Cropping policy on the Unit
The Unit is primarily a livestock production unit, with scope for producing a range of livestock feed crops and cash crops.
White-clover-based swards can be very productive for many years, whilst red clover will probably only last three years. As a result, the cropping rotation has been designed to incorporate fertility building lclover-based leys along with the single year crops such as cereals and protein crops.
These allow reseeding and weed control operations and are also able to make good use of the high fertility provided by the clover.
Meeting the needs of the unit
Within the cropping rotation we have selected crops and leys which meet a number of requirements:
- There is a clear need for both grazing and forage production for livestock on the Unit:
a. White-clover based swards are used for both cutting and grazing and comprise the majority of the swards
b. Red-clover based swards are primarily used for producing silage, with grazing later in the season - Legume crops such as peas and lupins can be grown as high protein grain crops for feeding to livestock. However, in the Northern Ireland climate they have not been successful and have been replaced by cereal/pea mixtures.
- Concentrate feeds are an essential part of livestock feed over winter, and home produced barley, oats and/or triticale can provide this. In good summers dry grain can be produced, but in less favourable years crimped grain offers an alternative. If excess grain is produced, it should find a ready market with other organic producers due to current shortages of organic cereals.
DARD 2008