Update on Silage Making Conditions
RECENT weeks has seen much improved grass growth and ground conditions for most of the country. Many farms have taken the opportunity to begin harvesting first cut silage. Current weather forecasts are for relatively settled conditions for the week ahead. This should allow more silage area to be harvested in the coming days.
The Teagasc Fodder Working Group is monitoring conditions across various sites nationally. Dr Joe Patton, Teagasc specialist said; “It’s important that the first cut is not delayed and that the majority of farmers plan for a second cut in the 2018 silage season. Every effort should be made to rebuild fodder stocks during the coming months to ensure adequate stocks for the 2018 winter/2019 spring.” He noted the following trends:
* Grass growth - PastureBase data is reporting average daily growth rates of 70 to 80kg Dry Matter per hectare. Differences within county are greater than between counties reflecting individual farm management decisions. Overall, many farms are producing grass surpluses on grazing areas; these will likely need to be removed as baled silage to maintain grass quality.
* First cut yields - On areas closed for silage, dry matter yields have increased considerably. Well managed swards in Munster/ south Leinster were at 4500 to 5800kg DM per hectare on areas grazed in late March, and 5000 to 6000kg DM on areas closed since autumn.
* With these yields in place, quality targets should now dictate cutting date. Delaying first cut too long past grass heading date will cause a large drop in quality and reduce second cut yields significantly. The aim should be to take out main first cut areas by early June; areas grazed twice this spring can be cut around 7-10 days later.
* Grass sugars are the main consideration for crop preservation. Indications from various sites around the country are for sugars ranging 1.5 to 3.5%. The target for good preservation is at least 2.5% (3% if wilting is not possible). Older swards with less ryegrass are showing lower sugars. Current conditions are favourable for increased sugars. If in doubt local Teagasc offices will test grass sugars and nitrates to establish best options for cutting.
* Grass nitrates can affect preservation by increasing buffering capacity. However there is good evidence that sugar levels are actually the more important consideration. A grass crop will on average use up 2 units of N per day for first cut, and more during good growing conditions. Nonetheless, this is only a general rule and should not unduly delay cutting date. Local Teagasc offices will test for nitrates in addition to sward sugars.
* Wilting is very beneficial to silage preservation where sugars are marginal and/or nitrates remain elevated. The aim should be to increase crop Dry Matter to 27-30%. This is best achieved by tedding out rows and wilting for 24 hours in good conditions. Data from Teagasc Grange shows that grass left in larger rows (3m+) will not dry sufficiently to be effective. Where surplus bales are made from shorter leafy grass, wilting to 30% plus will result in better preservation and bales that hold their shape over longer storage periods. There will also be a reduction in baling costs. ICMSA seek one month extension to rule that expects 50% of slurry to be spread by 15 th June on derogation farms
Over 7000 farmers are in a nitrates derogation, the majority of these are dairy farmers. The new rules applied to the derogation this year insist that farmers in a derogation must have over 50% of their slurry spread by the 15 th June this June. Given the spring farmers have had many farmers will find it impossible to abide by this rule.
ICMSA are calling on the Department to adopt a common-sense approach and extend this deadline. “Only now are farmers finding their feet, but grass growth is still well behind and the silage growing season will be delayed despite our best efforts” said Mr. Denis Drennan, Chairman of the Farm and Rural Affairs Committee “we want to use our slurry effectively and apply it after the first cut of silage. There’s no point in spreading slurry on heavy covers just to meet a calendar date”. We are looking for the deadline to be extended by one month. We need to build silage stock for next year and many will be banking on a bumper second cut to replenish stocks. Spreading slurry after the first cut is an ideal time to get the vast bulk of the slurry out this year and should give the second cut the extra boost it needs, concluded Mr. Drennan.