Analysis of grass prior to silage making - samples to 28 April 2021

This week’s grass growth newsletter is the final of the season and is the first week to have brought some rain!

Most farms in the South West would have received some much-welcomed rain this week, with more forecast in the coming 7 days. Unsurprisingly, this rain has not influenced growth rates yet, with the AHDB reporting that crops are currently progressing at 37kg DM/ha/day.

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Due to silage cuts having taken place, we have used some pre-cut samples from our clients this week. Most of these samples were taken last week with the view of cutting silage imminently should results be as hoped. Sugar contents across the South West continued to rise, a testament to the amount of sun we have had in that week.

If you haven’t taken 1st cut yet, we suggest cutting as soon as you have a weather window. The forecast for our office shows we probably have a 2 day window after today, and then next week is wet again – but please check the forecast for your area!

Analysis of grass prior to silage making - samples to 21 April 2021

This week’s weather has been the same again for farmers in the South West – although daytime temperatures have been higher, there is still the risk of overnight frost.

One of the recurring themes amongst our clients is that they have taken the approach of cutting silage leys when ready, rather than waiting for the entirety of their first cut to be harvested at the same time – a very sensible move considering that we are due at least another two weeks of dry weather.

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Although it may be a light cut, we suggest taking all 1st cut within the next 10 days:

• There is a good weather window, when the weather breaks who knows how long it could be wet for.

• Many crops are now showing frost damage, severe scorching of tips of the grass and this is beginning to rot on some crops walked this week

• Grass is sucking a lot of moisture out of the soil, cut soon and there will be a green stubble catching sun light immediately and enough moisture to get 2nd cut on its way.

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From the samples we have had this week, sugars have carried on rising, mostly due to the quantity of sunlight available to crops. However, the lack of rain is starting to have more of an impact with the AHDB reporting a reduction in grass growth rates to 24.5kg DM/ha/day in the region.

From our time spent on farm over the last couple of weeks, we have seen a large variance in colour within silage leys – we think that this is partly due to a lack of growth in crops which had a large amount of slurry or fertiliser earlier in the year. This lack of quantity has led to a much darker coloured grass as nitrogen has been absorbed. As the plant can only absorb so much nitrogen, testing nitrate levels will become especially important this year to avoid the risk of a poor fermentation in the clamp.

Please get in touch with us if you wish to send in your own samples.

Maize Drilling - why the rush?

Over the last few weeks, we have seen a start to the maize drilling campaign around the South West. However, recent data from the Maize Growers Association (MGA) suggests that current conditions might not be the best thing for the crop or your yields.

When is the right time to drill?

The aim is to drill maize once soil temperatures have been at 8-10oC and rising for at least 7 days. The data from the MGA indicates that none of their focus areas in the South West are currently suitable for drilling.

With frosty mornings still a regular occurrence, any ploughed ground will struggle to sustain the required temperatures - making a cold seedbed for any crops drilled.

What are the consequences of drilling early?

Drilling too early is likely to affect germination and establishment of the crop due to cold soils. If germination is poor, then crops wills struggle to put down sufficient roots to sustain growth and therefore yield.

With cold nights and a lack of rain looking to continue for at least the next fortnight, any crops that do germinate above the surface could be in for a hard start.

If crops germinate into a cold and unfavourable conditions – they will be under some considerable stress. This can be seen in early crops by a purpling of leaves (a cold stress indicator). Other stress factors can include variable soil conditions, seed placement, compaction, fertiliser placement, and amounts of crop residue.

If these signs of stress are seen in crops, then not only is growth stunted, but the crops are likely to have a reduced yield at harvest time due to the time taken for plants to recover.

Is early drilling worth the risk?

In most circumstances – no.

Maize is one of the most expensive forage crops to grow and a lot of work goes into site/variety selection and seedbed preparations before even considering drilling the crop.

There might be an argument for drilling maize under plastic on land that has the potential to become problematic at harvesting. However, a considerable yield boost is required to pay for higher drilling costs.

This maize growing season with weather set to be stable for at least the rest of April, maximising soil conditions before drilling could be the difference between a successful maize harvest or having to purchase extra concentrate feeds next winter.

Our recommendation is to wait until soil temperatures reach at least 8oC on your own farm for a minimum of 7 days – this will probably mean no crops to be drilled before the 28th of April.