Peace Seeds Spring 2022

GRASSLAND >LSS THUHNLK NYHZZSHUK PZ [OL IHJRIVUL VM TVZ[ SP]LZ[VJR I\ZPULZZLZ HUK JY\JPHS [V WYVÄ[HIPSP[` 7LHYJL :LLKZ VќLY [OL M\SS YHUNL VM agronomy services to maintain and improve pastures. • Soil Testing • -VYHNL :LLK (K]PJL • -PLSK >HSRPUN ^P[O (NYVJOLTPJHS (K]PJL NEW LEYS The key to successful establishment of a new ley is to ensure a good seedbed, soil sampling to correct pH and nutrient availability and the right selection of suitable varieties. Once the grass is sown keeping weeds out becomes equally important. Early competition from vigorous weeds can rapidly reduce the growth of grass and leave new leys unproductive and with gaps. Tackling grassland weeds early, at establishment of a new grass ley, will help improve sward palatability, productivity and reduce costs. 0[ PZ PTWVY[HU[ [V JOLJR UL^ SL`Z YLN\SHYS` MVY ^LLK PUMLZ[H[PVUZ ;OL TVZ[ JVTTVU ^LLK PZZ\LZ HM[LY YLZLLKPUN HYL *OPJR^LLK +VJRZ Thistles and Buttercups. However, a wide range of perennial and annual weeds will take advantage of warm temperatures and moist seedbeds to germinate. Weed seedlings are more susceptible to herbicides than mature plants and are cheaper and easier to control at this stage. Reseeding is an opportunity to drastically improve the quality and quantity of grass on the farm which may not happen for many more years, so it is worth spending time to do it right. ESTABLISHED LEYS It is essential to monitor your grassland carefully throughout the year for established or germinating weeds. Seedling Docks can often germinate in autumn undetected and become a big problem the following spring. Established weeds which have been cut, such as +VJRZ HUK 5L[[SLZ HUK HSSV^LK [V YLNYV^ JHU IL ^LSS JVU[YVSSLK [OYV\NOV\[ [OL Z\TTLY HUK H\[\TU WYV]PKPUN [OL` HYL HJ[P]LS` NYV^PUN HUK [OLYL PZ HU HKLX\H[L HTV\U[ VM MVSPHNL WYLZLU[ (U` ^LLKZ ^OPJO OH]L ÅV^LYLK HUK HYL K`PUN Vќ Z\JO HZ ;OPZ[SLZ +VJRZ VY 5L[[SLZ ^PSS UV[ IL JVU[YVSSLK 7LYTHULU[ NYHZZSHUK ^PSS Z\JJ\TI [V WH[JOLZ VM +VJRZ 5L[[SLZ ;OPZ[SLZ HUK V[OLY ^LLKZ V]LY [PTL YLK\JPUN NYHaPUN HYLH HUK X\HSP[` VM ZPSHNL HUK OH` >LLK PUMLZ[H[PVU ^PSS YLK\JL WHSH[HIPSP[` ^OPJO YLZ\S[Z PU ZLSLJ[P]L NYHaPUN HUK HJJLSLYH[LZ Z^HYK KLNLULYH[PVU >LLKZ WVPZVUV\Z [V SP]LZ[VJR Z\JO HZ 9HN^VY[ YLWYLZLU[ H THQVY [OYLH[ ;V LUZ\YL H WYVHJ[P]L OLYIPJPKL Z[YH[LN` MVY HSS JYVWZ 7LHYJL :LLKZ ^PSS HK]PZL [OL ILZ[ VW[PVUZ HUK [PTPUNZ HUK N\PKL `V\ VU [OL PTWSLTLU[H[PVU VM LќLJ[P]L HUK YVI\Z[ WYVNYHTTLZ • 3PTL :WYLHKPUN • F ertiliser Selection