Dairy
2017 is drawing to a close and - for spring-calving herds - the majority of cows are now dried off.
Increasing average farm cover (AFC) is now on most of our minds, as we plan for extending the grazing season.
The nights are getting slightly longer as we have passed summer's peak. However, grass growth rates are excellent on most farms due to the recent rain or steady, mild weather.
It's mid-April and the sun is shining. Temperatures are varying quite a bit throughout the country but farms that got the target area grazed In February are reaping the rewards.
Grass
The spring rotation planner is useful to help us stretch out the remaining area left to graze but I think the grass budget is even more important.
How do farmers on heavier soils maximise grass intake and grass utilisation without damaging soil structure?
It has been extremely difficult to maintain grass quality in June, but staying on an 18-19-day rotation definitely helped us to stay on top of things.
