Take advantage of ideal autumn conditions!
Whilst the weather in August may have been frustrating for arable farmers, for livestock farmers the conditions have been ideal for reseeding.
In many years August and September are too dry to guarantee a good take from a grass reseed. However this year, whether you are ploughing and working down the soil, or just wanting to top up productive grass levels with an overseed, there is moisture throughout the soil profile.
September is also a good time to take out perennial weeds. The mild and recent wet weather has encouraged grass and weed growth, making it an ideal time for herbicide application.
Advice for new leys - Frit fly & Leatherjacket infestations
Firstly for new leys you should always protect new sown swards against frit fly and leatherjackets.
Leatherjacket infestations were high in the spring and a lot of grassland has been left untreated. So there is a high reservoir now in the ground. September is the main egg laying period for crane fly (Daddy-long legs) so take a look through the sward to spot crane flies on the wing.
The risk of frit fly is highest where grass leys are grown successively. If you want to assess the likely frit fly situation on your farm then you can download a frit fly Risk Assessment Chart by clicking the frit fly link below.
Advice for established leys
If you have old grass established leys that are getting tired take the opportunity to plough and work them down. But remember - re-consolidation before and after drilling is the key to getting a good take from a plough-based reseed.
Also take a look at your other grass swards. Many of them may have suffered during the dry conditions in early and mid summer and the productive grasses could well have been killed off leaving less productive lower feed value indigenous grasses. These are more hardy and can take over the sward. If this is the case, fill in the bare patches by harrowing and over-seeding with a suitable mixture this autumn so that grazing and silage is not affected during the spring.
Remember consolidation with a good heavy roller will improve the germination and early growth of the overseed as well. Also look out for frit fly.