Late August 2010

With decision time fast approaching for what to put forward for entry into the UK National List system, David Long highlights the top-performers.

To be considered for entry, varieties have to consistently out yield the best of the control varieties by a minimum of five percent. The control varieties are the best of the current recommended varieties. The five percent improvement is a reflection of the steady increase in yield of Recommended List varieties over the five years that the new varieties will be in the NL system.

Loughgall trials differ from those at Aberdeen and Cropvale, as they are cut for three years and not two, so the trials currently being considered were sown in 2007. Loughgall also has a small trial of early heading varieties where the best of which, a tetraploid variety from AFBI, is out yielding the control Anaconda, by up to 15 percent. 

In the intermediate trial, there are several tetraploid varieties that are out yielding Dunluce the best control, and one diploid variety that is achieving a similar yield to Dunluce, which is currently one of the highest yielding recommended varieties. 

In the late group, Tyrella and Navan are the top yielding controls and are proving difficult to beat and because of this there may not be any variety entered from this particular group.

UK general situation

The recent change in the weather has made a significant difference to grass growth. Second or third silage cuts, which were thin and stemmy before the rain, have bulked up with new, fresh, leaf growth from the base of the sward. This development has appreciably improved not just the yield, but also the quality of the grass. In many cases fertiliser or slurry which was applied in early summer at the start of the drought, is only now being utilised and leading to the flush of growth.

Many grazing swards or those which have just had their final cut, will benefit from a final fertiliser or slurry application to feed the autumn growth. In most areas, the soil is warm and moisture is not a limiting factor for grass growth, so grass that is fed now, will grow well into the autumn, for as long as soil temperatures hold up. This growth can then be utilised either for grazing or taking an additional cut, reducing the reliance on precious and expensive winter feed.

Similarly the warm moist soil is ideal for re-seeding, as establishment will be rapid and lead to the availability of additional autumn grazing. Last winter’s hard weather, combined with the summer drought has shown up the shortcomings of old, tired leys. Recovery from the winter was slow, affecting first cut yields, and swards with a high proportion of weed and meadow grasses burnt badly during the drought and gave very little grazing.

Conversely, young, vigorous leys, recovered rapidly from the winter, replacing dead tillers with fresh growth and giving good first cut production and young leys have maintained a level of production through the drought and definitely recovered rapidly when it rained – which really does underline the importance of keeping your grass young. To discuss your re-seeding programme call 01359 272000 or email info@baruk.co.uk.

Consistent performance required

All our trials are generating very useful information allowing new potential varieties to be selected for entry into the UK National List system. Cropvale and Aberdeen plots were sown in autumn 2008 with Loughgall a year earlier. All plots were cut throughout 2009 and we now have the results of the first two cuts of 2010, taken in May and July.

In general the May cut reflects the damage caused by the severe winter, with certain varieties being much more susceptible to winter damage, and these varieties will not be entered into the NL system. But there are also varieties that have performed well throughout 2009 and for both cuts this year. The full details are provided on the individual latest trials results pages.