Cultivate Farming Blog
9 May, 2023Deciding when to do first cut of silage
We are at the beginning of silage season.
Brian Reidy, ruminant nutritionist writing in the Irish examiner, outlines some key considerations for farmers in deciding when to do the first cut of silage:
👉The amount of silage you have leftover from last winter should be taken into consideration
👉It is worth considering taking the first cut as soon as possible in order to get the second cut growing👉Earlier and lighter cuts will be better quality once the sward is relatively young, fresh, and as had enough nutrients applied👉Earlier cuts of young grass will have a higher crude protein percentage, this has the benefit of cheaper concentrates with a lower protein content being sufficient next winter
👉Aim to cut the sward when dry. Try to avoid the grass being on the ground for more than 24 hours.
Over 13,900 applications to the Dairy Beef Welfare Scheme
There was a total of 13,931 applications to the Dairy Beef Welfare Scheme which closed last Tuesday, 2nd May. County Cork had the highest number of applications, followed by Tipperary and Limerick.
The suckler equivalent, the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) has 9,864 applications so far and remains open for applications until Monday, 22nd May 2023.
Sheep 2023
The date has been announced for Sheep 2023. The major sheep industry event will take place on Saturday, 17th June in Gurteen Agricultural College in Roscrea, Co. Tipperary.
The event will have more than 10 technical areas, each with their own extensive programme including workshops, demonstrations, visual displays and opportunity for one-to-one dialogues with present experts. The technical topics include; breeding and genetics, flock health, forestry, grassland, health and safety, hill sheep, nutrition and organic farming.
Sheep 2023 is being organised by five industry stakeholders Bord Bia DAFM Irish Farmers Journal Sheep Ireland Teagasc.
If you are a farmer looking to develop your farm and live in the common bond of St Colmcille’s (Kells) Credit Union, contact us today on 
046-9240299 and we can talk through your funding options over the phone, email Cultivate@kellscu.ie