Monitor Farm programme presents practical options for forage crops and outwintering

Farmers can now access in-depth advice on the options, costs and outcomes of forage crops and outwintering following the completion of a new Monitor Farm Scotland Innovation Project, ‘Maximising the Potential of Forage Crops’.

The project concluded with a Deeside Monitor Farm meeting, alongside advice based on in-depth research into 10 forage crops grown on four farms in north-east Scotland last autumn and winter. The project was commissioned from SAC Consulting and delivered by beef and sheep consultant Kirsten Williams.

Forage crops studied include brassicas, deferred grazing and forage beet, with results including detailed costs of production, nutritional analysis and an insight into the animals’ requirements. A presentation introduces the farmers, explains the main features of the project and discusses crop choices, costs and convenience.

Four papers with practical advice have been created which are free to access at monitorfarms.co.uk

• Choice of crop
• Establishment
• Weather resilience
• Utilisation and nutrition

The online hub includes a case study featuring Duncan Morrison, the Deeside Monitor Farmer, who was one of the four farmers involved. The other three are Jonny Stewart from Mains of Balfour/Rashenlochy near Banchory, Robert Marshall from Kincraigie Farms, Lumphanan, and Alex Stephen, Arnhall Farm by Edzell.

Kirsten Williams said: “Choosing an outwintering system for your farm requires an understanding of your farm assets, how the crop system fits with your farming practices and how it would be grazed.

“The project highlighted great variation between outwintering systems. High yielding crops such as fodder beet and kale carried high numbers of stock/ha at 16.88 livestock units (LU)/ha and 12.75 LU/ha, respectively, while lower yielding crops such as a catch crop of stubble turnips and deferred grazing carried only 2.40 LU/ha.”

The report was summarised at a well-attended Deeside Monitor Farm meeting recently. Peter Beattie, Monitor Farm regional adviser, says: “There was a large number of attendees who don’t currently use forage crops for outwintering. The diversity of systems in the report shows the possibilities and it was great to see so many people talking about the options.”

• Find the practical papers from the report, plus Deeside Monitor Farm case study here: https://www.monitorfarms.co.uk/maximising-the-potential-of-forage-crops/