It could be an expensive winter if you don’t get to grips with rotation plans

Adding two days per week to the rotation length can happen in two ways: increasing the supply of grass or by reducing the demand.

Some may have after-grass entering the system now which will automatically increase the supply of grass fortnight as the response to nitrogen will be higher in August than in September.

There are numerous options to reduce demand for grass. The first area to look at is stocking rate. All calves and heifers should be sent to outside blocks now.

In addition, scan all milking cows and determine those that are not in calf. Perhaps there may be a market to sell these while milking? An advert online or in the paper will soon find out. Low yielders, thin cows, lame cows and those with mastitis could be dried off and sent to an outside block of ground.

Feeding extra meal may be necessary for some, but it should be a last resort. High-quality baled silage should be introduced before resorting to meal, but on some very highly stocked farms, it may be necessary. A very basic three-way mix will be adequate in most instances.

Ground conditions are good in most areas at present, with the exception of some heavier soils in the west.

Aim to graze out paddocks as clean as possible now because it may not be as easy to do it the next time round. This approach avoids grass being wasted and sets the farm up for the final autumn grazing and also for the first spring grazing.

For those on heavy soils, build as much grass as possible on your drier fields — the ones you know you will be able to graze in October. Then graze the heavier fields when you get the chance to do so.