The obligation to retain green cover ends on 1 December. For some this will provide an opportunity to spray off natural or volunteer growth.

Where fields are to be sprayed, the earlier it is done the longer the time available for vegetation to rot down. However, the longer that land is covered by growing vegetation over winter the better, as plant roots help keep soil open and foliage protects against rain damage.

Spraying should not be necessary for all stubbles, particularly those to be ploughed where vegetation can be buried. Spraying does not eliminate the need for good ploughing.

Grazing of catch crops sown under the Green low-Carbon Agri-Environmental Scheme can take place after 1 December.

Even where crops are not being grazed, there is merit in letting them grow for longer as the greater the volume of growth the more organic matter available to incorporate back into the soil.

Soil erosion

Scheme terms and conditions advise that grazing should only take place where soil erosion is not a risk. Strip or block grazing can be used to improve utilisation.

Allocating long narrow strips will deliver a greater benefit than a shorter feeding face and deeper allocation of forage.

Maximising utilisation is generally the target from a livestock point of view but from a tillage point of view there is merit in moving animals before the crop is fully grazed.

Brassica crops are low in fibre and high in sugars. As such, an acclimatisation period is required to prevent digestive upsets with the advice to transfer animals on to the crop with a full belly to avoid animals initially gorging themselves. It is also strongly recommended to provide roughage to balance intake.

Mineral supplementation may also be required depending on the period of feeding with brassica crops low in iodine, copper and magnesium.

N and P statements

The Department of Agriculture issued a press release on Tuesday to notify farmers that nitrogen and phosphorus statements are now live on agfood.ie up to the end of October.

There are a few elements that should be borne in mind. The statement only refers to bovines on the holding. Also, when comparing figures with previous years, the figure for the total volume of nitrogen produced will be coloured blue where it has taken account of imports or exports of organic fertiliser.