The GrassCheck GB project will celebrate its fifth anniversary this year with an on-farm event in North Wales.
The project aims to harness the UK’s potential for substantial grass production and was launched to address the challenges and opportunities in the grassland management sector.
The on-farm event to celebrate its anniversary will be held at Pen y Gelli farm, near Caernarfon, north Wales, on Tuesday, June 25, where the latest project results and updates will be shared.
The GrassCheck project aims to help farmers unlock the full potential of their grasslands, drive increased yields and quality, improve livestock performance and become more sustainable.
Hosted by Alwyn Phillips, a participating farmer in the GrassCheck GB project, the event will include a farm walk and offer practical advice on how to capitalise on flock performance from grass.
The project is a collaborative effort the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB); Hybu Cig Cymru (HCC); Quality Meat Scotland (QMS); UK Agri-Tech Centre; Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI); and Rothamsted Research.
Senior engagement manager (beef & lamb) at AHDB, Katie Evans, said: “Grassland agriculture stands as the cornerstone of the ruminant livestock sectors in the UK, providing a vital competitive edge in the global livestock production sectors.
“Improving grassland management efficiency is an important factor in driving profitability for beef, sheep, and dairy farms across the UK.
“Current estimates show production levels of 7.5t DM/ha/yr and 4.7t DM/ha/yr on dairy and beef farms, respectively.
“Each additional tonne of dry matter (DM) utilised per hectare translates to significant financial gains, amounting to £334 and £204 per annum for dairy and beef farms, respectively.”
GrassCheck GB
The GrassCheck GB project has established a network of 50 grass pilot farms strategically situated across England, Scotland, and Wales with the aim of equipping farmers with the knowledge to optimise grassland management.
These farms act as hubs for gathering data on grass growth, grass quality, and weather conditions.
“A crucial aspect of the project is the creation of a sophisticated grass growth model, supplying regional 7-14 day grass growth forecasts in weekly bulletin updates,” Evans said.
“This forward-looking tool empowers farmers to make informed decisions on grassland management for the upcoming grazing week, strengthening overall operational efficiency.”
Dr Heather McCalman of HCC said: “As the GrassCheck GB project embarks on its fifth year, the partners involved remain committed in their dedication to advancing grassland agriculture and help ruminant livestock sectors in England, Wales, and Scotland to realise the potential of their grassland to become more resilient, productive and sustainable.”
