Reseeding for better farm outputs
Research proves that reseeding is an effective means of improving grass quantity and quality. While a variety of factors impact on the effectiveness of reseeding, it seems that farmers can hope to grow up to 40% more grass following a successful reseed. This will inevitably result in a significant improvement in farm revenue.
There are additional benefits to reseeding too. For instance, there is evidence that reseeding that encourages clover growth will result in improved nitrogen responsiveness in soil.
That being said, reseeding constitutes a large financial investment, often running to an estimated cost of just south of €400 per hectare. This may make significant reseeding less appealing to smaller scale farmers. For farmers with larger holdings, however, reseeding should be considered an essential part of good farm practice.
Preparation is Essential
It is important to put a clear plan in place before setting out to reseed. It is usually best to reseed in the second or early third quarter of the year. Projects should not be undertaken later than this if you want clover to flourish on your pastureland. Encouraging healthy swards of clover for nitrogen responsiveness is one of the main incentives for reseeding, so timing really is essential for best results.
Aside from ensuring that your reseed is carried out in good time, you should also make sure that fields are properly drained. Where necessary you should clear blocked drains and/or put new drains in place. There is no point in reseeding a poorly drained field!
Additional steps
Once you have taken these key steps, you should spray the old sward. This is done to remove competition from weeds for the young clover, which needs access to sunlight to thrive. Sprays should only be applied at the recommended rates, and it is important to remember that these are hazardous products with potential health implications. All safety precautions should be taken when using glyphosate sprays. It is also important to remember that absorption rates can differ between glyphosate products.
You may wish to test your soil fertility before progressing to your reseed. Adequate levels of lime, potassium and phosphorous are the key indicators of soil fertility. You should talk to your agricultural advisor about the results of your soil tests. If soil fertility is insufficient, you may need to apply 10:10:20. According to Teagasc researchers, three bags per acre is the ideal application for a successful reseed. However, this can vary from case to case.
Soil preparation
No reseed will be successful if soil is not correctly prepared. The key here is to ensure that soil is fine and that the bed is firm. This may be achieved by ploughing or using min-till. One or other of these approaches may be more effective for your soil type. It is often a good idea to consult with other farmers in your locality, who may have prior experience of reseeding. They may be able to offer advice as to the more effective approach for your soil type.
Post reseeding
If you notice a large number of docks and chickweed emerging in the sward in the weeks following reseed, you may need to apply a clover-safe spray to encourage the growth of clover. Again, the utmost care should be taken, and all safety precautions followed, if applying sprays.
In terms of clover growth in the reseed, it is important that you choose the correct seed variety for your farm. If you are reseeding for sheep pasture, for instance, you should choose small leaf white clover varieties. Larger leaf white clover is preferable for cattle, while higher amounts of red clover are preferable for silage production.
Acknowledgement: this article is indebted to research carried out by Teagasc, and published on the Teagasc website.
