With levels of rainfall extremely variable across the north over the last month there has been a definite east – west divide in terms of grazing conditions, grass growth and farm cover. Regardless of how your grass situation is tracking the goals for achieving autumn grazing and protecting grass for next spring are the same.
Castiles Farm partners with LIC to help achieve their goal of building a more sustainable, resilient and profitable business.
Rainfall across the north has brought some relief to farmers, although without more in some areas this is just enough to keep things growing for a few weeks. Soil conditions are still firm making achieving consistent even residuals easier as the rotations build.
Crossbreeding of traditional breeds isn’t new to UK dairy producers. Decades of genetic selection and crossbreeding using different strains or breeds has seen gains in milk yield, protein and fat production as well as in cow conformation and management traits.
Artificial insemination (AI) is a tool that farmers have been using to drive their businesses forwards for decades. It delivers the very best of dairy bull genetics to farmers around the world at an unprecedented scale, reducing the spread of disease between and within herds and brings health and safety benefits as fewer stock bulls are required on farm.
Ongoing social distancing and the spring weather have made the past month very unusual. I believe it has been the longest period of sustained sunshine I’ve experienced since arriving from New Zealand 10 years ago. While fine weather is welcome it has farmers nervous about the season to come.
As the UK works towards reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050, the agricultural industry has been put under the microscope. In a report from GOV.UK, agriculture was found as the source of 10% of total GHG emissions in the UK and of these, emissions 90% is nitrogen and methane from livestock and pastures.
Life has changed dramatically for me since last month, although feedback from my clients suggests that life on farm is relatively normal – apart from the kids being at home! The weather has also dramatically shifted through April. Ground conditions are now ideal for grazing and in some cases farmers are hoping for a spot of rain to keep things fresh and growing.
The impact of the COVID-19 lockdown now affecting farmers across the UK, and milk buyers are either requesting a decrease in milk supply, reducing the price, deferring payment or, in some cases, a combination of these. LIC’s Pasture to Profit farm consultant Sean Chubb has come up with some clear-cut advice to help dairy producers through these challenging times.
Managing this year’s ‘spring flush’ will be a challenge for us all. With the unprecedented amount of rain over spring, farmers in the North have struggled to adhere to their spring rotation plans.
Selecting cycling cows for mating and identifying non-cycling cows for intervention is crucial to maximising pregnancy rates during mating.
In recent light of the ever-evolving situation concerning COVID-19, LIC UK’s number one priority is the safety of you, your staff and family, and our people.
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