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Limagrain Field Seeds is taking variety trials beyond the plot with the launch of a new UK farmer-led Demonstration Farm network.
The initiative is designed to give growers a clearer, more practical view of how varieties perform in real farming systems, moving away from purely small-plot data and into field-scale reality. Instead of relying solely on trial sites and headline figures, the network will showcase Limagrain genetics under the pressures that shape day-to-day farm decisions, including soil type, rotation, cultivation and input strategy.
Nicolle Hamilton, marketing director at Limagrain, says the aim is to give growers a different perspective. “We want to offer growers a more meaningful way of looking at our varieties, through a farmer lens,” she says. “That means taking them out of controlled conditions and putting them into real farming systems, managed by farmers making commercial decisions every day. While she stresses that formal trials and the AHDB Recommended List remain important benchmarks, she says they do not always reflect the realities of commercial farming.
“This is not about replacing trials, it’s about adding another layer,” she says. “Farmers want to know how varieties establish, how they cope with different soils and how they perform under lower inputs or after cover crops. That is where this approach adds value.”
“It’s about working with farmers, listening to them and learning from them.”
Heather Oldfield, Limagrain cereals product manager, says the strength of the network lies in its farmer-led approach. “This is about genuine collaboration,” she says. She adds the focus is not on identifying a single standout variety, but on understanding where different genetics fit. “There is no perfect variety,” she says.
“Success comes from putting the right variety in the right place. What works on one farm may not work on another. These Demo Farms help us show those differences in a way that is much more relevant to growers.”
The Farmers
The first two farms in the network are based in Suffolk and Staffordshire, offering two contrasting systems. Ryan McCormack hosts the East Anglian site at Dennington Hall Farms, while Rob Atkin farms over in Staffordshire. Together, they provide a broad snapshot of how varieties perform across different soils, climates and management approaches.
Ryan McCormack is testing Limagrain varieties in systems that include reduced tillage, cover crops, and livestock to understand what works best under these conditions
At Dennington Hall Farms, Ryan McCormack is running a highly integrated system combining arable, livestock and environmental management. The farm operates a 12-year rotation and places strong emphasis on soil health, with cover cropping, minimal cultivation and livestock grazing all playing a role. “I’m farming for margin, but also for my soils,” he says. “That means I need varieties that can cope with reduced tillage, cover crops and lower inputs. The only way to understand that is to test them in those conditions.” His trials include comparing multiple varieties under different establishment systems within the same field, giving a clear view of how genetics respond to management.
In contrast, Rob Atkin’s Staffordshire farm operates across a wide range of soil types, from heavy clay to high-organic-matter silt. The mixed farm includes combinable crops alongside beef and sheep, with a growing focus on soil health and cost control. “I still need yield to pay the bills,” he says. “But I want varieties that work on farm, not just in perfect plots. I want to know how they perform under pressure.” For Mr Atkin, the value of the network lies in its honesty. “It’s about seeing what works, what doesn’t and why, that’s far more useful than just looking at figures.”
Rob Atkin believes that seeing varieties in real situations helps him make better decisions
To help growers follow crops through the season, Limagrain Field Seeds is supporting the Demo Farm initiative with on‑farm demonstration days. These demonstration days offer the opportunity to see varieties in the field, discuss results with farmers and Limagrain experts, and gain practical insight into real‑world performance.
More information and registration details can be found below:
Fodder beet is a long-standing and valuable fodder crop on many sheep and cattle farms and its popularity continues.
So says Limagrain forage crop manager John Spence, who quotes 25 years of trial data comparing long standing UK fodder beet varieties and more modern varieties that demonstrate how this crop has stood the test of time.
“It’s noted for its high energy and high feed value,” says John. “Results all show that dry matter and energy yields are consistent, regardless of growing conditions.
“Even in the more climatically challenging conditions of the past few years with long dry periods and, at times, very wet conditions, yields and feed value have not wavered much.”
Fodder beet will yield more than 80 tonnes per hectare of fresh weight, with some varieties well above this and around the 100 tonnes of fresh weight level per hectare.
The average metabolisable energy content for fodder beet varieties trialled annually by Limagrain is consistently 12.5 to 13 MJ/kg DM. “This fodder crop has the highest dry matter and energy yielding crop per hectare available among commonly grown forages in the UK,” adds John.
Depending on the feeding system and the climate, farmers can also consider bolting risks, and choose a variety least likely to bolt, or disease resistance.
“And there are varieties that are rhizomania tolerant and are selected to be less susceptible to mildew, rust and leafspot,” he adds.
Flexi forage
Fodder beet offers the ultimate among other crops when it comes to flexibility. It can be stored in the group over winter and lifted as required, lifted and stored in open clamps, or fed in situ if conditions are suitable.
“Many dairy farmers store fodder beet in clamps then clean it if necessary and chop it into a TMR. Medium rooted varieties are ideal for this as they carry less risk of soil contamination compared with deeper- rooted varieties.”
Fodder beet slots into grass or arable rotations as a break crop. It’s sown in April, possibly after a first cut or early spring grazing, or a cereal crop, into a well-prepared seed bed.
“It’s a demanding crop in terms of nutrients,” he adds. “Land destined for fodder beet will benefit from farm year manure and slurry, and nitrogen can be applied after drilling where necessary.”
It’s also important to keep on top of pests and weeds. “We supply seed treated with a fungicide and pesticide with the option of seed priming to aid germination and get plants off to a good start. But herbicide treatments and fungicides will be required depending on conditions.”
While fodder beet requires quite a few inputs, with growing costs have been estimated to be at least £16 a tonne fresh weight, the yields and feed value make this crop cost-effective.
“And there are added benefits of including fodder beet in the rotation, and of being able to reduce the reliance on bought-in feeds.
“Once farmers introduce this forage, they rarely move away from it. Its flexibility, feed value and consistency make it an attractive option.”
‘More crops like this’
Fodder beet is a staple crop at Marsh Farm, near Alford, east Lincolnshire where it is used in a TMR for dairy cows and also fed with cereals to the beef cattle. Darren Brown grows 12-hecatres (30 acres) of the crop every year which produces about 100 tonnes per hectare (40t/acre) of fresh weight a year.
As well as being a valuable feed, Darren finds fodder beet an ideal break crop for winter and spring cereals, and it slots into the rotation with the grassland. “We’re on clay loam so it’s marginal for fodder beet really, but the crop does consistently well every year.”
Fodder beet follows a cereal crop – typically winter wheat. Pre- sowing, the land is ploughed in autumn, then flat lifted across the plough to loosen the soil and allow for easy root development
Harvesting starts in late October until the end of February and precedes spring barley. He uses one of two local contractors. “The good thing is that we can lift beet as we need it and when conditions are OK. It stores well in mother nature’s larder – in the ground, and in a pile once it’s lifted. It’s very flexible.”
Whatever the growing conditions, the experience in growing and feeding fodder beet at Marsh Farm is good. “Despite different challenges, there’s little fluctuation in yield and feed quality. We’ve had dry summers and wet autumns, but yields and quality don’t seem to vary,” adds Darren. “We could do with more crops like this.”
He attributes some of his success with fodder beet to choice of variety; he’s opted for Limagrain’s Robbos since 2019.
“We ‘dabbled’ with other varieties but come back to Robbos as it’s consistent and reliable. It’s got a clean root and it’s not deep into the ground which makes harvesting, cleaning and feeding easier.”
More info
To maximise grassland productivity & sustainability, it’s crucial for farmers to recognise the most productive grass species. By understanding the strengths of different grasses, you can choose the right grass mixture to improve yields, enhance soil health, and boost animal performance.
Ryegrasses are the most commonly used species in LG Sinclair McGill grass mixtures but are often complemented with other grassland species, such as Timothy, Cocksfoot and fescues. These offer additional benefits to suit specific situations.
In this article, we’ll look at some of the key species for productive grassland; their uses, benefits, longevity and where they can be best used.
Perennial Ryegrasses (Lolium perenne)
This is the cornerstone species of UK grass seed mixtures due to its persistency, adaptability, longevity and high yield characteristics.
There are many perennial ryegrass varieties, usually subdivided into 3 groups categorised by the date at which they reach maturity. Early varieties typically produce a seed head in England and Wales in Mid-May, Intermediate varieties towards the end of May, and Late varieties in early June. In Scotland heading dates will on average be 2 weeks later due to the different climatic conditions.
Early Perennials
These varieties grow well and bulk up in early spring, making them ideal for early grazing and for conservation cutting.
Intermediate (Mid-Season) Perennials
A denser, more prostrate growth habit than early perennials, these varieties have a longer production season with high persistency and yield potential in grazing and cutting systems.
Mid-season perennials can be used to increase ground cover and forage quality in short-term mixtures and to boost yields in long-term mixtures.
Late Perennials
These varieties are extremely persistent and used in long-term mixtures, particularly those designed for intensive grazing. They offer excellent forage quality as they remain leafy and palatable for longer than other types, with good mid and late season growth and a good yield potential.
Italian Ryegrasses (Lolium multiflorum)
Italian ryegrass is the highest yielding of the ryegrass species lasting 18 to 24 months so is typically a mainstay short term conservation mixture. An excellent species to provide bulk but lower in forage quality than perennial ryegrasses. Their fast germination and establishment make them ideal for sowing as a catch crop.
Italian ryegrasses need frequent grazing or cutting to maintain their quality. They grow vigorously and respond well to nitrogen fertiliser but produce relatively few tillers so the sward can be fairly open. Surplus growth in autumn is best removed to promote winter hardiness.
Hybrid Ryegrasses (Lolium hybridum)
These carefully bred hybrids offer the benefits of both Perennial and Italian species. They are more persistent than Italian Ryegrass, lasting for between two and four years, and have higher yields than Perennial Ryegrass.
They will typically offer better ground cover than Italian ryegrasses increasing their suitability to grazing and are used successfully in mixtures with red clovers to make high-protein sward mixtures.
Tetraploid Ryegrasses
There are tetraploid varieties of both Italian and perennial ryegrasses. Tetraploids have a similar plant size but tend to have broader leaves, a more erect growth habit and deeper root systems compared with diploids. Tetraploids offer several advantages over the diploids, including:
- Increased palatability
- Higher sugars (Water soluble carbohydrates)
- Increased winter hardiness
- Increased tolerance to drought conditions
Timothy (Phleum pratense)
Timothy brings many advantages to grass seed mixtures and is often included in grazing and cutting mixtures for use in the north and west of the UK, where conditions can be colder and wetter.
Timothy grows at lower temperatures than ryegrasses which makes for excellent early Spring growth. It is very persistent and winter hardy, coping with wetter conditions and poorer soils. It will also continue to maintain palatability in mid-summer when other grasses may be past their peak production.
Timothy is a good variety choice in swards for grazing sheep.
Cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata)
Cocksfoot has an extensive root system and is used in mixtures grown on lighter or drought prone soils. It has rapid regrowth and good summer production when other species may be affected by lack of moisture.
However, Cocksfoot is lower in digestibility and sugars than ryegrasses and it can easily become ‘tussocky’ and unpalatable for livestock if managed incorrectly.
Westerwolds (Lolium westerwoldicum)
These are annual grasses with vigorous growth giving very high yields. Their short life span of a single year, but rapid growth potential, means that Westerwold varieties are predominantly sown straight as a catch crop rather than being used in mixtures. They are well suited to bulk up silage production and zero grazing but need regular defoliation to prevent a fast decline in forage quality.
Creeping Red Fescue (Festuca rubra)
Winter hardy and early growing, on acidic soils and in wet and cold conditions, if necessary, makes red fescue an option in specific situations. It is used sparingly in grass seed mixtures.
Meadow Fescue (Festuca pratensis)
Meadow fescue is a nutritious leafy species and traditionally grown with Timothy in grass/clover swards. It is often included in mixtures designed for extensive grazing due to its good performance in low fertility or low input situations.
Putting it all together
LG Sinclair McGill mixtures have been developed through a combination of farm experience, variety and mixture trials as well as animal feeding trials. The current range builds on a foundation of over 50 years of farm success, with the latest research and technology, to produce the very best mixtures available.
Our mixtures are designed using the principles of sward mechanics. This means exploiting knowledge gained from scientific studies, showing the way different varieties and species interact when sown together, to formulate the best mix for each intended purpose.
We include varieties exclusive to LG Sinclair McGill, along with carefully selected varieties from other breeders that have proven performance in the UK Recommended Grass and Clover Lists, and our own variety trials.
Good grass mixtures contribute hugely to lowering production costs, but as a sward ages, its yield and feed quality decreases significantly. This is caused largely by the ingress of lower yielding, lower quality weed grasses.
Now is a great time to take a good look at all your grass fields and if you can answer ‘yes’ to any of these questions then it would be worth considering the various options that are open to you.
Key Questions to Assess the Health of your grass
Q: Are your leys struggling to support the numbers of livestock they did in the past?
Q: Is the speed of re-growth after silage cuts slower than it was?
Q: Have your fields been attacked badly by pests and/or diseases in recent years?
Q: Do you see more and more patchy areas on some fields?
Q: Is the population of weeds and weed grass much higher than you thought?
Q: Have your fields been badly poached in recent years?
Q: Do you detect a reduction in the amount of silage being taken off each field every season?
Q: Has the level of broad-leaved weed infestation been rising?
Q: Could you make better use of the high feeding value of legumes like White Clover?
You have various options if you have answered ‘yes’ to any or all of these questions. It may be that in some cases you will be able to bring the ley back up to speed by close attention to the control of weeds and pests.
Alternatively, it may be necessary either to consider a complete re-seed or perhaps an overseeding operation.
Why is reseeding so important?
Reseeding gives the opportunity to replace older varieties and weed grasses with the newest genetics that offer a multitude of benefits.
The key point to remember is that it is important not to look at the cost of reseeding but instead consider the cost of not reseeding!
More information
Download the grass mixture selection guide here
One Cumbrian dairy farmer has found an ideal break crop for his grazing platform that also provides a valuable extra forage through summer
‘It’s a valuable addition’ is how Cumbrian dairy farmer Jack Carr describes his new-found forage. He’s grown the hybrid brassica Skyfall for the first time this summer – 2024 – as a break crop, but he’s particularly pleased with its value as a grazing alternative that slots very nicely into the summer rotation for his dairy herd.
Jack Carr
“We’ve a 27 acre (11-ha) grazing platform around the dairy, and we keep this as fresh and productive as possible by reseeding regularly,” says Jack who runs the 200-acre (81-ha) livestock Leesrigg Farm near Wigton with his father Bryan.
“I look to reseed every four or five years, but I avoid following grass with grass immediately. I also I don’t want to ‘waste’ too much time with land out of grass around the dairy. So a quick break is ideal.”
Limagrain’s forage manager in the North and Scotland area, John Heaphy, suggested the bounce back brassica Skyfall after seeing the success of this relatively new forage on sheep and dairy units.
“It’s ideal as a break crop on dairy units,” he says. “It’s a palatable, leafy, high protein feed which can be fed either in the summer, when grass growth might be limited, or sown later and grazed into autumn.
“And if conditions are right, it only takes five or six weeks to grow so it can slot into the grazing rotation and take the pressure off grazed grass in mid to late summer. An added benefit is that it regrows thanks to its deep roots, giving two or three rounds of grazing typically of the same quantity and feed quality.”
Star performance
Keen to put the crop to the test, Jack sowed 7 acres (2.8ha) of Skyfall on June 12, after ploughing up a five-year old grass ley in his grazing platform. He was grazing it by late July.
“It’s a fast-growing crop,” says Jack. “We sprayed off the grass, ploughed the ley and added a mineral at the same time then power-harrowed and drilled the seed at the rate of 5kg per hectare.
“We added 50kg/ha of a 25:5:5 fertiliser after drilling as the crop emerged. Establishment was very good, and the crop got off to a good start.”
Cow numbers were reduced a few years ago from 110 British Friesians to 60 cows when Jack’s grandfather stepped back from the business, but numbers are now being built up, aiming for 140 milkers plus followers. They’ve also introduced robotic milking which is working well.
While Skyfall was part of the grazing rotation, cows were directed from the robot through gate ‘A’ for nine hours a day on to the crop. This was then reverted to exit gate ‘B’ for the remaining hours each day, diverting cows back onto grass.”
They found no difference in yields or milk quality when cows grazed the Skyfall. Average milk yield – recorded through NMR – is currently 8170kg at 4.49% butterfat and 3.52% protein, with 4,500kg of the milk yield coming from forage. Milk sold to Arla.
“But it gave the cows some variety in their diets, and it took some pressure of the grass,” adds Jack.
“At first the cows stopped and thought ‘what’s this’, but it didn’t take long – as they are inquisitive by nature – before they were on the crop and grazing it enthusiastically.”
Once the crop was eaten off, in about 10 days, the ley was closed-up for regrowth. “And this is exactly what it did – very quickly. We added a bit of nitrogen, and it helped it move on at a good rate.”
By mid to late August re-growth was good enough to open it to the cows again for a further 10 days. “Again, the cows performed well, and we could have done a third round, but I was keen to prepare the ley for an autumn reseed,” he says, adding that he’s equally pleased to be giving the land a break from grass so any pest cycles are broken while still getting a good feed off it for his milkers.
“The system here is geared up to get more from forage,” adds Jack. “We’ve rented more land – which is how we’ll expand the herd.”
He adds that improvements in silage making have spurred on the herd’s milk production form forage with grass silage making up most of the forage in the TMR.
Average ME across three cuts of silage is 12MJ/kg DM and dry matters are between 28% to 30%. Wholecrop silage is produced on the farm too and these forages are balanced with a blend from feed company Newbreed. Cows are topped up and fed to yield in the robot.
“The system here aims to make best use of our crops. I look for efficient cows too that make more milk from the same inputs. We’ve added some Norwegian Red bloodlines to help achieve this.”
The grazing season is relatively short, from May to September, so crops to eat in situ has to be high quality.
“Skyfall works well,” says Jack. “It’s a fast growing break crop that offers a good feed so it’s far more efficient than ploughing up a ley and leaving it empty before a reseed. It’s worked well this year, so I’ve re-ordered some Skyfall seed for 2025.”
SKYFALL ADDS A SHINE TO SUMMER GRAZING
Limagrain UK’s bounce back brassica Skyfall is a highly nutritious leafy forage crop for grazing cattle and sheep in summer through to autumn.
Fast growing, it is sown between May and July and ready for grazing five or six weeks later, depending on growing conditions. And after the first round of grazing, it is closed up for three to five weeks while it grows back. Its deep narrow roots allow it to thrive in drier soils through summer. This, and the crop’s hybrid vigour supports regrowth and a second and maybe a third grazing crop through the season.
In field trials Skyfall produced between 30 and 35 tonnes/ha of a palatable soft-leaved forage where the crop was sown in July.
Skyfall is an ideal break crop too and can break pest and weed cycles before a grass reseed. Or it can be used in a mixed arable rotation.
SKYFALL – key facts
• High protein forage
• Fast-growing – as little as 5-6 weeks from sowing to grazing
• Leafy and palatable grazing crop for cattle and sheep
• Produces 65 tonnes/ha over 3 grazings
• Deep rooting so withstands dry conditions
• Regrowth potential – bounces back after first round of grazing and provides a second crop
• Break crop – short-circuits weeds and pest problems in grassland
Broadening the range of forages can build more resilience into dairy businesses. So it could be worth widening the forage net in 2025. Limagrain’s forage crop manager John Spence looks at the forage options for dairy producers to consider.
There’s plenty of choice – and plenty of benefits to be had – when it comes to selecting forages for dairy cattle.
More forage production by ‘filling the gaps’ between reseeds, and reducing fields left fallow for any length of time will boost milk from home grown crops. And there are many options that promote productivity and soil health, and in doing so meet Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) criteria.
“King of the forages is grass,” says Mr Spence. “Growing other forage species within the grass rotation will support the longer term productivity of these grass crops by breaking the grass pest and disease cycles.”
After a wet cold spring in 2024, which disrupted reseeding on some units, conditions have been more favourable for autumn reseeds. “But there will be more to do in spring 2025 to get back on track,” he adds. “In these cases, tempting as it may be to follow grass with a reseed immediately, a highly nutritious brassica could be a better option.”
Bounce back brassicas
Brassicas slot into the grass rotation on dairy units very successfully, either for summer feed, or in autumn and winter. 
He highlights the ‘summer’ brassica Skyfall that has two or three re-growths in a season. “Skyfall is unique as it is sown from May and grazed five six weeks later, then closed up for about six weeks to allow it to ‘bounce back’ before grazing again. In many cases this cycle can be repeated a third time. And, thanks to its fast growth and re-growth, there’s still time for an autumn reseed.”
Fodder Beet
Fodder beet is also well worth considering as a break crop and is popular on dairy units because of its high feed energy value. This fodder crop has the highest dry matter and energy yielding crop per hectare available among commonly grown forages in the UK.
The average metabolisable energy content for fodder beet varieties trialled annually by Limagrain is consistently 12.5 to 13 MJ/kgDM.
Sown in spring, possibly after a first cut or early spring grazing, fodder beet can be grazed in situ by youngstock or dry cows or lifted and chopped for use in a TMR. It can be stored in a clamp or in the ground and feed through the winter – it offers a lot of flexibility.
“Once farmers introduce this forage, they rarely move away from it, particularly where it’s chopped and added to a TMR,” says Mr Spence. “It’s appetising and brings an energy boost to diets, but the consistency of the crop adds to its attractiveness.
“We’ve got more than 25 years of trial data comparing long standing UK fodder beet varieties, such as Robbos, and five years of data on more recent varieties, such as Fosyma. Results all show that dry matter and energy yields are consistent, regardless of growing conditions,” he adds.
Even in the challenging conditions of the past few years with long dry periods and, at times, very wet conditions, yields and feed value have not wavered much. These two varieties have both yielded more than 18 tonnes per hectare of dry matter consistently. Fosyma consistently heads the ranking with an average dry matter yield 12% above the control variety.
Forage rape and stubble turnips
Returning to brassicas, those looking for a forage crop to sow later in the season, possibly after multiple silage cuts or grazing rotations, can consider forage rape and stubble turnip. Sown anytime from May to September, the two crops can be sown separately or together.
“The high protein forage rape and high energy stubble turnip are ready for grazing 12 to 14 weeks after sowing. So, if it’s sown in late May, the crop is grazed in late summer as grass growth slows up. If it’s sown later, these hardy crops can be grazed through to January if conditions are suitable, which will reduce winter feed costs.”
Both forage rape and stubble turnips should be introduced to cattle gradually with a run back onto grassland. Choice of variety will influence feed value with newer varieties, such as Unicorn forage rape, being selected for improved digestibility while maintaining protein levels of 15%.
The new stubble turnip Hector brings extra energy with an ME of at least 12MJ/kg of dry matter.
“These forage crops might be less fashionable, but trials using these modern varieties show off their value in the forage rotation on dairy units,” says Mr Spence.
Herbal Leys
Herbal leys feature strongly in many forage plans for dairy and livestock units. There has been a huge surge in popularity and are now becoming mainstream. “But I’d recommend making careful choices.”
While a basic herbal ley might qualify for the SFI payments, there’s a wide range in performance between these and better quality mixtures. “If you choose cheap and cheerful, you’ll pay for it. There’s a lot to be gained from a well formulated mixture suited to the farm, conditions and feeding system.”
A herbal ley mixture qualifying for the payment must contain one grass species, two legumes and two herbs. This is the minimum requirement. Further guidance set out by Defra to encourage growing a high-quality herbal ley recommends five grass seed varieties, three legumes and five herbs.
“I’d encourage livestock farmers to go for a high quality herbal ley. Not only does it qualify for the payments, but it will also out-perform the basic mixes when it comes to animal performance,” says Mr Spence, adding that Limagrain has set this higher benchmark as its minimum for its herbal seed mixtures.
“We’ve designed herbal ley mixtures that are robust and productive and offer high feed value. We’ve achieved this by using species with proven performance on farm and in UK trials to ensure the full benefits of the herbal ley are achieved.”
For example, plantain and chicory herbs are screened at Limagrain’s innovation site, with the best varieties selected based on their yield and complementary growth pattern. These species are also deep rooting to provide drought tolerance and have anthelmintic properties.
“Proven species of legumes are also used, and we’ve selected varieties that can achieve production goals as well as meet environmental targets. These mixtures do far more than simply meet the payment criteria.”
CONSIDER THE PURPOSE BEFORE CHOOSING
He also encourages farmers to consider the purpose of the herbal ley before choosing a mixture. “If it’s for cutting it should include hybrid and earlier heading ryegrasses, but not include chicory because this loses its persistency under conservation management.
“But for a grazing mixture, chicory works well alongside plantain, white clover and other species that tolerate more regular defoliation, along with later heading grasses.”
Mr Spence adds that herbal leys aren’t for all dairy farmers. “There are clear benefits to herbal leys but their productivity can sometimes struggle to match that of a well-managed perennial ryegrass and white clover ley, particularly in intensive systems,” he adds.
Those growing high production grass swards that are missing white clover can opt to over-sow it, to meet the SFI criteria for legumes on improved grassland (CNUM2). This will bring nitrogen fixing benefits, improve protein content and add to the ley’s production in drier months. Using a pelleted clover, that is heavier, will significantly improve establishment rates.
With more unpredictable weather patterns, planning forage rotations may seem more complex. “But careful and thoughtful planning on the choice of forages and opting for proven varieties will add resilience and boost production from home grown crops,” he adds.
“The aim is to keep a good supply of high quality home-grown forages and reduce the vulnerability caused by the season and situation.”
Greater resilience in forage cropping comes from improving output per acre of quality forages with proven feed value.
Monitoring and managing soil health and pest and weed protocols is vital.
And there’s mileage in rethinking rotations and using the ‘best’ crops between grass crops to break the pest cycles and to improve soil health, and to avoid leaving the land fallow but instead increase output of forages per acre.
Forage brassica and fodder beet are good options. Fodder beet can be grazed or lifted to give a consistent high energy feed and can be sown from late March to late April. Sown in May, Skyfall bounce back brassica provides regrowth after grazing every three to six weeks from mid-July. Sown in June/July, stubble turnips are grazed in autumn and early winter.
Reseeding regularly adds resilience with significant increases in output per acre. This can be boosted even more with high performance grass seed mixtures based on proven UK trial data, and by selecting the right mixture for the job in hand. Trying to save a few £ on seed mixtures, which is a small proportion of the reseeding costs, is false economy.
Herbal leys and clovers are in vogue. Introducing these mixtures is incentivised with payment rates for CSAM3 herbal leys of £382/ha and £102/ha for CNUM2 Legumes on improved grassland.
But a word of warning. Too many growers are choosing least cost mixture options with ‘unknown’ species varieties. While these mixtures might comply with the rules, they don’t give the production benefits that can be achieved from specifically designed mixtures with a track record. For example, varietal choice of plantains and chicory can make a big difference to production.
Download the grass mixture selection guide here
One Cumbrian dairy farmer has found an ideal break crop for his grazing platform that also provides a valuable extra forage through summer
‘It’s a valuable addition’ is how Cumbrian dairy farmer Jack Carr describes his new-found forage. He’s grown the bounce back brassica Skyfall for the first time this summer – 2024 – as a break crop, but he’s particularly pleased with its value as a grazing alternative that slots very nicely into the summer rotation for his dairy herd.
“We’ve a 27 acre (11-ha) grazing platform around the dairy, and we keep this as fresh and productive as possible by reseeding regularly,” says Jack who runs the 200-acre (81-ha) livestock Leesrigg Farm near Wigton with his father Bryan.
“I look to reseed every four or five years, but I avoid following grass with grass immediately. I also I don’t want to ‘waste’ too much time with land out of grass around the dairy. So a quick break is ideal.”
Limagrain’s forage manager in the North and Scotland area, John Heaphy, suggested the bounce back brassica Skyfall after seeing the success of this relatively new forage on sheep and dairy units.
“It’s ideal as a break crop on dairy units,” he says. “It’s a palatable, leafy, high protein feed which can be fed either in the summer, when grass growth might be limited, or sown later and grazed into autumn.
“And if conditions are right, it only takes five or six weeks to grow so it can slot into the grazing rotation and take the pressure off grazed grass in mid to late summer. An added benefit is that it regrows thanks to its deep roots, giving two or three rounds of grazing typically of the same quantity and feed quality.”
Star performance
Keen to put the crop to the test, Jack sowed 7 acres (2.8ha) of Skyfall on June 12, after ploughing up a five-year old grass ley in his grazing platform. He was grazing it by late July.
“It’s a fast-growing crop,” says Jack. “We sprayed off the grass, ploughed the ley and added a mineral at the same time then power-harrowed and drilled the seed at the rate of 5kg per hectare.
“We added 50kg/ha of a 25:5:5 fertiliser after drilling as the crop emerged. Establishment was very good, and the crop got off to a good start.”
Cow numbers were reduced a few years ago from 110 British Friesians to 60 cows when Jack’s grandfather stepped back from the business, but numbers are now being built up, aiming for 140 milkers plus followers. They’ve also introduced robotic milking which is working well.
While Skyfall was part of the grazing rotation, cows were directed from the robot through gate ‘A’ for nine hours a day on to the crop. This was then reverted to exit gate ‘B’ for the remaining hours each day, diverting cows back onto grass.”
They found no difference in yields or milk quality when cows grazed the Skyfall. Average milk yield – recorded through NMR – is currently 8170kg at 4.49% butterfat and 3.52% protein, with 4,500kg of the milk yield coming from forage. Milk sold to Arla.
“But it gave the cows some variety in their diets, and it took some pressure of the grass,” adds Jack.
“At first the cows stopped and thought ‘what’s this’, but it didn’t take long – as they are inquisitive by nature – before they were on the crop and grazing it enthusiastically.”
Once the crop was eaten off, in about 10 days, the ley was closed-up for regrowth. “And this is exactly what it did – very quickly. We added a bit of nitrogen, and it helped it move on at a good rate.”
By mid to late August re-growth was good enough to open it to the cows again for a further 10 days. “Again, the cows performed well, and we could have done a third round, but I was keen to prepare the ley for an autumn reseed,” he says, adding that he’s equally pleased to be giving the land a break from grass so any pest cycles are broken while still getting a good feed off it for his milkers.
“The system here is geared up to get more from forage,” adds Jack. “We’ve rented more land – which is how we’ll expand the herd.”
He adds that improvements in silage making have spurred on the herd’s milk production from forage with grass silage making up most of the forage in the TMR.
Average ME across three cuts of silage is 12MJ/kg DM and dry matters are between 28% to 30%. Wholecrop silage is produced on the farm too and these forages are balanced with a blend from feed company Newbreed. Cows are topped up and fed to yield in the robot.
“The system here aims to make best use of our crops. I look for efficient cows too that make more milk from the same inputs. We’ve added some Norwegian Red bloodlines to help achieve this.”
The grazing season is relatively short, from May to September, so crops to eat in situ has to be high quality. “Skyfall works well,” says Jack. “It’s a fast growing break crop that offers a good feed so it’s far more efficient than ploughing up a ley and leaving it empty before a reseed. It’s worked well this year, so I’ve re-ordered some Skyfall seed for 2025.”
Jack Carr
SKYFALL ADDS A SHINE TO SUMMER GRAZING
Limagrain UK’s bounce back brassica Skyfall is a highly nutritious leafy forage crop for grazing cattle and sheep in summer through to autumn.
Fast growing, it is sown between May and July and ready for grazing five or six weeks later, depending on growing conditions. And after the first round of grazing, it is closed up for three to five weeks while it grows back.
Its deep narrow roots allow it to thrive in drier soils through summer. This, and the crop’s hybrid vigour supports regrowth and a second and maybe a third grazing crop through the season.
In field trials Skyfall produced between 30 and 35 tonnes/ha of a palatable soft-leaved forage where the crop was sown in July.
Skyfall is an ideal break crop too and can break pest and weed cycles before a grass reseed. Or it can be used in a mixed arable rotation.
Skyfall regrowth (left) vs original growth
SKYFALL – key facts
- High protein forage
- Fast-growing – as little as five or six weeks from sowing to grazing
- Leafy and palatable grazing crop for cattle and sheep
- Produces between 30 and 35 tonnes/ha
- Deep rooting so withstands dry conditions
- Regrowth potential – bounces back after first round of grazing and provides a second crop.
- Break crop – short-circuits weeds and pest problems in grassland
Our Skyfall Growers Guide can be downloaded here
Successful foray into fodder beet for East Lothian farmer
The challenges of dry summers and increasing input prices have tempted one East Lothian beef farmer into trying out fodder beet for finishing his beef cattle.
And Anderson Waddell has no regrets, and for now, he’s committed to a crop each year. In May 2023, his contractors sowed six hectares of plant breeder Limagrain’s Robbos fodder beet and lifted about 120 tonnes per hectare fresh weight (50t/acre) of the crop in November. He’s recorded good intakes of this high energy feed and found an improvement in the finished cattle.
Anderson runs the 150-hectare beef and arable family farm at Pencaitland, East Lothian, 14 miles southeast of Edinburgh. He buys about 90 six-month old male calves, mainly from one farmer, between October and December each year. Most are pure Charolais, and the rest – about 25% – are Limousin.
These calves go out to grass the following spring at around 300kg liveweight and are then housed from 430kg to finishing weights of 650kg to 700kg.
Indoors, cattle get a diet of grass silage and homegrown barley in troughs which this year has been mixed with chopped fodder beet.
“By October each year I can have about 280 cattle on the farm, so I need a reliable source of high quality feed,” he says, adding that the dry summers have knocked back silage yields and increasing input prices have affected the cost of growing barley.
“So I was keen to look at alternative home grown feeds to eke out supplies of silage and reduce my reliance on feed barley. I am to be self-sufficient in feed supplies.”
Many friends in the area grow fodder beet so Anderson asked around for some tips and took the recommendation from his seed merchant Dods of Haddington.
“The reliability and consistency of fodder beet yields, and its feed value made it an attractive option, and the variety Robbos, which is tried and tested was recommended and a lot around here grow it,” he adds. “So it seemed like a good option to start with.”
The crop was sown into prepared land following barley. Anderson applied plenty of dung on the stubble prior to ploughing and preparing the seed bad.
“Input costs after sowing were relatively small – just three weed treatments were applied between May and June. Establishment was good and despite some dry conditions, the crop kept growing.”
His contractor lifted the crop in November – which Anderson admits was a bit late in view of the wet conditions. “But it yielded well and it’s certainly taken pressure off the silage and barley. Cattle have grown well and they’re killing out better.” 
He wants to improve the chopping equipment – last winter he used a Ritchie Root bucket feeder, which was not ideal. “I’ve still a bit to learn with growing and feeding fodder beet but it’s just what I needed in the diet and it’s cost-effective,” he adds.
“And I also have plenty of organic matter on the field to promote soil health ahead of the next crop of spring barley that will be drilled in May. So, fodder beet is giving me just what I wanted from a forage crop – it’s a win-win for now.”
Find out more about Robbos fodder beet here and download our latest UK trial results for fodder beet.
Don’t forget about Fodder Beet!With feed costs continuing to rise, why not consider growing a crop of Fodder beet?
Yielding between 80-100 tonnes of fresh feed per hectare, growing a crop can help reduce your winter feed purchases. It’s not too late to drill, early crops are usually drilled early April but this year’s weather means many crops
won’t be drilled until end of the month or even into the first week of May.
Later drilling may also help reduce bolter numbers. You should try to drill 100 – 110,000 seeds per hectare, with a view to establish 80 – 100,000 plants per hectare at harvest. Drill widths range from 45-50 cm with seed spacings of 15-20cm. Seedbed conditions are vitally important, with a requirement for a fine, firm seedbed with a soil temperature above 5˚ C.
With rotational options limited in some regions, Fodder beet will allow you to drill barley, or a grass reseed in the spring and also help fill any feed gaps that may have appeared this spring.
CHECK OUT OUR BRAND NEW FODDER BEET VIDEOS OVER ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL
Beef growth rates boosted by high value maize
Maintaining target growth rates in a beef finishing enterprise requires a year-round ration that is well-balanced, high in energy and easily digestible. For Yorkshire farmer Edward Liversidge, based at Primrose Hill Farm, High Catton, the key is to feed a total mixed ration based on high quality maize, with the crop being grown as a fully integrated part of the farm’s arable rotation.
Success comes from the Liversidge family’s years of experience of growing maize and it starts with selecting the right variety for the job.
“First and foremost, we want a variety that is going to perform in our situation, which means it needs to be compatible with our soils and location,” says Edward. “Alongside this, we’re looking for good D-value, ME and starch, because it’s the nutritional value that will drive growth rates.”
York-based agricultural trading company Argrain are the Liversidge’s seed suppliers, with seed specialist Lucy Leedham being trusted to make the right recommendations due to her local knowledge and experience. For the 2023 season, she introduced Limagrain’s first choice early variety Conclusion, highly ranked for ME yield and cell wall digestibility and with the right maturity class for this area.
“Conclusion has performed well in our local trials, and we’ve generally had good feedback on it in our area,” says Lucy. “It’s a very good all-round variety, offering the combination of high yields alongside nutritional quality that this farm demands. It also has the attributes to be grown successfully for grain, in that it is not quick die back and has good standability, which is an option that I know the Liversidges like to have.”
Growing as much as 150 acres of maize each year, the policy at Primrose Hill Farm is to grow two varieties, partly to spread risk, but they do it in a way that ensures a consistent feed is available all year round.
“We tend to split the contractor’s 8-row drill to grow alternating 4-row strips of two different varieties, which – when cut with a 12-row forage harvester – creates a consistent blend in the clamp,” explains Edward. “We’ve combined Conclusion with another high energy variety of similar maturity and achieved an overall fresh weight yield of between 19 and 20 tonnes/acre.
“It’s analysed as we’d hoped, with high starch and digestibility, and is feeding well. It’s exactly what we need to achieve our target growth rates.”
The majority of the maize grown at Primrose Hill Farm is in rotation within the arable acreage, and usually follows an over-winter cover crop that will have been grazed by sheep on tack. The cover crop is geared to meeting the needs of all parties, including the grazier, and would typically include grazing rye and stubble turnips.
Once cover crops have been grazed off, there is plenty of time to spread farmyard manure and prepare a seedbed ahead of maize drilling, which will usually be towards the end of April. One of the routine jobs well ahead of drilling is soil sampling, with the analyses being used to determine any additional fertiliser applications.
“We’re testing our soils in order to create soil nutrient maps, which then allows us to apply phosphate and potassium at variable rates,” adds Edward. “We’ve been doing this for three or four years now, to improve our use of fertilisers and save costs where we can.
“We’re also applying a slow-release liquid nitrogen pre-emergence. This ensures that the crop can draw on nutrient reserves in the soil at the important growth stages, well beyond the point where it’s possible to drive into the crop to top-dress with a granular fertiliser.”
Herbicides are used according to the weed burden in any particular crop, with either one or two applications required.
With nutritional value of the maize the main priority, harvest is determined by cob maturity, and took place in 2023 just before the end of September. It was a bumper crop, and with the clamps at Primrose Hill Farm full, the decision was taken to cut some of the maize for grain.
“We used a local contractor’s machine with a specialist header to harvest some of the maize for crimping,” says Edward. “This worked out really well and, thanks to the Conclusion being suited for taking as either grain or silage, has given us an additional high energy feed for the ration.”
The Liversidge’s cattle enterprise involves buying in strong stores, usually British Blue or Angus crosses from dairy herds in the 400 to 500kg range. These are finished on a total mixed ration, to achieve finished liveweights of 670-720kg.
“We aim for a finishing period on the farm of 90-120 days, so we need a ration that is going to drive good growth rates,” concludes Edward. “Good quality maize silage is the basis for the ration, so growing a mature crop is essential. Success with the maize crop means the bigger proportion of what we’re feeding the cattle is homegrown.”
Modern fodder beet suits arable rotation and provides essential livestock feedBrothers Richard and Fred White who run a 650-hectare mixed farm have grown fodder beet as part of their crop rotation for the past 23 years
Brothers Richard and Fred White run a 650-hectare mixed farm, comprising beef, sheep and arable enterprises, in Warwickshire, and they’ve grown fodder beet as part of their crop rotation for the past 23 years, waxing lyrical about its record yields and its part in ticking a lot of boxes in their farming system. 
They began growing Limagrain UK variety Fosyma in 2020 after a recommendation from Wynnstay’s Emma Edwards. This high-dry-matter fodder beet variety is pink-skinned and conical-shaped, and it combines a dry matter content of between 20% and 21% with a relatively high proportion of its root (40%) out of the ground, leaving just 60% in the ground.
Essential part of the rotation
“It fits well into our rotation, usually following and preceding winter wheat,” explains Richard. “We also grow forage maize to feed to the 180-head beef herd, as well as oats and barley, which is also rolled and fed to livestock.”
He and Fred thought Fosyma would do well on their Tamworth-based farm, particularly because they lift and feed fodder beet to their Hereford cattle and sheep during the winter.
It’s medium-depth root reduces the risk of soil contamination and offers flexible feeding and end-use options. Their contractor uses root-lifting equipment, typically harvesting the 23 hectares of the crop that they grow each year. Soil contamination has never been an issue for the Whites.
Market options
They store and feed approximately 50% of the fodder beet to their own sheep and cattle. The other half is sold off farm, for between £45 and £50 per tonne. Some has gone to AD plants, and some has also been sold to feed to deer om a nearby estate.
“They really enjoy fodder beet – as do our cattle and sheep. They all do really well on it.”
Producing home-grown feed and forage is a priority for the brothers, but fodder beet is also a useful break crop. “We typically sow is at the end of April, after applying plenty of manure,” explains Richard, adding that the farm comprises a mixture of different soils.
“We have heavy, medium and light soils and the crop is sown across them all – we mix it up. And is performs well – we always see good yields.”
Once in the ground, Richard says the fodder beet ‘doesn’t hang about’. “It germinates and grows quickly. We do need to control weeds, to prevent competition, but once well established the crop’s canopy helps to suppress them.”
The crop is typically ready for harvest at the end of September, but they leave it in the ground until lifting in mid-October. As soon as the beet is lifted, they’re ready with the drill and sow winter wheat into the ground. So they’re not leaving the land fallow over winter.
Palatable yields
For the past three years Fosyma has yielded between 30 tonnes and 35 tonnes per acre (75 tonnes and 87 tonnes per hectare). It’s stored outside in a clamp made from straw bales and feeding to outwintered livestock starts when grass growth slows, which is usually at the end of October.
“It’s fed whole, on the ground, to cattle and sheep. We don’t have to chop it. And they love it – there’s no waste.”
Richard adds that as well as adding ‘interest’ to winter rations, fodder beet also supports lamb growth.
The 450-ewe flock lambs in late April, and lambs are finished on the farm’s 400 acres (160-hectares) of permanent pasture and fodder beet during the winter. “We start selling lambs in January, at around 45kg LW,” he says.
Home grown forage saves £
“We don’t buy in any feed or concentrates for the ewes or the lambs – the system is completely forage based.”
The beef enterprise is also predominantly grass based, with only home-grown cereals fed as part of winter ration when cattle are housed. Cattle are finished and sold, at between 24 and 30 months, to local butchers in Atherstone
In 2021, Richard grew a crop that looked very ‘bare’. “The seed went in well, as usual, but were no beet plants and there were no weeds either. It was odd and Limagrain UK’s Brian Copestake came to take a look because I was at a loss as to what had happened.
“He said it was a flea beetle problem and while I was deliberating about re-drilling, the field suddenly sprouted green rows of beet plants. It soon caught up and within weeks we had a field full of strong and healthy beet that as well up to calf level. It bounced back well and I don’t think I’ve ever seen any other crop do that.” 
All-weather crop
Fodder beet also performs well in both wet and dry summers. “We noticed how much deeper rooted the crop was in 2022, due to the drier than typical conditions. It tolerated the more extreme summer and actually outperformed the 2021 crop.
We harvested 98 tonnes per hectare, which we were extremely pleased with,” says Richard, adding that poorer performing crops of different fodder beet varieties have yielded just half that at 50 tonnes per hectares.”
The Whites are planning to grow a similar hectarage of Fosyma in 2023.
“The variety (Fosyma) is the best we’ve ever grown, and we’ll certainly be drilling it again in 2023. Fodder beet has been an essential part of livestock rations and the crop rotation here for 23 years, so that’s not set to change,” adds Richard.
Learn more about Fosyma fodder beet here or contact your usual seed merchant for availability
The latest UK trial results data on fodder beet (including Fosyma) can be downloaded here
