Increasing output has been one of the major objectives of the BETTER farm programme. While it is beneficial to produce more cattle for sale, it is important that the additional liveweight produced for sale is primarily gained from a grass-based system.

Increasing stocking rates has been the primary method of increasing output on farms.

But before the farms started to increase numbers, the programme farmers and programme advisers targeted reseeding and improving soil fertility so that they could produce more grass to carry additional stock.

Without addressing soil fertility, in the long-term it will be unsustainable to increase stocking rates, as it will be difficult to produce enough grass for grazing and winter feed. Unfortunately, Irish farms cannot be guaranteed grazing conditions like those experienced in 2014 every year.

It is easy to increase stocking rate in a good year. But during a year when weather is less favourable, there will be grazing problems if there has been no effort made to improve soil fertility or sward quality.

Soil analysis

Soil testing is carried out regularly on the programme farms. At the start of every year, the programme and local Teagasc advisers will meet with the farmers to determine the level of soil fertility on farms and to develop a fertilizer plan for the year ahead. It is a relatively simple process.

A fertilizer plan identifies which fields are low in lime, phosphorous (P) and potassium (K). Thereafter, the plan outlines what type of fertilizer will be applied to specific fields to balance P and K requirements. It also outlines the rate of slurry applications for grazing and silage ground.

Almost 75% of Irish farms are below the recommended level of P and K. Over 60% of farms are low in P, which can reduce grass yields by 1.5t DM/ha compared with soils at the ideal level (index 3). On a fresh weight basis, the lower yield is approximately the equivalent of 18t/acre of grass over the season.

Potassium levels are also below optimum levels on Irish farms, partly as a result of higher compound fertilizer prices. In addition, cutting of silage two to three times per year removes large quantities of potassium from soils that are not being adequately replenished with slurry or chemical fertilizer.

Every tonne of silage dry matter harvested removes 4kg/t DM of P and 25kg/t DM of K.

Lime status is just as important to monitor on farms. Grassland that is below pH 6.0 will produce less grass.

At pH 5.5, approximately 50% of chemical fertilizer applied to swards will actually be used for growth. This highlights how important it is to address soil fertility if you are spreading more fertilizer as you increase stocking rate.

At pH 6.3 to 6.8, soil organic will release additional nitrogen for growth. For instance, at pH 6.5, there will be an additional 60 to 80 units of nitrogen available, compared with soils at pH 5.0. This additional nitrogen is the same as spreading an extra bag of CAN per acre – a cost saving of €60 to €80/ha.

Farmer experience

Billy Glasheen farms 43ha of grassland near Ballingarry, Co Tipperary. Billy operates a store-to-beef finishing enterprise, buying Angus and Hereford-cross dairy cattle. Prior to joining the programme, Billy finished 150 cattle per year on one tonne of concentrates per animal.

The system has increased to over 240 head of finishing cattle, with a greater emphasis on grass finishing, rather than indoor finishing.

By improving grassland management and consistently making high-quality silage at 75 to 76DMD, Billy has reduced concentrate use by 50% per animal.

In 2012, soil analysis showed 50% of the farm was at index 2 or lower for P. It also indicated 60% of land was below index 3 for K. Stocking rate has increased from 1.5LU/ha to 2.6LU/ha. Taking an average liveweight of 500kg per animal, grazing demand has increased from 26kg DM/ha to 43kg DM/ha.

Over a 200-day grazing season, Billy needs to be producing 8.6t of grass DM to meet grazing demand alone. In 2014, Billy produced almost twice this grass yield, which includes surplus grass conserved as silage. In 2013, 10.5t DM/ha was produced from the same land base.

Improving soil fertility by targeted use of compound fertilizer has enabled Billy to increase stocking rate.

According to Billy, there is potential to increase stocking rate to 3.0LU/ha next year if he so desires and still finish two thirds of these cattle off grass.

BETTER farm analysis

Alan Dillon is the programme adviser in the southwest region for the BETTER farm programme, which covers the farms in Cork, Kerry, Tipperary, Limerick, Clare and Westmeath. Alan has compiled the soil analysis results for the farms in the region which are outlined in Figures 1 to 4.

Phosphorous levels in this region are the highest in the programme, with 79% of soils at index 3 or index 4.

Farms with soils at index 1 or index 2 are targeting straight phosphate and slurry to these fields to increase P levels. Where slurry is limited, compounds such as 20:4:0 are also being used.

Potassium levels are much lower than P levels on farms in the southwest region, with 61% of farms at index 3 or index 4.

On farms with fields that are low in K, the farmers are spreading muriate of potash, along with compounds such as 20:0:15 and 0:7:30.

Slurry is high in K, with an estimated 38 units/1,000 gallons. Slurry is also being targeted to silage ground before and after calving.

There has been a trend for fields on outfarms to have low P and K levels as they have received less slurry or FYM.

Approximately 53% of farms in the southwest are in the optimum range for pH. Almost 500t of lime has been spread on the farms in the past two years.

Some farms have a molybdenum problem, which prevents lime applications. Lime applications on heavy farms have been limited to 2t/acre/year to prevent the soil structure breaking down and increasing the risk of poaching.

Similar soil analysis is included for farms in the southeast region (Wexford, Waterford, Kilkenny, Wicklow, Laois, Kildare, Meath), northwest region (Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Roscommon, Galway, Mayo, Longford, Westmeath) and northeast (Cavan, Monaghan, Louth).