Fodder budgeting support available at National Ploughing Championships

Have you questions about your winter forage reserves or winter-feeding plan after this summer’s drought? If so, avail of the supports being made available by Teagasc at this year’s National Ploughing Championships.

Over the course of the three-day event, taking place from September 15-17 at Screggan, Tullamore, County Offaly, Teagasc advisors will be available to meet and talk to farmers about their fodder situation for this coming winter. There will also be an opportunity for farmers to complete a fodder budget for their farms.

Additionally, options on how to fill fodder gaps will be discussed, outlining the best options for individual farms. Aligning with this, Teagasc will make available a new factsheet on the ‘Nutritional Characteristics of Feed Ingredients for Ruminants’. This factsheet has been prepared to help farmers make informed decisions when comparing various feed options.

In advance of the National Ploughing Championships, Teagasc Beef Specialists, David Argue and Niall Kerins give an insight into what’s in store for farmers at the Teagasc stand this year:

Grass growth recovering

This year’s National Ploughing Championships is very much set against a scene where grass growth is recovering on farms nationally. Data from the national grassland database, PastureBase Ireland has pointed to a significant recovery in grass growth rates.

As recorded by farmers, average grass growth rates of 60+ kilograms of grass dry matter per hectare per day were measured last week and predictions from the Teagasc MoSt Grass Growth Model suggest this these growth rates are likely to hold into the coming weeks.

Commenting on the extent of this grass growth recovery, Head of the Teagasc Grassland Science Department, Professor Michael O’Donovan said: “The return of moisture to warm soils where nitrogen mineralisation has occurred has resulted in a significant increase in grass growth rates.

“Since August 11, grass growth rates have doubled, and evidence of a high grass growth recovery is now visible in all parts of the country.”

See Grass Growth Curve from PastureBase Ireland below.

More from Teagasc Daily: Positive recovery in grass growth evident

For more on the Teagasc presence at the National Ploughing Championships, visit here.