahoney_j · 27-05-2019 8:56am

Opposite here ,flying it growth wise and looking for window to take out paddocks ,Sr in milk block is 4.2 with cows in full area .bits and pieces of rain over weekend ,nothing major but enough to wash in manure and give growth a good kick ,nice misty rain falling now ,urea going out in a bit .my big concern if this weather keeps up is ground water ,we’re just about getting enough to keep grass moving but that’s it ,a dry warm week would have me I. Trouble

Timmaay · 27-05-2019 9:02am

https://www.agriland.ie/farming-news/grass-advice-cant-afford-to-take-your-foot-off-the-pedal/

Sponsored by grassland agro ha?? I'm certainly in no rush to lash out much fertiliser here, bag of 18 6 12 will be the height of it until we are due a decent bit of rain.

Gawddawggonnit · 28-05-2019 6:46am

Timmaay wrote: »

https://www.agriland.ie/farming-news/grass-advice-cant-afford-to-take-your-foot-off-the-pedal/

Sponsored by grassland agro ha?? I'm certainly in no rush to lash out much fertiliser here, bag of 18 6 12 will be the height of it until we are due a decent bit of rain.

Well I suppose it did take decades to ban cigarette advertising...:).

GrasstoMilk · 28-05-2019 9:46am

freedominacup wrote: »

Gr has fallen dramatically in the past week. Going premowing paddocks stopped for second cut this morning.

Bought in around 5.5t/cow of first cut on Saturday. Costing close to €200/cow with harvesting costs included but at least have the flexibility to take ground out of second cut now. Just enough rain after falling in past week to annoy anyone trying to cut silage.

Heifers going to contract rearer tomorrow so sr is falling dramatically. Will be under 3 tomorrow evening. Could well be on a fairly heavy feeding regime by the middle of June as things are going even at the lower sr.

You're along the green way free arent you?
We walked a good length of it on Sunday and it looked like there was plenty of grass about?

freedominacup · 28-05-2019 10:28am

GrasstoMilk wrote: »

You're along the green way free arent you?
We walked a good length of it on Sunday and it looked like there was plenty of grass about?

Nope. Different climate altogether in there. Much heavier soil type there also at least until you get to Durrow. On coast road.

GrasstoMilk · 30-05-2019 7:24am

That should do away with any drought for early summer!

Say my name · 30-05-2019 7:35am

GrasstoMilk wrote: »

That should do away with any drought for early summer!

Rain for us. Drought for mainland Europe.

stretch film · 30-05-2019 10:51am

GrasstoMilk wrote: »

That should do away with any drought for early summer!

vanished off yr and met.ie unfortunately

Waffletraktor · 30-05-2019 10:57am

Yr Seems to change its mind every 12hr update with rain promised then pushed back or gone.

stretch film · 30-05-2019 12:44pm

Waffletraktor wrote: »

Yr Seems to change its mind every 12hr update with rain promised then pushed back or gone.

They do at times .
Met were following them ml for ml then both disappeared.
A good bit of silage knocked again around here

The Grass Measuring Thread

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