Semerwater and Upper Lune Catchment. Partnership. Grassland Management Trial Plots FACTSHEET #1

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1 Grassland Management Trial Plots FACTSHEET #1 Semerwater and Upper Lune Catchment Partnership Welcome to the first in a series of three factsheets which will cover the progress of grassland management trial plots within the Semerwater and Upper Lune Catchment Partnership area. Slurry injector system The Semerwater and Upper Lune Catchment Partnership is made up of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, Natural England and the Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust. It is funded by Defra and Natural England. The overall aim of the current two year project is to work with farmers and landowners to develop low cost ways of improving water quality on farms. The plots have been set up on a dairy and sheep farm in Raydale and a beef and sheep farm in Kingsdale in conjunction with SAC Consulting Ltd and EBLEX. The dairy plots are being overseen by SAC Senior Dairy Consultant Jimmy Goldie, and the beef and sheep plots by EBLEX grassland specialist Liz Genever. The main aim of the plots is to demonstrate management of grassland to benefit grass growth, soils and water quality. The trials will show different rates of nutrient inputs, compare liming and aeration on grass growth, and look at the effects off compaction and ways to alleviate it. We will be hosting three events on the two farms this summer, exhibiting the progress and findings of the trial plots - more news on that later on.

2 Dairy farm trial plots, Raydale Semerdale Hall is a dairy and sheep farm run by Matthew and Jayne Bell consisting of a 70 cow herd of Holstein Friesians with a flock of 290 Swaledale and Mule ewes. The holding extends to 205 hectares (510 acres) of improved meadow, pasture, rough allotment and fell. We are interested in comparing different application rates of fertiliser/slurry on upland silage fields to hopefully improve grass yields economically. Matthew Bell The dairy enterprise supplies Wensleydale Creamery in Hawes. It aims to produce milk with high protein (3.39%) and butterfat (4.14%) content. The cows are fed a mixture of silage (big bale and clamp), feed concentrates, sugar beet nuts and fodder beet so that average milk yield per animal exceeds 8577 litres per year. Grassland management on the farm centres around silage production (up to two crops). Meadows receive several slurry applications at 1,600 gallons per acre. In addition, Urea fertiliser is applied in spring, followed by another dressing of compound 22:0:14. The farm is located adjacent to the River Bain and has a number of streams running through the main meadows and pastures. The Bells have taken action to reduce the risk of nutrient loss to watercourses by installing 1.5km of river bank fencing and three drinking bays and planting 60 trees along the river. This was grant aided and guided by the Raydale Project and the Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust (YDRT). This year, the YDRT installed stretches of willow spilling and bundles to reduce bank erosion. Holstein Friesians The Bells have applied for capital grant funding from the England Catchment Sensitive Farming Delivery Initiative (ECSFDI) to help with reducing dirty water volume in the farm yard, improving farm access to silage fields and providing alternative livestock drinking sources.

3 SAC and Catchment Partnership Trial Plots The trial plots at Semerdale Hall have been set up in one of the Bells silage fields. Riverbank fencing with livestock drinking bay The Bells have been fully involved with the Catchment Partnership and were happy to offer a meadow for the trial plots. The aim of the plots is to exhibit the effect of using a range of nutrient input levels. This will be measured against grass growth, yield and quality. The field has been split into four plots, each approximately an acre in size. Soil samples have been taken from each with the results used to decide fertiliser input. Slurry has also been analysed, the results of which will be used to calculate NPK rates for one of the plots. Each plot has a specific rate of nutrient input to be applied during the growing season: Plot 1: Compound fertiliser only. Plot 2: Slurry only application. The trial plots at Semerdale Hall are being overseen by SAC (Scottish Agriculltural College) Consulting Ltd. Plot 3: Farmer s conventional approach to nutrient application. Plot 4: application rates of fertiliser and slurry as recommended by PLANET. Each plot will be mown and baled on the same day. A sample of silage will be taken from each plot and analysed. In addition, the regrowth of the plots post first cut will be measured and compared. Plot 2 has been set up to show if there is a benefit to the regrowth by injecting the slurry.

4 Beef & sheep farm trial plots, Kingsdale Braida Garth is a 687 hectare upland beef and sheep farm, managed by brothers Bryan and Richard Coates with the help of their family. The farm consists of moorland allotments, pastures and meadows. The business runs a suckler beef enterprise comprising 130 breeding cows of predominantly Limousin cross breed, plus 130 followers, as well as 900 breeding Swaledale ewes plus hogs and 200 mules ewes. We got involved in the Catchment Sensitive Farming Project to make use of the advisory service available to assist us make improvements to dirty water run off issues in the farmyard. Bryan Coates The Coates have taken part in many aspects of the Catchment Partnership, attending training events and steering group meetings. The farm had an infrastructure report funded by the catchment partnership which they found very useful. From the advice given they put in an application to the ECSFDI capital grant scheme with the aim of trying to carry out some works to improve the farmstead. The cattle generate both slurry and farm yard manure which is used on the meadows and a few of the improved pastures. The meadows are managed to produce 1 cut silage. During the growing season, wet manure is spread at a rate of 2 ton per acre, followed by one dressing of compound fertiliser Nitrogen at 200 weight to the acre plus an additional dressing of sulphur. Post cut and during late summer grazing, the fields receive a further dressing of fertiliser at 150 units per acre. Fertiliser and manure management on the farm has been directed by a Nutrient Management Plan, produced by ADAS and funded by the Catchment Partnership. Soil tests were undertaken on 10 meadows across all three parts of the holding. The trial plots at Braida Garth The results showed phosphate indexes where high 3 or 4. Therefore it has been recommended to run down the phosphate level by removing it as

5 We are interested in the trials and how they will help us get the most from uplands grassland on our farm. We hope to find out what benefits are achievable, in comparison, by aeration and lime spreading. Richard Coates part of the compound fertiliser and allowing the farmyard manure to supply the grass crop needs The ph results indicated that lime is required. This will be part of the focus of the trial plots. EBLEX and Catchment Partnership trial plots The trial plots on Braida Garth are taking place in one of the meadows. The aim is to answer the following research questions: Does spreading lime to bring ph to 6 in grassland generate a cost-effective increase in yield? Does alleviating soil compaction with an aerator generate a cost-effective increase in yield? The meadow has been marked out into eight areas (around one acre each). The test will be for four treatments: 1. No treatment 2. Aerator - using the aerator once in the spring (when conditions are fit) 3. Lime - application of 2 tons per acre (5 tonnes per hectare) 4. Both aeration and lime application Within each section, eight smaller 50cm squares are marked out using canes and it is from these that samples of the grass will be taken. The trial plots at Braida Garth are being overseen by EBLEX. At the beginning of the trial, the swards in each of the smaller squares are cut back to an even height (approximately 3cm). After three weeks, four of the squares from each area will be cut back to 3cm and the material will be collected for weighing and analysis. After another six weeks (or before cutting for silage) the other four squares in each area will be cut back to 3cm and material collected for weighing and analysis.

6 Farm Walks & Workshop We will be hosting three events on the two farms this summer, exhibiting the progress and findings of the trial plots. Farm Walks Wednesday 30 May 2012 Semerdale Hall, Raydale A farm walk and demo looking at nutrient inputs, grass growth on trial plots and willow spilling on this dairy and sheep farm. August 2012 (dates TBC) Braida Garth, Kingsdale A farm walk to look at trial plots and discuss the results on this beef and sheep farm. Machinery demonstration at a 2011 Catchment Partnership event Semerdale Hall, Raydale Feedback on the results of the trial plots, and a discussion on slurry application. Workshop During the late autumn we will be running a workshop on soil compaction on upland farms. This will be led by EBLEX - more details to follow. For further information and/or to confirm an event booking, please contact: Helen Keep (YDNPA) Jane Le Cocq (YDNPA) Dave Higgins (YDRT) For more information on catchment sensitive farming and how we can help you, please visit the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority website at Page 6

7 JOIN US! What? Farm Walk Looking at managing nutrient inputs to benefit grass growth and silage quality When? Wednesday 30 May 2012 Time? 10.30am to 1pm Where? Semerdale Hall, Semerwater, near Bainbridge Buffet lunch provided. Booking deadline: Monday 28 May In conjunction with the Bell family of Semerdale Hall, the Semerwater and Upper Lune Catchment Partnership and SAC Consulting Ltd invite you to a: Farm Walk on Wednesday 30 May 2012 from 10.30am to 1pm at Semerdale Hall, Semerwater, near Bainbridge A buffet lunch will be provided Speakers: Jimmy Goldie (SAC Senior Dairy Consultant) will discuss the complexities of nutrient management and improving silage quality, and explain the demonstration plots that are at Semerdale Hall. Hugh McClymont, (SAC Farm Manager, Crichton Royal Farm, Dumfries) will be on hand to explain the work undertaken at SAC s research farm to improve slurry utilisation on grassland. Dave Higgins (Project Manager, Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust) will be demonstrating willow spilling and bundling techniques aimed at improving river bank stability and reducing soil loss. Looking at managing nutrient inputs to benefit grass growth and silage quality

8 To book a place on the Semerdale Hall Farm Walk on Wednesday 20 May 2012, please call Helen Keep on or Briony Davey on Alternatively, please complete this slip and return to: Semerdale Hall Farm Walk, Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, FREEPOST BD625, Grassington, Skipton BD23 1BR. Please note, if you wish to attend this event your booking MUST be received by Monday 28 May 2012 Number of people who would like to attend... Speakers Jimmy Goldie, SAC Senior Dairy Consultant Hugh McClymont, SAC Farm Manager, Crichton Royal Farm, Dumfries Dave Higgins, Project Manager, Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust Their names (please use capital letters)..... Your contact details: Tel Address.... Please let us know if you have any special dietary requirements... For further information, please contact the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority Farm Team: Helen Keep Briony Davey