GrassCheckGB annual results shows grass growth turned on its head

GrassCheckGB has been monitoring grass growth and helping livestock producers improve their grassland management since 2019. At the end of the most difficult growing season since its outset, Farmers Guardian asked three participating farmers how the 2022 season has been for them. 

“Unusually, Scotland has seen the greatest growth across the four regions measured, with a peak of 80.7kg DM/ha/day in May,” says Dr Kathryn Huson, from the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), which has a central role in the project (see graph x – slide 2).
“Unusually, Scotland has seen the greatest growth across the four regions measured, with a peak of 80.7kg DM/ha/day in May,” says Dr Kathryn Huson, from the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), which has a central role in the project (see graph x – slide 2).

Results from the GrassCheckGB project show regional patterns of growth turned on their head in 2022. This reflects the long drought, which hit farms in England and Wales particularly hard.

Despite the summer’s growth constraints, dairy farmers fared well by making the most of early growth and averaged over 10t DM/ha (March to October) (see graph x – slide 3).
Despite the summer’s growth constraints, dairy farmers fared well by making the most of early growth and averaged over 10t DM/ha (March to October).

As the winter approaches she says farmers may want to consider on-off grazing.

“Being flexible and grazing when you have the opportunity can help maximise production. And if you put stock on a smaller area for a shorter time, they should be able to achieve a good grass intake without damaging the ground.”

Quality analysis showed higher dry matter but metabolisable energy and water-soluble carbohydrates lower than in the previous three years
Quality analysis showed higher dry matter but metabolisable energy and water-soluble carbohydrates lower than in the previous three years

Also recommending using the winter to review yields of individual paddocks, she says: “Try to gauge which fields are under-performing, and find out why. If there’s no obvious difference in management or drainage, I'd advocate checking the physical condition of the soil.

“This means getting out the spade and digging a hole. Then consider taking soil samples, testing for pH, P and K, and assessing sward composition to ensure there’s still a good proportion of productive species in the sward.”

GrassCheckGB is a collaborative grass monitoring project run by CIEL (Centre for Innovation in Livestock), the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) and Rothamsted Research, and supported by AHDB, QMS, HCC, Germinal GB, Handley Enterprises, Sciantec Analytical, Datamars Livestock, Morrisons, Corteva Agriscience & Yara. The project will continue in 2023. See www.grasscheckgb.co.uk