Ballyhaise Research Farm Update

Donal Patton manager of the Ballyhaise research farm reports that 2022 was a very good grass year in most parts of Cavan including Ballyhaise. The farm has grown 12.7 t DM / ha to November 15th with 30% of area reseeded as part of our current trial.
Main picture above was taken at the Ballyhaise Open Day in July 2022
There were a couple of dry spells during 2022, which affected grass quality. In contrast with other parts of the country, grass growth never dropped below 60kgDM / ha between May and September.
Autumn grazing has been a different story with 40% of average annual rainfall between mid-September and mid-November. This has led to flooding and very difficult grazing conditions. We did manage to hit a high peak cover over 1100kg DM / ha in early October. This allowed cows to stay out full time until 1st of November and by day till 13th of November.
Some of our low paddocks, 10% of area, have been badly damaged through flooding, a number of which have heavy grass covers of 1200-1500kg DM / ha. We have decided to graze any green parts as soon as water levels drop but we will have to wait for dry frosty weather to graze any parts that are severely damaged. Not including this flooded area our farm cover is 700kg DM per ha with 1300kg DM / ha on the heaviest paddock so grazing is finished. Our target is to have 750kg DM / ha farm cover by December 1st which means we will open with 900-1000 next spring.
Pasture grown - T/DM/Ha
Graph 1 above shows annual tonnage performance of 2021 established grass and clover paddocks and 2022 established grass and clover paddocks. All figures are in T/DM/Ha. Grass reseeded in 2021 produced 14.5, Clover reseed in 2021 produced 13.9 Clover oversown in 2021 produced 12.9. 2022 grass reseed produced 9. 2022 clover reseed produced 9.2 and 2022 clover oversown produced 14.4
Current trial
As part of the current trial, we are comparing grass swards receiving high levels of chemical N with grass clover swards receiving low levels of chemical N. Clover has been established through either full reseeding or over sowing into existing swards and these are compared to grass only swards established at the same time. Chemical N was applied to all swards in spring with clover swards receiving no chemical N after April where clover content was sufficient. To date last year’s clover reseeds have performed very well with 13.9 tonnes grown to date, which is 0.6 t DM / ha less than grass swards sown at the same time with 170 kg less chemical N / ha. See graphs and information below
Total N - kg N /Ha
Graph 2 above shows the total nitrogen (kg/ha) applied to 2021 established grass and clover paddocks, and 2022 established grass and clover paddocks. All figures are in kg/N/Ha. Grass reseeded in 2021 - 224, Clover reseed in 2021 - 56. Clover oversown in 2021- 82. 2022 grass reseed - 205. 2022. 2022 clover reseed 87 and 2022 clover oversown 193
Clover content
Graph 3 shows the clover content in grass-clover swards in 2021 and 2022 reseeds and oversown paddocks. The graph shows a peak of clover content in the July/August September period. The 2021 reseed was at 60% clover content. This was followed by 2021 over sow and the 2022 reseed both peaking at 48%. The 2022 reseed droppoed dramaically after September. The 2022 oversow remained below 10%