Archive Article: 2002/07/12
SUMMER droughts and the resulting halt to grass growth seem a distant memory with July rain keeping soils moist so far this year.
But for Dorset producer Clyde Jones cold, wet soil has reduced grass growth to 30kg/ha dry matter in the past week, from its peak of 105kg DM/ha two weeks ago. He is now hoping for a return to warmer weather to boost growth and may consider a dressing of fertiliser too. "But normally grass has gone stemmy by this time of year, currently its green and the quality is good."
On Christian Foxs organic unit in Wilts, growth is good enough to maintain supplies for grazing cows. "We have already made plenty of silage and some hay."
But in Northern Ireland, growth still needs to pick up to compensate for slow growth this spring, says Greenmount Colleges James Knox. "Overall growth is still lower than last year, with a low late May to early June peak."
Grass growth rates on Richard Johns Pembrokeshire unit are holding well at 70kg DM/ha with a little less rain than experienced elsewhere in the UK, he says. "Our growth rates have been low all year, but now swards are growing better following applications of nitrogen, phosphate and potash and after slowing the grazing rotation." *
Daily growth rates
Dorset 30kg DM/ha
Wilts (organic) 51kg DM/ha
Northern Ireland 58kg DM/ha
Pembrokeshire 70kg DM/ha
Cumbria 78kg DM/ha