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September 2011At Cropvale, with very low rainfall, there was a noticeable difference in performance between diploid and tetraploid ryegrasses. The two blocks of tetraploid ryegrasses from each sowing 2010 and 2011, were noticeably greener and more productive than the diploid blocks. This reflects the belief that tetraploid varieties, with their bigger, stronger plants and greater root structures seem to be able to withstand drought better than diploids. The dry conditions and shortage of forage in the south and east has led to farmers looking for ways of shortening the winter feeding season, by growing crops such as rye, which will allow turnout up to two weeks earlier. Rye will do this, but a more flexible alternative is to sow an Italian ryegrass mixture like BAR Forage Hi D, which will not only allow turnout two weeks earlier than a long term ley, but will also give up to five cuts of quality silage throughout next year, an option that is not available with rye. It is also not too late to sow forage crops for use in the late autumn. A mixture of forage rape and stubble turnip, sown in early September – so it’s important to make a quick decision – should be ready for grazing in November and will keep growing until the soil temperature drops. The latest cut was taken on 31 August and has still to be analysed, but a quick calculation shows significant differences in fresh yield between the tetraploid and diploid trials from both the 2009 and 2010 sowings, with the differences becoming more pronounced from the older 2009 trials. In will be interesting to see if varieties bred in France by Barenbrug will repeat their performance of previous years, under the very dry, continental conditions and emerge as the top performing varieties. UK general situationThe UK is split into two areas, those who have had enough rainfall, and in some cases too much, and those that haven't. The north and west have had adequate rainfall this year and stocks of forage are plentiful, whereas the south and east are short of moisture and consequently short of forage. Looking at the rainfall for the areas around the three Barenbrug trial sites over the main growing season, from beginning of March to the end of August, there are some dramatic differences. Not surprisingly the wettest area is that surrounding the Aberdeen site, where the total rainfall was 769mm, 108 percent of the five-year mean. Loughgall had 434mm, 84 percent of the five-year mean, but still sufficient to maintain good grass growth. Conversely Cropvale had 225mm, a mere 60 percent of the five-year mean and low enough to put plants under severe drought stress. These differences underline again the importance of testing all potential varieties in a wide spread of locations. The weather, and particularly rainfall, can affect swards, not just total yields but the proportion of different grasses within the sward. I have had several comments about the strength and dominance of Timothy in swards, particularly in the south west of Scotland, an area which has had the wettest growing season in 10 years. Timothy is a species that thrives in these conditions, whereas in very wet conditions ryegrasses may struggle. |
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