UK farmers advised on forage strategies following drought

Agricultural experts are advising UK beef and dairy farmers on managing forage availability following a period of prolonged drought that restricted summer grass growth. To mitigate feed shortages, specialists suggest several options to boost autumn production, including the use of spring ryegrasses, forage cereals, and stubble turnips.

Scott Newell of RAGT notes that while ryegrasses are traditional mainstays, seed availability may be tight due to poor production in recent years. Alternatives such as forage rye and triticale are recommended; rye offers earlier spring production, while triticale provides more forage later in the season. Additionally, stubble turnips are highlighted as a high-biomass option for immediate autumn production once moisture levels allow for drilling.

Regarding pasture management, James White of Barenbrug advises farmers to resist grazing drought-hit grasslands immediately after rain returns. To protect weakened swards, livestock should ideally be fed conserved winter forage, allowing recovering plants to reach the three-leaf stage before grazing resumes. In cases of extreme scarcity, farmers may need to sacrifice specific fields to grazing to allow the rest of the grazing platform more time to recover.