This week sees the publication of the final GrassCheck Bulletin for 2024. For the majority of this year so far, grass growth has been behind the long-term average.
GrassCheck is a joint initiative of AgriSearch, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) and the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) and is co-funded by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA).
It is supported by the UK Agri-Tech Centre.
This year, the GrassCheck plots at Hillsborough and Greenmount grew a total of 9.49t dry matter (DM)/ha compared 10.77tDM/ha in 2023, and the 10-year average of 11.59t DM/ha.
While grass growth on the GrassCheck farms fared better, this too, at 11.09t DM/ha, was behind the long-term average and also down on the 2023 average farm yield of 11.77t DM/ha.
Co. Tyrone farms had the highest overall grass growth (11.23t DM/ha), closely followed by Co. Derry (11.22 tDM/ha) and Co. Antrim (11.20tDM/ha).
Co. Fermanagh grew 10.99t DM/ha and Co. Armagh grew 10.90t DM/ha, with Co. Down having the lowest grass growth (10.48 t DM/ha).
As the above data shows, and as any farmer will tell you, no two years are ever the same. Each year brings its own unique set of challenges for growing and utilising grass.
Grass growth
For the last 25 years, GrassCheck has been monitoring grass growth and quality in Northern Ireland, and over the course of the last eight years, grass growth and quality has been monitored on over 40 farms across Northern Ireland.
This data set gives farmers an insight into the how grass growth patterns have changed in recent years and what further changes might happen in the future.
These issues will be addressed at a conference AgriSearch is holding to mark the 25th anniversary of GrassCheck.
The ‘Future-Proofing Our Pastures: 25 Years of GrassCheck and Beyond’ conference will take place in the Seagoe Hotel, Portadown on Tuesday, November 12 at 10:30a.m.
Speakers will include Dr. David Patterson and Dr. Taro Takahashi from AFBI, Dr. Sinclair Mayne (Independent Consultant), Jason Rankin from AgriSearch and special guest speaker Dr. Brendan Horan from Teagasc.
The conference will also feature contributions from GrassCheck farmers from across Northern Ireland.
