Analysis of Grass Prior to Silage Making

Given the very dull weather we have seen recently, the sugar levels in all of these samples are very good. Our target is to achieve over 3% sugar in the crop at ensiling which is why we show the sugar at 30% DM column. Generally there is a lot of grass out there following the mild winter, and it is growing fast. AHDB reported a growth rate of 48kg DM/ha/day for this week, which is a long way ahead of the 32kg DM/ha/day for the same week last year. Protein levels are running similar to this week last year. Nitrates are running fine on all of these samples (target < 1,000 mg/kg at cutting). This will vary in all farms depending on nitrogen application dates, so make sure you test your crops before cutting. Sampling before cutting will also allow us to check the protein content is not significantly higher than the sugar content when harvested (as seen in many the samples above), as these crops are more difficult to ensile with a risk they could compost in the clamp rather than ferment. Our advice this year is to cut as soon as ground conditions allow, and the weather window suggests you have a dry spell to enable a wilt to 30% DM, (24 hours if spread, 36 hrs if not). Many of you are running very low on forage, and not taking the usual carry over in to the summer, so it can be tempting to hold off an extra week to add bulk to the clamp. It is always a balance between quality and quantity, but good quality forage is one of the biggest drivers in improving efficiency and profitability. Additives? – An extra tractor rolling is still the best additive, unless conditions are extremely unfavourable. Silage compactors are great tools but beware of mulching the crop if it goes in very leafy as this will make the clamp face liable to slip forward when feeding out. Pay special attention to clamp edges and regular compaction of thin layers to reduce spoilage and improve fermentation. If you are particularly concerned that ground conditions are wet and there is a risk of soil contamination in silage then it would be worth using a preservative type additive such as SafeSil. Please get in touch with us if you wish to send in your own samples, or use existing sample bags if you have any, tick the pre-cut grass analysis box when filling in the information sheet. Regards, The Kelly Farm Consulting Team!

Charlie Davies 07904 601104 charlie@kellyfarmconsulting.com Laura Cureton 07399 117257 laura@kellyfarmconsulting.com Sam Kelly 07777 696080 sam@kellyfarmconsulting.com

Office 01454 614624

Farming Equipment and Technology Fund – Round 2 Apply NOW for Animal Health and Welfare Grants!

Further to the Productivity and Slurry aspect of the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF), the Animal Health and Welfare theme of the grant funding is now open for applications.

The grant items available will help to improve the health and welfare of your animals as well as looking to improve your on farm productivity and profitability.

We have summarised the key details you need to know below!

Opening Date: 23rd March 2023

Closing Date: 15th June 2023

Funding Available: £1,000 - £25,000

Items Available: Annex 4: FETF 2023 Animal Health and Welfare eligible items - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Don’t forget! The Productivity and Slurry theme will be closing on the 4th April 2023.

For more information and to discuss your options, contact a member of the Kelly Farm Consulting Team!

Charlie Davies

07904 601 104

charlie@kellyfarmconsulting..com

Laura Cureton

07399 117 257

laura@kellyfarmconsulting.com

Sam Kelly

07777 696 080

sam@kellyfarmconsulting.com

Office

01454 614 624

Countryside Stewardship Mid-Tier – What is new for 2023?

Applications are now open for Countryside Stewardship Mid-Tier with the deadline for applications being 18th August 2023.

Countryside Stewardship is a great way to top up some of the income lost from declining BPS payments. We are continuing to work with farmers and landowners to design schemes to complement their existing farming systems, which can support farms both economically and environmentally.

The revenue and capital payment rates for agreements were reviewed at the start of the year, with a significant number of those payment rates increasing! Therefore, it is great opportunity for farms to explore the options and provide a boost to the overall farming business income.

Countryside Stewardship will continue to be available for the foreseeable future, as Local Nature Recovery (within Environmental Land Management Schemes) will no longer be going ahead. The RPA have confirmed that applications for Countryside Stewardship will however, be assessed on a first come first served basis. Land must also be correct on the RPA service before starting a Countryside Stewardship application online, therefore notification of any changes must be made as soon as possible.

In line with the recent announcement of 2023 Capital Grants, Mid-Tier agreements will also follow suit in that you now have 3 years to complete capital works, as opposed to 2 years. There will be no limit to the value of capital items, but the application will undergo a value for money assessment.

The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) continues to progress in the Standards available, however, there is still some detail lacking in how the SFI standards will complement each other. This has made it somewhat difficult to assess SFI as an option for farms, whereas Countryside Stewardship provides us with all of the management detail required to plan for the next 5 years.

To discuss the options available to your farm through any of the schemes mentioned above, get in touch with a member of the team.

Charlie Davies

07904 601104

charlie@kellyfarmconsulting.com

Laura Cureton

07399 117257

laura@kellyfarmconsulting.com

Sam Kelly

07777 696080

sam@kellyfarmconsulting.com

Office 01454 614624