Fencing was the order of the day on the Casey farm in Causeway, Co Kerry, once the Irish Farmers Journal left the yard.
It was just before St Patrick’s Day when we visited and there was less than 20% of the herd to calve. The remainder were out on grass and John and his father, Michael, were preparing for the grazing season ahead.
It’s good ground. Michael grew winter wheat for many years on the farm. All in grass now, there is a focus and attention to detail on soil.
Michael and John Casey farm outside Causeway in Co Kerry.
Lime and fertiliser application are a key part of the system.
Ninety per cent of the soil on the Caseys’ farm is correct for soil pH and phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) indexes aren’t too far off the mark either.
Spreading lime is a routine job on the farm; carried out two to three times each year. It’s part of the management plan – just like spreading slurry or compound fertiliser.
Lime on the farm is usually spread at a rate of 2t/ac by local contractor JP Barrett and comes from Ardfert Quarry just a few miles away.
Where lime is needed on the milking block, it is generally spread in April when farm cover is at its lowest. Compound fertiliser is spread in April, while protected urea and slurry are applied in early February.
The Caseys' cows with their backs to the Atlantic Ocean.
When reseeding, lime is applied to ploughed ground. The Caseys prefer to apply lime to grass in the springtime, but they often apply in August, if needed, when the rotation is getting longer and grass is grazed out well. When there is enough grass ahead of the cows, it allows for lime to be well washed in, Michael said.
Fields across the farm generally receive lime every three years.
While soil pH is now up to standard on the majority of the farm, it takes work to maintain it, and there were fields which needed effort to get right in recent years. Pointing towards the cliffs, John noted a field that was reseeded in 2013 at a soil pH of 4.6. The field is now at 6.5, a little on the high side, but recovered from dramatically low levels.
Positives of lime
John said they aren’t necessarily using less fertiliser since soil pH has improved, but it is working more efficiently and the Caseys have noticed a kick from their fertiliser in the autumn in recent times. This has been put down to a release of P from the soil from July on.
If you have P and K right, once the growth comes at all you have the reserve in the soil
They are paying careful attention to soil needs. John noted that P is very good on the milking block, but building is needed on the outside blocks. Particular attention is paid to K on silage ground. Muriate of Potash is spread, as required, in the autumn on these blocks.
“If you have P and K right, once the growth comes at all you have the reserve in the soil,” John noted.
Urea and sulphur have come to replace compounds like pasture sward on the farm and 18-6-12 usually fits the bill in the springtime to keep on top of P and K levels.
The Caseys have been investing in the water system and roadways in recent times.
John noted that urea can cause acidification and more lime may be needed on the farm as a result of its increased use, but he adds that lime is cheap and is one of the most efficient spends on the farm. Keeping soil pH right is preventing a higher spend on fertiliser.
At present, the Caseys’ milking block is producing between 11t DM/ha and 12t DM/ha, but with reseeding due on paddocks John sees growth moving towards 14t DM/ha. Reseeding is carried out on some scale almost every year but with extra land added to the milking platform this year and stocking rate declining, as a result, this will allow for more reseeding.
Heavy covers are needed in winter due to the cold breeze from the Atlantic. Clover can leave swards open and decrease trafficability. This is being given attention as clover will be essential.
If Usain Bolt ate fast food every day of the year he’d still be fairly fast, but between a manager, training and the right nutrition he’s the fastest man in the world
Milk solids per cow were at 477kg in 2020. Approximately 1.2t of meal per cow was fed last year and the plan is to get down to 800kg this year with the extra land in the block. The Caseys put the increase in solids down to a mixture of breeding and soil and grassland management.
“If Usain Bolt ate fast food every day of the year he’d still be fairly fast, but between a manager, training and the right nutrition he’s the fastest man in the world. The two things have to work together,” John said. As you look around the farm, it’s clear that the Caseys are following that theme themselves. The little changes in management, such as an application of lime every three years, are improving the system.
Aim for a soil pH of 6.3 on grassland.On high molybdenum soils aim for 6.2.Approximately 48% of grassland soils are below 6.2 for soil pH.Applying lime will increase soil pH.Lime can be applied at any time of the year once there is not a strong cover on the ground.Lime should not be applied at rates over 3t/ac.Lime can increase ammonia losses – where slurry is applied wait at least 10 days before applying lime. If lime has been applied wait three months before applying slurry.CAN, compound fertiliser and protected urea will not suffer ammonia losses as a result of lime spreading so can be spread at any time.Never be afraid to ask for advice when analysing soil sample results or making decisions on lime rates and timings. The Caseys work with their local Teagasc adviser Ger Courtney.As the Caseys said, lime is cheap and it is a really good investment on the farm. Getting soil pH right is the first thing that any farmer should try to do before tackling soil indexes.
If soil pH is at sub-optimal levels it will affect soil function and have a negative effect on the release of other nutrients from the soil.
Low soil pH makes it extremely difficult to use fertiliser efficiently or sustainably.
It is very hard to build P and K levels if soil pH is out and you will not be getting the most out of your fertiliser spend until it is corrected.
Lime application can also be taken a step further by spreading according to variable rate maps.
Soil pH levels can vary hugely across fields and many lime spreading contractors can spread at variable rates.
You may still spread the same amount of lime, but it will be spread at higher rates where it is needed most in the low soil pH areas.
In a year like this when fertiliser prices climbed rapidly, the expenses really hit home.
Ensuring correct soil pH and using slurry and farmyard manure wisely to build soils low in P and K can prepare farmers for high price years.
If soil indexes are right, you can afford to maintain indexes and build in a year when prices are competitive.
For example, this season, nitrogen and phosphorus prices rose, but K is reasonably competitive so this may be a year to focus on improving K levels.
Every year is a year to focus on lime. Consult your soil tests and find time in the calendar for the contractor to come.
Fencing was the order of the day on the Casey farm in Causeway, Co Kerry, once the Irish Farmers Journal left the yard.
It was just before St Patrick’s Day when we visited and there was less than 20% of the herd to calve. The remainder were out on grass and John and his father, Michael, were preparing for the grazing season ahead.
It’s good ground. Michael grew winter wheat for many years on the farm. All in grass now, there is a focus and attention to detail on soil.
Michael and John Casey farm outside Causeway in Co Kerry.
Lime and fertiliser application are a key part of the system.
Ninety per cent of the soil on the Caseys’ farm is correct for soil pH and phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) indexes aren’t too far off the mark either.
Spreading lime is a routine job on the farm; carried out two to three times each year. It’s part of the management plan – just like spreading slurry or compound fertiliser.
Lime on the farm is usually spread at a rate of 2t/ac by local contractor JP Barrett and comes from Ardfert Quarry just a few miles away.
Where lime is needed on the milking block, it is generally spread in April when farm cover is at its lowest. Compound fertiliser is spread in April, while protected urea and slurry are applied in early February.
The Caseys' cows with their backs to the Atlantic Ocean.
When reseeding, lime is applied to ploughed ground. The Caseys prefer to apply lime to grass in the springtime, but they often apply in August, if needed, when the rotation is getting longer and grass is grazed out well. When there is enough grass ahead of the cows, it allows for lime to be well washed in, Michael said.
Fields across the farm generally receive lime every three years.
While soil pH is now up to standard on the majority of the farm, it takes work to maintain it, and there were fields which needed effort to get right in recent years. Pointing towards the cliffs, John noted a field that was reseeded in 2013 at a soil pH of 4.6. The field is now at 6.5, a little on the high side, but recovered from dramatically low levels.
Positives of lime
John said they aren’t necessarily using less fertiliser since soil pH has improved, but it is working more efficiently and the Caseys have noticed a kick from their fertiliser in the autumn in recent times. This has been put down to a release of P from the soil from July on.
If you have P and K right, once the growth comes at all you have the reserve in the soil
They are paying careful attention to soil needs. John noted that P is very good on the milking block, but building is needed on the outside blocks. Particular attention is paid to K on silage ground. Muriate of Potash is spread, as required, in the autumn on these blocks.
“If you have P and K right, once the growth comes at all you have the reserve in the soil,” John noted.
Urea and sulphur have come to replace compounds like pasture sward on the farm and 18-6-12 usually fits the bill in the springtime to keep on top of P and K levels.
The Caseys have been investing in the water system and roadways in recent times.
John noted that urea can cause acidification and more lime may be needed on the farm as a result of its increased use, but he adds that lime is cheap and is one of the most efficient spends on the farm. Keeping soil pH right is preventing a higher spend on fertiliser.
At present, the Caseys’ milking block is producing between 11t DM/ha and 12t DM/ha, but with reseeding due on paddocks John sees growth moving towards 14t DM/ha. Reseeding is carried out on some scale almost every year but with extra land added to the milking platform this year and stocking rate declining, as a result, this will allow for more reseeding.
Heavy covers are needed in winter due to the cold breeze from the Atlantic. Clover can leave swards open and decrease trafficability. This is being given attention as clover will be essential.
If Usain Bolt ate fast food every day of the year he’d still be fairly fast, but between a manager, training and the right nutrition he’s the fastest man in the world
Milk solids per cow were at 477kg in 2020. Approximately 1.2t of meal per cow was fed last year and the plan is to get down to 800kg this year with the extra land in the block. The Caseys put the increase in solids down to a mixture of breeding and soil and grassland management.
“If Usain Bolt ate fast food every day of the year he’d still be fairly fast, but between a manager, training and the right nutrition he’s the fastest man in the world. The two things have to work together,” John said. As you look around the farm, it’s clear that the Caseys are following that theme themselves. The little changes in management, such as an application of lime every three years, are improving the system.
Aim for a soil pH of 6.3 on grassland.On high molybdenum soils aim for 6.2.Approximately 48% of grassland soils are below 6.2 for soil pH.Applying lime will increase soil pH.Lime can be applied at any time of the year once there is not a strong cover on the ground.Lime should not be applied at rates over 3t/ac.Lime can increase ammonia losses – where slurry is applied wait at least 10 days before applying lime. If lime has been applied wait three months before applying slurry.CAN, compound fertiliser and protected urea will not suffer ammonia losses as a result of lime spreading so can be spread at any time.Never be afraid to ask for advice when analysing soil sample results or making decisions on lime rates and timings. The Caseys work with their local Teagasc adviser Ger Courtney.As the Caseys said, lime is cheap and it is a really good investment on the farm. Getting soil pH right is the first thing that any farmer should try to do before tackling soil indexes.
If soil pH is at sub-optimal levels it will affect soil function and have a negative effect on the release of other nutrients from the soil.
Low soil pH makes it extremely difficult to use fertiliser efficiently or sustainably.
It is very hard to build P and K levels if soil pH is out and you will not be getting the most out of your fertiliser spend until it is corrected.
Lime application can also be taken a step further by spreading according to variable rate maps.
Soil pH levels can vary hugely across fields and many lime spreading contractors can spread at variable rates.
You may still spread the same amount of lime, but it will be spread at higher rates where it is needed most in the low soil pH areas.
In a year like this when fertiliser prices climbed rapidly, the expenses really hit home.
Ensuring correct soil pH and using slurry and farmyard manure wisely to build soils low in P and K can prepare farmers for high price years.
If soil indexes are right, you can afford to maintain indexes and build in a year when prices are competitive.
For example, this season, nitrogen and phosphorus prices rose, but K is reasonably competitive so this may be a year to focus on improving K levels.
Every year is a year to focus on lime. Consult your soil tests and find time in the calendar for the contractor to come.
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