There’s even more to see

Mid-September may seem a way off, but progress towards the Dairy Event at Stoneleigh on 20 and 21 September is coming on in leaps and bounds.

And as ever there will be even more for visitors to see this year.

Among the new features are a Soil Surgery, where experts will be on hand to give producers practical advice on maximising the potential of their soils.

In a novel twist, producers will be able to take a sample of their farm’s soil along to the event for analysis by experts from Kingshay and Jo Scammel of Ground Level Nutrition.

Samples should be a spade’s width and depth and include a turf layer.

Where possible soil layering should be preserved.

The Soil Surgery will be housed in a new Dairy Event area, the Forage Area, where visitors will also be able to find out about all the latest forage crop developments.

Sponsored by SAC, this area will also include the ever-popular silage clinics, allowing farmers to have grass silages analysed by Central Laboratories at the event, with nutritionists and other experts on hand to advise.

Returning after a successful debut last year will be the Beef From the Dairy Herd section and EBLEX is also partnering Farmers Weekly in providing advice on picking beef sires suitable for dairy herds.

Signet Breeding Services manager Sam Boon will be on hand at the Farmers Weekly stand at various times on both days of the event to talk visitors through beef EBVs relevant to dairy herds, with the assistance of two Belgian Blue bulls.