Home Agriculture Good Grass Guide Reasons to reseed

Grass | The Cost of Doing Nothing

Another way to look at the numbers is to assess the amount of dry matter produced. A field that is 50% ryegrass and 50% weed grasses will obviously not be as productive as a young sward.
 

The graph below shows that just one year after reseeding, weed species can make up to 18% of a sward. After four years, that figure has more than doubled to 38% and, after eight years, weeds will be starting to dominate the sward (51%).

On average, an eight-year old field will typically yield around 5.5T DM/ha compared with a new field, which could produce around 15T DM/ha - meaning you could be missing out on three times as much grass.

 

   

Grass | Average Yield

 

Grass | Waste of Fertiliser

 

 

WASTE OF FERTILISER

Older fields will also prove problematic when it comes to the use of fertiliser - wasting around £105’s worth per year.


Figures are based on:

  • Ammonium nitrate at £350/tonne, with an assumed application rate of 300kg/ha.

 

 

Grass | Transform Your Farming

 

 

Grass | Return on Investment

Reseeding can feel like a major investment but if you look at the numbers they are actually very persuasive. Yes, there is an initial outlay, but if you consider the DM, animal and milk gains to be had, it is definitely worthwhile. Reseeding can feel like a major investment but if you look at the numbers they are actually very persuasive. Yes, there is an initial outlay, but if you consider the DM, animal and milk gains to be had, it is definitely worthwhile.

On average, a reseed will cost around £650 per hectare (ha). After a reseed, new grass, in a two-cut system, will typically provide an ME of 133,320 MJ/ha. 
This energy is capable of producing more than 25,150 litres of milk, 2050 kg of lamb or 2400 kg of beef.

 

Using average milk and meat prices that equates to: 

    • £6,966 worth of milk
    • £8,544 worth of beef
    • £8,286 worth of lamb


Animals are also more likely to eat young, high quality grass.

New swards are significantly more digestible and offer higher protein content. Research has shown that animals will eat more of varieties with a high digestibility (D-value) and are able to absorb a greater proportion of the feed which they have eaten. Achieving just a 1% improvement in digestibility can improve animal output by 5%.

Figures are based on:

  • The five-year rolling average price for milk of 27.7p (AHDB Farmgate milk prices 11/5/18)
  • The average UK Beef price of 356ppk (for 2013 – 2016, AHDB)
  • The average UK Lamb price of 404.2ppk (for 2013 – 2016, AHDB)

 

 

Grass | Reseeding Costs

Here’s an overview of typical costs associated with reseeding and overseeding.

When you compare costs with the financial return on offer in the first year after a reseed, we think the numbers are compelling. 


There aren’t many investments where the return on investment is so good. 

 

Cost of reseeding (ha)

Spraying material 5l/ha Glyphosate £ 15.00
Spraying costs x2 £ 40.00
Ploughing   £ 60.00
Rotovating x2 £128.00
Rolling x4 £ 80.00
Fertiliser 250kg/h 8.20.30 £ 98.00
Fertiliser application   £ 14.00
Grass drilling   £ 60.00
Grass Seed   £ 175.00 (Just 20-25% of total cost)
Post emergence spray   £ 35.00
Total Cost   £ 650

 

 
Cost of overseeding (ha)

Soil sample £ 15.00
Lime/Fert/Spray as needed £ 50.00/ha
Grass drilling £ 60.00/ha
Grass Seed £ 75.00/ha 
Total Cost £ 200

 

   

 

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