To maximise the performance of any field, care must be taken in selecting the correct mixture to suit your farming system. Grass should be treated like a crop, and the same attention must be given to mixture and variety selection as you would for a crop of spring barley. You should consult with your grass seed specialist and ensure you choose the best mixture for your situation.
HOW LONG WOULD YOU LIKE THE MIXTURE TO LAST?
If it is a break crop that will be in the ground for 2-3 years, you may include shorter-term species such as Italian ryegrass, hybrid ryegrass, and intermediate perennials. If you are looking for long-term production, the mixture should have a higher percentage of late perennials, timothy, and cocksfoot.
WHAT IS THE SWARD GOING TO BE USED FOR?
Do you need a dual purpose mixture that can be cut or grazed? Will it be intensively grazed, or is it primarily for silage production? Some mixtures are better for hay making, while others are well suited to multi-cut systems.
WHAT ARE YOUR TARGETED SILAGE DATES?
Try to match your mixture to when you anticipate cutting. If silage production is a priority, a mixture with a tighter heading date between the varieties will ensure less variation in the maturity of the sward at cutting time.
MAKE SURE YOU CONSIDER YOUR SOIL TYPE
What suits one area does not suit another. Sowing a mixture into the wrong soil type can lead to poaching and a sward that is less robust than it should be, ultimately reducing its longevity. Tetraploid ryegrasses are more palatable, deeper rooting and suit lighter soils. On heavier soils a higher inclusion of diploid ryegrasses are more appropriate as they tiller twice as much as the tetraploids resulting in a dense sward that stands up to grazing. They are also 30% smaller than tetraploids, so you get more seeds in a bag, leading to a greater plant population.
SHOULD I INCLUDE CLOVER WITH THE MIXTURE?
In most cases, the answer is yes. It provides a free nitrogen source and improves livestock performance. If the field has a weed burden, it may be worth leaving the clover out and overseeding once the weeds have been managed.
Once you have decided on the structure of the mixture, it is important to ensure that you have the best varieties. The easiest way to do so is to use your relevant Recommended Grass and Clover List.
