August 11, 2008

UK farmers urged to improve clover content of forage

UK farmers could improve the nitrogen efficiency of their forage systems by introducing more clover into their fields, a consultant from an environmental agency said.

Environmental consultancy ADAS told Newsquest Digital Media that farmers' margins are being squeezed by escalating fuel, feed and fertiliser prices, along with increases in other input costs.

Aled Roberts, ADAS senior consultant said that the key is fertiliser and nutrient usage. Currently, few farmers actually reviewed the yields of grass against the quantity and quality of fertiliser utilised, he noted.

ADAS research has shown that forage may no longer be the most cost-effective source of feed at high nitrogen use level.

As fertiliser prices continue to rise, farmers are looking at diminishing returns with some other feed sources becoming comparatively cheaper, he said.

Aled says farmers can review soil nutrient status and use phosphate and potassium in home-produced farm waste more effectively, and encourages farms with lower stocking rates and nitrogen inputs below 100kg per hectare to maintain grass swards with good clover contents.

He said: "Swards with clover content of 17 to 30 percent  are capable of producing similar yields of dry matter to a system receiving 200kg of nitrogen per hectare.

Using a red clover system, even higher yields of forage can be conserved, although the persistency of red clover falls within two to three years of sowing, he said.

The research also found that up to 40 percent of forage matter is wasted on a routine basis.