Agricultural merchants stocking grass seed are reporting slow but steady sales of grass seed at present.

In general, all of the main brand names on the market are similar in price.

Falling cereal prices last year meant it was easier for seed companies to get producers to grow seed. An 80% to 100% diploid grass mix suitable for grazing only is trading around £54 to £57 per bag. Bag size varies from 12kg to 14kg.

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Dual purpose grass blends are slightly more expensive selling from £56 to £60 per bag. They contain a higher percentage of tetraploid grasses, which are better suited to cutting but generally have lower tillering density.

Specialist cutting blends with high sugar varieties are trading at around £60 per bag.

Popularity

Clover seed has declined in popularity according to some merchants, partially due to a lack of suitable clover-safe sprays.

Clover seed is trading for between £4/kg and £5/kg but it is mostly selling as part of a full variety blend.

Merchants said that they expect the price of grass seed to hold steady over the rest of the season.

The star of the bull entry at the Charolais club sale in Dungannon was Burnside Iceberg from the Kells-based Brian McAllister and Son.

Just turned 12 months old, he made 8,000gns in the sale. By the 16,000gns, Clyth Diplomat, by Oldstone Egbert, the bull has already caught the eye of Balmoral Show Charolais judge, Billy Robson, who awarded him the junior Charolais championship at Balmoral.

Also at Dungannon, Stuart and David Bothwell got 3,400gns for their Killeadas Ivan, by Blackford Dynamite. Trevor Phair of Bellanaleck took 3,200gns for Brogher Hamlet, by Corrie Alan.

Other top bulls made 3,000gns for I Rea of Nutts Corner, S & A Bellew of Cullyhanna and G J Crawford of Maghera.

Overall, 34 bulls sold, a 71% clearance, to average 2,600gns.