Grass is at the heart of every livestock enterprise. But despite its major economic contribution the crop is often neglected says Simon Broddle, Forage Manager for Nickerson Direct.
 
The high cost of bought-in feeds makes it essential to get the most out of grass, which is the greatest resource that most livestock enterprises have available. However, this key crop is often under-utilized. A significant reason is that many farmers don’t fully-appreciate its importance, the need for good management or its potential, and consequently don’t pay it enough attention.
 
The wet summers of the last two years provided ideal conditions for growing grass and consequently many leys that would normally have been re-seeded during that time have remained in production. In some cases this was because the farmer felt that they still ‘looked good’, in others because adverse weather conditions during the autumn made reseeding impossible.
 
However, the wet conditions that enhance grass production also increase poaching and create open areas that favour less palatable weed grasses and unwanted species, particularly broad-leaved weeds and docks which reduce production. Many swards are now two or more years beyond their sell-by date and will show serious signs of ageing if exposed to a dry summer, so this is an ideal time to examine your leys, assess their future potential and reseed where necessary this autumn.
 
The key to the success of any crop, including grass, is how it is established, so time and care taken at this stage will prove a sound investment because it will produce a high-yielding, weed-free and long-lasting sward.
 
Having taken the decision to re-seed, the first step is to select the best ley for your situation. Like every other aspect of cropping, these are constantly changing and improving, which is why it will pay to seek expert advice at an early stage.

Nickerson Seed Specialists have  all the latest information available to help you assess your swards and make the right choice, taking into account factors such as the type of livestock enterprise and management priorities, for example whether you operate an intensive dairy business based around high-quality conserved forage or a paddock-type system. 

Whilst the correct choice of ley is essential it is only a part of the story. Efficient production depends on focusing expensive nutrients where they will produce the best return, which is in new swards rather than old ones, so give priority to these areas.
 
Many swards never fulfill their full potential due to inadequate soil condition and nutrient status, which generally result from a lack of analysis. The most important factor in producing a perfect ley is soil pH, which is the key to its ability to survival and grow well. A soil pH of approximately 6.5 will ensure that the plant has all the major nutrients which it needs to survive and thrive, and to maximise the availability of micronutrients.  

Whether you establish the new ley by drilling or broadcasting will largely be determined by how long you want it to last. Establishing a long-term ley depends on achieving high tiller density to help suppress weed competition and this can best be achieved by broadcasting the seed. Short-term leys can be safely drilled, because the problem weeds which populate the areas between the rows won’t get much of a chance to establish a significant presence during the crop’s two or three-year lifespan. 

The conventional method is to burn off the existing sward with a glyphosate-based product, plough - particularly if the land is rutted, poached or uneven - and then create the seedbed. Long-term ley mixtures such as Nickerson Direct’s ‘Blue Circle’ and ‘Red Circle’ are designed to last for 5–8 years and up to 10 years respectively, so should be broadcast onto a firm, consolidated seedbed and the field rolled. However, it is important that each of the cultivation operations should contribute to achieving sufficient consolidation within the seedbed. Don’t rely on rolling alone to achieve this, because although the field might look level immediately afterwards, by the following spring the land will have settled and the surface will be very rough.
 
I would also emphasise the importance of sowing the ley mixture at the correct depth, especially if it is one which contains clover, because these tiny seeds can easily work their way down through the soil to a depth from which they will never germinate. The other key point is never to drill at more than the optimum depth simply to place the seed in the available soil moisture. Instead, wait for rain and if it doesn’t rain, don’t sow! 

The use of a fungicidal seed treatment is a key element in establishing a new ley to combat pressures from fusarium and pythiym, which cause damping-off or other seedling diseases and progressively destroy the root tips of older plants, leading to decline in perennial crops. To maximise establishment, most Circle Leys are treated with a fungicide and Growth Promoting Agent (GPA), which stimulate germination, particularly under stressful conditions, and encourage larger root systems that enable plants to absorb nutrients more effectively. Thiram, applied as a film coated seed treatment, helps to control damping-off diseases and in fusarium trials seed treated in this way produced 27% better establishment. 

Although seeding represents a significant investment, it can pay for itself in a single season through increases in drymatter output and improved forage digestibility, while beef and sheep producers will benefit from significantly increased production.  

Further information on reseeding and Nickerson Circle Leys is available from Simon Broddle on 07850 811247