Soil temperatures are currently between 1°C and 2°C higher than normal at between 5°C and 8°C. Despite some frosts last week, the weather has been generally mild and good for grass growth.

The closed period for spreading fertilisers is coming to an end for most of the country next weekend.

The research from Moorepark is clear; for every 1kg of urea spread in January you get an average response of 16kg of grass in return. So for a 40ha farm with 100 cows spreading 23 units/acre of urea in mid-January, this is worth an extra 16 days of grass in spring. The farmers who grow the most grass spread some nitrogen in January.

But to be able to do so, they have the nitrogen in the yard and are ready to go out when the time comes. So order your nitrogen now and get it delivered, grease up the spreader and have it ready to go and as soon as the closed period is over. When conditions allow, go out and spread a half bag of urea/acre.

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