Gate Farm Project Introduction: Different overseeding establishing techniques using multi-species mixtures and min-till establishment method for a brassica break-crop in a grass ley

Site: Gate Farm, Llandyssil, Montgomery

Technical Officer: Simon Pitt

Project Title: Different overseeding establishing techniques using multi-species mixtures and min-till establishment method for a brassica break-crop in a grass ley

 

Gate Farm is a 300-acre organic dairy farm near Abermule, Newtown with an all year round calving herd, with a bias towards the autumn. The herd includes 170 cows and 110 followers grazing free-draining soils between 500 and 1,000ft.

All their milk fulfils the antibiotic free status of all the livestock on the farm from which an additional premium is paid. Milk is sold to OMSCo (Organic Milk Supply Coop). The herd averages at 6,500 litres, of which 4,500 litres are produced from forage.

The grazing platform is approximately 180 acres. The silage block is 100 acres and is mainly red clover, herbals and plantain, which has improved the soil structure.

Glenn Lloyd of Gate Farm wants to be as sustainable as possible and wants to grow as much home-produced protein as possible, reducing their reliance on bought-in protein.

Growing and utilising homegrown forages are key drivers of sustainability on all livestock farms, helping farm businesses become more productive whilst improving their environmental credentials. 

High quality, productive swards are a prerequisite. Forage proteins such as legumes (red and white clover) and herbs (plantain and chicory) are well adapted to our climate and grassland farming systems and present an opportunity to reduce costs further as well as improving the carbon footprint of the farm and bring diversity to the swards. 

Pasture improvements and renewal without using the plough is now a key area of interest to avoid losses of carbon to the atmosphere.

The aim of this project is to introduce new grass varieties, legume and herb mixtures to improve sward biodiversity and soil structure and fertility, to increase the yield and utilisation of homegrown forage protein in the organic grazing platform.

The project will compare three different rejuvenation methods. The project will also evaluate the potential to use hybrid (rape/kale cross) brassicas as a break crop in grassland renewal by min-till method of establishment.