Grass is tight but growth is ready to take off. Grass growth has been slow again this week, leaving many farmers grazing paddocks with covers of 1,200kg and less on the second rotation.

These pregrazing yields may be lower than the desired 1,400-1,500kg but farms are not necessarily short of grass.

Although some farms’ average cover maybe closer to 500kg or less, these farms may need to look at upping supplement level for the next week until grass builds back up.

A lot of paddocks on farms have grass covers of between 500kg and 1,000kg/ha which should take off once the heat comes.

Growth

As the saying goes, grass grows grass. These paddocks will add another 400kg/ha of grass in the next week, with growth rates of 57kg/day. So farmers need to start walking the farm every five days now.

Fertiliser needs to be out to achieve these growth rates. Farmers should consider using products that include sulphur now. Target getting 20kg/ha of sulphur out across the summer months.

Silage ground should be closed up and fertilised for first cut now.

Any silage field closed up from now on will either have to be cut in early June with a reduced yield or cut mid- to late-June with quality sacrificed.