The Grass Measuring Thread

yewtree

RobinBanks wrote: »

Can anyone explain why UK have different targets to Ireland for grazing. In Ireland we are told that pre-grazing yield should be approx 1400 but in uk they say 3500kgDm/ha. Is it something to do with type of grass or what?

The UK use total cover comes from new Zealand in Ireland we use available cover. The UK are adding on what's left after grazing. The targets are the same just take 1500 off UK cover to convery to irish figures

RobinBanks

yewtree wrote: »

The UK use total cover comes from new Zealand in Ireland we use available cover. The UK are adding on what's left after grazing. The targets are the same just take 1500 off UK cover to convery to irish figures

Thanks for that yewtree. Think now I also know why my plate meter readings are so high. The playemeter came from the uk

Mooooo

Going mowing ground on grazing block and heifer ground, will pull the rotation back to 18 days when I mow this,

Signpost

Can anyone advise where I can buy a shears and more importantly a scales for accurate grass reading? Eye is accurate enough whenever its checked but I want to get that bit tighter on it but finding it hard to find a suitable kit.

yewtree

Signpost wrote: »

Can anyone advise where I can buy a shears and more importantly a scales for accurate grass reading? Eye is accurate enough whenever its checked but I want to get that bit tighter on it but finding it hard to find a suitable kit.

I got that kit off grasstec a few years ago no complaints regarding quality of it maybe could be sourced cheaper elsewhere
this is the link to what they sell http://www.grasstecgroup.com/agri-services/product/bosch-isio-shears/

Timmaay

1st paddock I've noticed here under heavy enough drought stress, cover low enough on it (900ish), so the soil not retaining moisture much. Early enough heading grass variety but it's starting to head out on me already which is annoying. Only got one bag of 18 6 12 this year (I'm playing around considering I'm alot lower stocked). Meanwhile I've another paddock with the same one bag of 18 6 12, much more clover in that sward, clover the size of your hand by now. I'm going to be taking it out in excess bales next week probably!

pedigree 6

Timmaay wrote: »

1st paddock I've noticed here under heavy enough drought stress, cover low enough on it (900ish), so the soil not retaining moisture much. Early enough heading grass variety but it's starting to head out on me already which is annoying. Only got one bag of 18 6 12 this year (I'm playing around considering I'm alot lower stocked). Meanwhile I've another paddock with the same one bag of 18 6 12, much more clover in that sward, clover the size of your hand by now. I'm going to be taking it out in excess bales next week probably!

The difference between the two paddocks could be cobalt deficiency.
Clover loves cobalt.

RobinBanks

Timmaay wrote: »

1st paddock cover low enough on it (900ish),

Timmaay, the photo you put up. Is that the 900 cover? Would you have any other pics with varying covers? Trying to calibrate myself hear to estimating. Plate meter is doing my head in

GrasstoMilk

Timmaay wrote: »

1st paddock I've noticed here under heavy enough drought stress, cover low enough on it (900ish), so the soil not retaining moisture much. Early enough heading grass variety but it's starting to head out on me already which is annoying. Only got one bag of 18 6 12 this year (I'm playing around considering I'm alot lower stocked). Meanwhile I've another paddock with the same one bag of 18 6 12, much more clover in that sward, clover the size of your hand by now. I'm going to be taking it out in excess bales next week probably!

No heading on that grass yet. That's just weed grass heading out there

kevinm177

GrasstoMilk wrote: »

No heading on that grass yet. That's just weed grass heading out there

+1

Muckit

Ah timmay timmay timmay do you not know what ryegrass head looks like? !?

alps

Muckit wrote: »

Ah timmay timmay timmay do you not know what ryegrass head looks like? !?

Only bad grassland farmers know what ryegrass seed heads look like...

charolais0153

alps wrote: »

Only bad grassland farmers know what ryegrass seed heads look like...

Shots fired:D

freedominacup

charolais0153 wrote: »

Shots fired:D

There have been reports of incidents overnight......

freedominacup

Chanced my arm and rang the contractor who normally spreads fert here at 8 this morning. Showers overnight and showery for the day. A bag of urea per acre going on grazing ground as I type.

Mooooo

freedominacup wrote: »

Chanced my arm and rang the contractor who normally spreads fert here at 8 this morning. Showers overnight and showery for the day. A bag of urea per acre going on grazing ground as I type.

What does he charge for spreading bag/acre? Have a lad taken on 2 days a week here with the last month or so, as of 2 weeks ago we are following the cows so he spreads after the cows every week. Following with can+s at the minute bringing it up to 110 out on grazing block approx

mahoney_j

Mooooo wrote: »

What does he charge for spreading bag/acre? Have a lad taken on 2 days a week here with the last month or so, as of 2 weeks ago we are following the cows so he spreads after the cows every week. Following with can+s at the minute bringing it up to 110 out on grazing block approx

Contractor here 50 euro per hour ,big sulky spreader with a heap of gizmos

freedominacup

mahoney_j wrote: »

Contractor here 50 euro per hour ,big sulky spreader with a heap of gizmos

Works out around the same here.40 per tonne for one bag/acre. The bells have whisltes on this machine and a very competent conscientious operator on it. We open all gaps esp when he comes in at short notice like this. We haven't spread a bag ourselves since mid 2014. Using urea you would usually end up blanket spreading when the opportunities arise anyway.

visatorro

freedominacup wrote: »

Works out around the same here.40 per tonne for one bag/acre. The bells have whisltes on this machine and a very competent conscientious operator on it. We open all gaps esp when he comes in at short notice like this. We haven't spread a bag ourselves since mid 2014. Using urea you would usually end up blanket spreading when the opportunities arise anyway.

Was using contractor for a couple of seasons. I found it dear and hard to get it spread when I wanted. He let me down very badly one autumn and I never really forgave him!! When it suits I just go out with a tonne, spread ten bags In front of the cows and ten bags on what they have grazed is nearly always how it works out. Can understand why lads use contractor of course but I have my reasons for spreading fert myself.

freedominacup

freedominacup wrote: »

Chanced my arm and rang the contractor who normally spreads fert here at 8 this morning. Showers overnight and showery for the day. A bag of urea per acre going on grazing ground as I type.

Gr=Whoosh.

A month's grass falling as I type. The only downside is I had to do a heap of yard scraping. Every sq yard of concrete the cows use outside the collecting yard had a thick coating of powdered $hite on it before the rain came.

mahoney_j

freedominacup wrote: »

Gr=Whoosh.

A month's grass falling as I type. The only downside is I had to do a heap of yard scraping. Every sq yard of concrete the cows use outside the collecting yard had a thick coating of powdered $hite on it before the rain came.

Snap same here ,had 4 tonne fertiliser to spreadcyesterday before rain but way too windy so didn't bother instead I'm off to do it now ,probably scorch the place for working on the sabbath day !!!!

Dwag

mahoney_j wrote: »

Snap same here ,had 4 tonne fertiliser to spreadcyesterday before rain but way too windy so didn't bother instead I'm off to do it now ,probably scorch the place for working on the sabbath day !!!!

You'd never know Mahoney...some crowds have been gifted new hospitals for doing worse!
Spread enough and they might give you Uni Hospital Lim.

freedominacup

mahoney_j wrote: »

Snap same here ,had 4 tonne fertiliser to spreadcyesterday before rain but way too windy so didn't bother instead I'm off to do it now ,probably scorch the place for working on the sabbath day !!!!

How windy mj? That would never be a factor I would consider spreading fert but the wind/breeze almost never drops here.

Waffletraktor

freedominacup wrote: »

How windy mj? That would never be a factor I would consider spreading fert but the wind/breeze almost never drops here.

Depends onnstrenght, weight/bulk density of your fert and width. Some fert smashes to bits on the fins and others are too light a particle? to get the energy in for it's size to go far enough. Eg prilled vs granular urea, prilled is a b***h to spread.
We can't spread in anything but calm still conditions at 36m but in the teens you'd be fairly safe

ted_182

Any magic plan for sharpening a grass shears, only have it since Jan and its gone blunt as fook,makes the clipping fierce tidious and time consuming

GrasstoMilk

ted_182 wrote: »

Any magic plan for sharpening a grass shears, only have it since Jan and its gone blunt as fook,makes the clipping fierce tidious and time consuming

Take blades apart and sharpen with s round file. Try and sharpen at the same angles there at

dar31

ted_182 wrote: »

Any magic plan for sharpening a grass shears, only have it since Jan and its gone blunt as fook,makes the clipping fierce tidious and time consuming

Bosch one from grasstec?

ted_182

dar31 wrote: »

Bosch one from grasstec?

Yeah 'top of the range'

RobinBanks

dar31 wrote: »

Bosch one from grasstec?

I've the same. Cat malogen bad altogether

freedominacup

Mowers coming tomorrow afternoon. 10% of mp being mowed as well. Oul boy not panicking so I'm not sure if he's gotten used to it or I need to take out more.

wats the craic

freedominacup wrote: »

How windy mj? That would never be a factor I would consider spreading fert but the wind/breeze almost never drops here.

same here always a fecking wind coming off the hook here

Wildsurfer

dar31 wrote: »

Bosch one from grasstec?

I have tried many clippers and the only one that was any good is the more powerful Bosch one I got from grasstech, great to cut.

Mooooo

freedominacup wrote: »

Mowers coming tomorrow afternoon. 10% of mp being mowed as well. Oul boy not panicking so I'm not sure if he's gotten used to it or I need to take out more.

Impending dry week worry you or did ye get a drop weekend just gone?

freedominacup

Mooooo wrote: »

Impending dry week worry you or did ye get a drop weekend just gone?

We got rain. Not a lot but enough to freshen things up. Nitrates gone so time to cut. Much stronger crops than last year's first cut which was taken almost ten days later.

Signpost

Was thinking of this shears as its 18V, would it be worth the money do ye think? https://www.amazon.co.uk/Makita-DUM168Z-Cordless-Lithium-Ion-Grass/dp/B00JPUJOSA

ted_182

freedominacup wrote: »

Mowers coming tomorrow afternoon. 10% of mp being mowed as well. Oul boy not panicking so I'm not sure if he's gotten used to it or I need to take out more.

Would that 10% have gotten a bag of urea over the weekend or did you skip it?

freedominacup

ted_182 wrote: »

Would that 10% have gotten a bag of urea over the weekend or did you skip it?

It got the urea. Light crop and will be dried out to the last so should be fine.

ted_182

freedominacup wrote: »

It got the urea. Light crop and will be dried out to the last so should be fine.

In your experience then is the majority of that N still available to the plant after cutting or is it taken off in the crop? Just asking because last year i was blanking spreading cow ground and say i could spread on a monday and be mowing on a friday and i kinda felt i was wasting fert that it was being taken away in the crop iykwim

mahoney_j

Paddocks out today and dropping cover per cow to 140 would go lower only no prospect of rain for a week

degetme

mahoney_j wrote: »

Paddocks out today and dropping cover per cow to 140 would go lower only no prospect of rain for a week

Will you test for nitrogen and sugars or will drying out cancel it out?

Keepgrowing

mahoney_j wrote: »

Paddocks out today and dropping cover per cow to 140 would go lower only no prospect of rain for a week

A 150 here and not a chance of dropping it. No rain on the horizon but really needed.

30 ac into bales last week and 20 acres on heifer ground knocked for bales yesterday. Sprayed off 24 acres for grass seeds on heifer ground yesterday. With meadows locked, bales out and spraying done that farm is stocked at 7 per ha but growing really well with plenty of 1500+ covers.

Drafting cows on home farm this morning to move to a new farm. Our first milk collection there was this am. So quiete busy here ATM. The cows leaving home will drop Sr. and help grass situation.

All cows averaging 28 litres at 3kg 12% nut Fat 4.30 Pro 3.61 Scc 140 Urea 22

mahoney_j

degetme wrote: »

Will you test for nitrogen and sugars or will drying out cancel it out?

Nope sun and Tedder *2 will sort ,baling dinner time Friday

Mooooo

Keepgrowing wrote: »

A 150 here and not a chance of dropping it. No rain on the horizon but really needed.

30 ac into bales last week and 20 acres on heifer ground knocked for bales yesterday. Sprayed off 24 acres for grass seeds on heifer ground yesterday. With meadows locked, bales out and spraying done that farm is stocked at 7 per ha but growing really well with plenty of 1500+ covers.

Drafting cows on home farm this morning to move to a new farm. Our first milk collection there was this am. So quiete busy here ATM. The cows leaving home will drop Sr. and help grass situation.

All cows averaging 28 litres at 3kg 12% nut Fat 4.30 Pro 3.61 Scc 140 Urea 22

I'd say some of the teagasc farms should take a trip out to your crossbreds , heading for 6 litres and 0.3 to 0.56 kgs of solids ahead of them along with a higher price with the percentages. On 27L here at 3.68p 3.78bf. Hol/fr

Keepgrowing

Mooooo wrote: »

I'd say some of the teagasc farms should take a trip out to your crossbreds , heading for 6 litres and 0.3 to 0.56 kgs of solids ahead of them along with a higher price with the percentages. On 27L here at 3.68p 3.78bf. Hol/fr

I'm convinced it's feeding not breeding, took me a while to see it. Slow learner!!

New farm will have no xbred cow so it'll be interesting to see if my theory holds credence. I'll report in a few weeks when they're settled. Now got to go, flat out

Signpost

Not sure how much attention we should be paying to Teagasc around grass management based on the Greenfield....

GrasstoMilk

Signpost wrote: »

Not sure how much attention we should be paying to Teagasc around grass management based on the Greenfield....

They took out a lot of land last week for bales and it should have been left in. Second round grass that cows would have no issues cleaning out

jaymla627

Signpost wrote: »

Not sure how much attention we should be paying to Teagasc around grass management based on the Greenfield....

They must of let jk do the last few grass walks, the poor chap has awful trouble working a calculator pretty funny his piece in the journal this week after he got pulled up on last weeks tripe he wrote

pedigree 6

GrasstoMilk wrote: »

They took out a lot of land last week for bales and it should have been left in. Second round grass that cows would have no issues cleaning out

They'll be feeding that silage to the cows.
There's no rain forecast in the next 7 days now only this drying wind.:rolleyes:
Especially with that farm it would be drier than my own.

I wonder why they did it?

wats the craic

pedigree 6 wrote: »

They'll be feeding that silage to the cows.
There's no rain forecast in the next 7 days now only this drying wind.:rolleyes:
Especially with that farm it would be drier than my own.

I wonder why they did it?

prb jack the lad told them to do it

pedigree 6

wats the craic wrote: »

prb jack the lad told them to do it

There's a manager and then a cowhand.
I know they have "advisors" too but at the end of the day it's up to the manager.
Or I am I mistaken?

Time will tell I suppose whether it was the right decision.
Nobody died I suppose anyway.:p