The Grass Week: grass building by default for many

Grass growth is running ahead of the long-term average for many farms this week.

Average predicted growth rates are sitting around 51kg to 75kg DM/ha, which is nicely above the long-term average for many, with the south in particular seeing a rise in growth rates over the last few weeks.

The highest levels of growth are still being seen in the northwest, though there are also huge variabilities in growth from farm to farm, with an average growth of 77kg DM/ha, though the range is from 50kg to 119kg DM/ha.

The same variability can be seen in Cork, where growth rates are fluctuating between 41kg and 82kg DM/ha.

Farms that suffered badly from the drought or those that may have been cautious with spreading fertiliser post-drought seem to be the slowest to recover, though they are now heading in the right direction.

Excess grass

All this growth has meant that farm covers are on the upper side of ideal.

Current farm covers are nearly two weeks ahead of target, with Pasturebase Ireland showing that 72% of farms are above 200kg DM/LU or an average cover of 797kg DM/ha.

Average farm covers are usually a good indicator of pre-grazing yields, whereby your average is approximately half that of your pre-grazing.

In the above case, we are talking of a 1,600kg DM/ha of a pre grazing cover, which is a shade on the high side this early in the year.

Correcting this can be done by introducing more stock on to ground, with many farmers bringing home in-calf heifers or taking out some surplus grass in bales.

Be cautious of the latter, as growth rates are set to dip in the coming weeks and if a large area is mown out, then there is the risk that recovery will be slow.