Have grass seed sales fallen in 2016?

Weather and milk price were certainly factors that contributed to a fall-off in grass seed sales. While we cannot predict the weather, the improvement of the price of milk should positively affect grass seed sales for 2017.

What are the advantages of reseeding?

The return on investment from reseeding cannot be ignored. With new varieties coming out of breeding programmes such as AFBI in Northern Ireland and IBERS in Wales, farmers who have not previously reseeded will get a clear benefit from reseeding in terms of increased DM yield, quality, palatability and animal performance.

Are more farmers reseeding every year?

It may come as a surprise, but the grass seed market is stagnant to a large degree. Of the grassland available for reseeding in Ireland, less than 3% is reseeded annually. Where we have seen the most change is from dairy farmers and specialised beef systems where the level of reseeding they undertake has increased as they realise the value. On the other hand, reseeding has decreased in low production units.

What has driven increased reseeding levels among some farmers?

This has been driven by factors such as education, herd expansion and quota abolition. Discussion groups have been instrumental in facilitating the communication of data coming from recent research. Farmers engaging in these discussion groups are generally production and efficiency driven, whether on their dairy, beef or sheep farm.

Will grass seed sales increase in the coming years?

We don’t anticipate any major shift in grass seed sales in the coming years. We believe the industry may see an increase of 1-2% in overall reseeding figures but this is not going to be a game changer. The farmers who are reseeding regularly and getting the benefit are the ones who will continue on this road.

What makes a good grass variety for Irish farms?

80% of varieties being used by Irish farmers are late tetraploid or late diploid. Our point of difference is in having access to quality varieties. This means good spring growth, high digestibility value and a high palatability. Palatability in grass varieties is becoming a real consideration for farmers when choosing mixtures. It is an essential component for utilisation of the crop.

Should farmers include other crops in grass-based systems?

Without a doubt forage crops have a huge role to play in modern grass systems. This has come off the back of expansion where farmers are looking for wintering options. Maris Kestrel Kale and hybrid brassicas such as Redstart are ideal for farmers with limited housing looking to out-winter stock. Forage crops also play a role in a farmer’s reseeding programme so the value is twofold.