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EFFECT

EFFECT PROJECT

(European Farms For Effective Clover Technology Project)
FAIR Project Number CT97 - 3819
This exciting new demonstration type project will run for 4 years from 1998 until 2002. It will implement a package of new technology designed to tackle the persistency problems associated with white clover in permanent pasture.
The programme employs low cost oversowing techniques to introduce inoculated pelleted seed of the latest ABER white clover varieties into clover poor pastures as a means of boosting clover content. Simple grass harrow type equipment along with appropriate site pre-sowing preparation is used to get new clover established.
Sites on 24 farms located in clover favourable areas throughout Europe will be oversown during the first two project years and the impact on pasture productivity closely monitored. Seven of the farms are located in the UK, 2 in Ireland,4 in the Netherlands,3 in Germany,4 in France and 4 in Spain.
These farms will be used extensively to promote the wider adoption of oversowing techniques as a low cost way to harness the benifits of clover rich pastures.
You can follow the progress of the project by regularly visiting this website and the partners' websites. Wider issues concerning the use of white clover in European grassland can be fully aired by joining our website discussion group-CloverNet. I hope you find this website both interesting and informative.

Scientific Coordinator

Andrew Stewart
Before taking early retirement from the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland to become an Agricultural Consultant, Andrew Stewart was Head of the Departments Agriculture Technology Service. In this capacity he established a programme of technology transfer and evaluation using pilot farms located throughout Northern Ireland. He has had a lifelong interest in exploiting the merits of white clover at farm level.

Project Partners

Country Contact Name

 Tel Nnumber Fax Email
Northern Ireland David Patterson 01849 426753 01849 426777 david.patterson@dardni.gov.uk
Scotland David Younie 01224 711000 711072(DD) 01224 711293 d.younie@ab.sac.ac.uk
Wales Gwyn Moseley 01970 623683 01970 623683 moseleyg@compuserve.com
Germany Michael Wachendorf 00449 431 880 2137 0049 431 880 4568 mwach@email.uni-kiel.de
The Netherlands Ton Baars 0031 343 517814 0031 343 515611 t.baars@louisbolk.nl
Spain Juan Pineiro 0034 81 673000 0034 81 673656 juan.pineiro.andion@xunta.as
France Andre Le Gall HQ-00331 400 45150 REG-00331 299 148268 00331 400 45275 00331 299 148755 andre.le-gall@inst-elevage.assoc.fr

Project Sponsors

  • GERMINAL HOLDINGS, Commercial Road, Banbridge BT32 3ET, Co Down, N Ireland
    Founded in 1963 following a merge of two of the UK's major seed trading companies Samuel McCausland Ltd and Joseph Morton Ltd. The company has continued to build on it's founder's philosophy of consolidation and expansion resulting in a dynamic company with significant standing through the seed world.The Germinal Group comprises of some seven companies involved in both wholesaling and retailing of seed each with their own individual characteristics of experience and enterprise.
    The Germinal network is one of the strongest and most comprehensive in the UK and Ireland in areas such as arable crop seeds and amenity grasses.In 1988 Germinal Holdings Ltd took over funding of near market research work carried out by IGER (Institute of Grassland & Environmental Research), Aberystwyth, formerly the Welsh Plant Breeding Station and in turn was awarded the world marketing rights for new grasses and clovers bred at IGER. The 'Aber' varieties displayed on many Recommended Grass & Clover lists throughout Europe are the fruits of this successful partnership. Germinal Holdings is committed to grass & clover research and their recently installed pelleting plant is leading the way in the field of pelleted seed.
    Tel. 018206 62777, Fax. 018206 62688
  • HATZENBICHLER, A-9433 St Andra, Fischering 2, Austria
    Company from Austria started production of farm machinery in the late 1950`s. It now employs around 60 workers making a range of equipment for seedbed preparation and mechanical weed control in cereals and row crops. The Company also makes equipment for regeneration and maintenance of grassland. This machinery, known as the Verticator range, is particularly suitable when fitted with a seedbox for oversowing seeds such as clover into existing pasture. Hatzenbichler distribute their machinery through importing agents in all the main European countries. For further information , please contact Mr Franz Buchsbaum at Hatzenbichler
    Tel.+43 4358 2287, Fax. +43 4358 2208, Email. landtechnik@hatzenbichler.at

CloverNet - Discussion Group


Clovernet is an International Internet Discussion Group. It's membership consists of anyone with a genuine interest in the promoting the use of white clover in grassland worldwide. Individuals involved in research, consultancy, advice, commerce and farming are welcome to join.
Clovernet provides a forum for questions concerning any aspect of white clover development and management to be asked and answered by group members.
It is where researchers can draw attention to new findings and discuss the implications of their work. It is also where those involved in transferring clover technology to farmers can air their successes and problems and where farmers can seek help and advice on clover management.
If you would like to join please send your name, details of your organisation and a brief resume of your interest in white clover to Andrew Stewart at the following email address andrew18@surfaid.org.

Notice Board


List of reports from various farm visits throughout N Ireland and reports from our 4 demonstration farms in France
Contact details Andrew Stewart at
astewart@fish.co.uk

Disclaimer


The EFFECT project is part-funded by European Community under Fourth Framework Programme (FAIR) for research, technological development and demonstration.
The content of this website and the views expressed are the responsibility of the project participants. They do not necessarily reflect the Commissions views and in no way indicate or anticipate its future policy in this area.