It is very interesting to see a profit per hectare difference of over €150 between the best and the worst grass varieties when measured on the new Pasture Profit Index (PPI).
Similar to the Estimated Breeding Index for livestock, the grass index measures the profit difference in a single figure between different varieties. For the typical Irish farm with 40 hectares, it amounts to €6,000 extra profit per year if the farm was reseeded to the best grass compared to the worst. This is quite a significant difference and the gap will probably widen further as more varieties join the index.
This new index assumes single grass varieties are sown but the fact of the matter is the majority of grass varieties are sold as part of a mix. How the industry reacts to these latest changes is important if Irish grassland farmers are to aim for top performance. We badly need to see more on-farm testing of grass varieties under grazing conditions and a broader base of research on clover and grass mixes.
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It is amazing there are so many unanswered questions on clover and on different grass varieties despite the fact that our industry is predominantly grass-based.
Teagasc needs to step up to the mark now and divert priority funding to answering grassland-type questions. Otherwise we face the risk of losing our competitive advantage.
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It is very interesting to see a profit per hectare difference of over €150 between the best and the worst grass varieties when measured on the new Pasture Profit Index (PPI).
Similar to the Estimated Breeding Index for livestock, the grass index measures the profit difference in a single figure between different varieties. For the typical Irish farm with 40 hectares, it amounts to €6,000 extra profit per year if the farm was reseeded to the best grass compared to the worst. This is quite a significant difference and the gap will probably widen further as more varieties join the index.
This new index assumes single grass varieties are sown but the fact of the matter is the majority of grass varieties are sold as part of a mix. How the industry reacts to these latest changes is important if Irish grassland farmers are to aim for top performance. We badly need to see more on-farm testing of grass varieties under grazing conditions and a broader base of research on clover and grass mixes.
It is amazing there are so many unanswered questions on clover and on different grass varieties despite the fact that our industry is predominantly grass-based.
Teagasc needs to step up to the mark now and divert priority funding to answering grassland-type questions. Otherwise we face the risk of losing our competitive advantage.
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