Applications are now open to become a pilot farmer for two of AgriSearch’s latest projects: GrassCheck 2017 and Beef from Grass. The Northern Ireland Agricultural Research and Development Council (AgriSearch) is working with research partners AFBI to recruit 12 dairy farms and 18 beef farms. The pilot farms will monitor grass growth and quality through the 2017 growing season to better understand grass growing conditions across the region.
The projects will focus on the economic benefits of better grass utilisation and assisting farmers to achieve that. According to AFBI, improving grassland utilisation by 1t/ha is worth an additional profit of £441/ha/year on a dairy farm, or £204/ha/year on a beef farm.
Bringing on 12 additional farms will build on existing GrassCheck activity, which has been measuring grass growth on plots at Greenmount and Hillsborough.
“This past year, we have witnessed huge variability in grass growth and grazing conditions across the country, which has had significant implications on animal performance and feed costs,” said AgriSearch general manager Jason Rankin. “It is important that we both monitor and understand this variation to assist farmers in managing grass throughout the season.”
Successful applicants will be required to measure grass each week throughout the grazing season. Regular grass samples will also be taken for analysis. Each of the dairy pilot farms will also have an automatic weather station installed to measure key metrological data, such as temperature, rainfall and soil moisture. This information will be published online and in the farming press on a weekly basis.
Application forms and information packs can be downloaded from the AgriSearch website www.agrisearch.org.
If you have any general queries, contact Jason Rankin (AgriSearch) on 028-9268 1613. For Dairy-specific queries, contact Debbie McConnell (AFBI) on 028-9268 1530. For beef-specific enquiries, contact Francis Lively (AFBI) on 028-9268 1552.
GrassCheck is published on page four of the Irish Farmers Journal Northern edition every week during the growing season.
Read more
Grass measuring key to farm profitability
Applications are now open to become a pilot farmer for two of AgriSearch’s latest projects: GrassCheck 2017 and Beef from Grass. The Northern Ireland Agricultural Research and Development Council (AgriSearch) is working with research partners AFBI to recruit 12 dairy farms and 18 beef farms. The pilot farms will monitor grass growth and quality through the 2017 growing season to better understand grass growing conditions across the region.
The projects will focus on the economic benefits of better grass utilisation and assisting farmers to achieve that. According to AFBI, improving grassland utilisation by 1t/ha is worth an additional profit of £441/ha/year on a dairy farm, or £204/ha/year on a beef farm.
Bringing on 12 additional farms will build on existing GrassCheck activity, which has been measuring grass growth on plots at Greenmount and Hillsborough.
“This past year, we have witnessed huge variability in grass growth and grazing conditions across the country, which has had significant implications on animal performance and feed costs,” said AgriSearch general manager Jason Rankin. “It is important that we both monitor and understand this variation to assist farmers in managing grass throughout the season.”
Successful applicants will be required to measure grass each week throughout the grazing season. Regular grass samples will also be taken for analysis. Each of the dairy pilot farms will also have an automatic weather station installed to measure key metrological data, such as temperature, rainfall and soil moisture. This information will be published online and in the farming press on a weekly basis.
Application forms and information packs can be downloaded from the AgriSearch website www.agrisearch.org.
If you have any general queries, contact Jason Rankin (AgriSearch) on 028-9268 1613. For Dairy-specific queries, contact Debbie McConnell (AFBI) on 028-9268 1530. For beef-specific enquiries, contact Francis Lively (AFBI) on 028-9268 1552.
GrassCheck is published on page four of the Irish Farmers Journal Northern edition every week during the growing season.
Read more
Grass measuring key to farm profitability
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