{"id":290356,"date":"2018-08-06T06:00:51","date_gmt":"2018-08-06T05:00:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.agriland.ie\/?p=290356"},"modified":"2018-09-13T09:18:42","modified_gmt":"2018-09-13T08:18:42","slug":"forage-crops-it-isnt-something-thats-done-in-a-normal-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lightsail.agriland.ie\/farming-news\/forage-crops-it-isnt-something-thats-done-in-a-normal-year\/","title":{"rendered":"Forage crops: ‘There has to be a win-win situation’"},"content":{"rendered":"
Westerwold ryegrass and Italian ryegrass are the buzz words in Irish farming at present. The forage crops are known for\u00a0vigorous growth and high production levels.<\/p>\n
However, these forage crops are best suited to filling a big gap in a fodder deficit where grazing ground cannot be accessed.<\/p>\n
Patrick Cashman from Goldcrop went into detail on what you can expect from these crops at a recent Teagasc\/Goldcrop farm walk on forage crops at John Cullen Grain in Co. Wexford.<\/p>\n
It isn’t something that’s done in a normal year; but – depending on your particular circumstances – there might be a place for it this year.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
“If you have an ability to graze fodder rape, it’s probably the best option because it’s the highest yielding and higher yield means that it works out a bit better cost wise,” Patrick added.<\/p>\n
“Where people are looking at working with a tillage farmer and they want to bale something or conserve feed, they’re looking at Italian ryegrass and Westerwolds.<\/p>\n
“Fodder rape is about 12% dry matter and quite high in nitrates, so it would be less than ideal to bale it in December.<\/p>\n
The ryegrass is a bit higher in sugars and dry matter, which makes it more suited to bale in the autumn and the spring.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Aside from the vigorous growth habit of the ryegrasses, the versatility of the crops are an advantage as they can be grazed, zero-grazed of baled.<\/p>\n
Westerwold ryegrass must be harvested before going to seed and sprayed off with glyphosate, Patrick added.<\/p>\n
“Italian ryegrass has to go through a winter to go to seed. It won’t go to seed until next May; it’s safe from a weed point of view,” he noted.<\/p>\n
“From the point of view of contamination, it’s essential that these crops are sprayed off with glyphosate before a spring crop.”<\/p>\n