The forage team at Crediton milling is 10 years old and still one of our best kept secrets!
What is the difference between what a forage specialist does vs a feed specialist?
The job of a forage specialist is to work with you from the ground up to get the most out of what you already have on farm, looking at your fields and assessing what crops are best suited for your business.
Services
Soil Analysis
Soil samples are the basis of understanding what is going on in your soil. These range from standard sample analysis to in-depth analysis looking at the physical, biological, and chemical aspects of your soil. Soil samples should be carried out every five years as per the water framework directive.
The soil fertility review looks at individual fields. Our experts will take 15 to 20 individual samples from various parts of the field and produce a report guiding you as to which remedial action is required.
Fertiliser Plans
Our forage specialists can assist you with nutrient management planning (fertiliser plans) which allows us to match your nutrient inputs (fertilisers and organic manures) to your crop’s demand.
Efficient nutrient application enables the potential to:
- Increase crop yield and quality.
- Minimise the amount of artificial and organic fertilisers required which can be financially beneficial.
- Reduce ammonia emissions which improves air quality and therefore, human health.
- Reduces damage to sensitive habitats caused by excess nutrients carried away through air or water.
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions, in turn helping to mitigate climate change.
The best time to prepare a nutrient management plan is late winter or early spring, before crops are most likely to take up nutrients.
NVZ
For those of you who are within an NVZ, we offer reports that will ensure you are compliant with the regulations.
Map courtesy of https://environment.data.gov.uk/farmers/
Grazing Management
Grass is an important crop and can provide a large proportion of the energy requirements for Dairy, Beef and Sheep systems. Yet, it rarely earns the respect it deserves as a potentially high-quality, natural ruminant feed. Grazed grass is the cheapest feed on the farm when utilised effectively.
The first step to greater utilisation is to understand how grass grows and to start measuring availability and growth speeds. We can then assist in balancing feed supply with demand and make informed decisions on stocking levels and future management.
Silage and Slurry
Have you considered using a additives or inoculants in your forage or slurry? They can provide a host of benefits. Talk to our forage team to find out how they could work for your farm.
Silage Innoculants
Silage inoculants can be used on many crops, not just grass. They can be really beneficial in the maximising the potential of each of your forage harvests.
Silosolve FC, supplied by Forage Tech , is one of the most popular silage inoculants that we source for our customers. Silosolve FC can make your job easier and more profitable by assisting with:
- Fresh, clean quality silage ready to feed within 7 days.
- Healthier silage due to 98% reduction in spoilage organisms.
- Proven to be tastier for the cow helping to increase intakes.
- Increased milk production, Daily Liveweight Gain (DLG), healthier cows and less waste.
- Suitable for grass silage, maize, wholecrop and bales.
Slurry Treatments
Last year, Sonya conducted a trial on a customer’s farm to evaluate the effectiveness of using a silage treatment. Sonya visited the farm at regular intervals monitoring the results by taking samples, photographs and videos. The results were positive:
- Reduced solids.
- Less crusting which will help produce a more homogeneous and nutrient rich fertiliser.
- Improved pumpability.
- Reduced odour and flies.
- Less time and fuel spent on stirring as the bugs have done most of the work.
- Higher nutrient value slurry – particularly nitrogen.
- Better soil health.
- Higher crop yields.
This customer is now a regular user of Maneuver lagoon by Chr. Hansen which we can supply direct to your farm through our close working relationship with Forage Tech .
Fertiliser
Our BASIS and FACTS qualified advisers will assess your farm and produce a bespoke fertiliser plan. As a result, this will maximise the use of your organic manures and target the use of inorganic fertilisers to ensure optimum efficiency. We work closely with each farmer to ensure compliance. Tailored plans will recognise crops that are grown for feedstuffs and highlight any trace or macro elements required.
Seeds
Knowing which fields to reseed, which fields to overseed and to leave is not an easy task. We will walk your farm with you to help assess which fields we can prioritise. This will ensure you maximum return on your spend. We can also recommend seed mixtures and alternative cropping to maximise dry matter yield on your farm.