Clover reporter: Robert and Denis O’Dea, Co. Limerick

Robert O'Dea is a dairy farmer in Kilteely, Co. Limerick, in partnership with his nephew Denis. The O’Deas are milking 259 cows on a 116ha milking platform, with an additional 16ha outfarm.

Robert joined the Clover 150 Programme in 2020 and in that time he has reduced chemical nitrogen fertiliser from 234kg/ha in 2020 to 137kg/ha in 2022. Robert is this week’s Clover Report as part of the Grass10 weekly newsletter, where he discussed first rotation management, the farm’s slurry and nitrogen plan and his top tips for clover.

• Soil type: 55.07ha of Howardstown (heavy soil) and 57.84 ha of Elton (dry soil);
• Percentage of farm In clover end 2022: 70% (77.9 ha);
• Percentage from reseeding in 2022: 63% (27.26ha);
• Percentage from oversowing in 2022: 37% (15.72ha);
• Clover content 2022: 19%;
• Clover varieties: Crusader (medium), Chieftain (medium), Buddy (medium), Coolfin (small);
• Seeding rate: 2kg/ac for oversown and 1.5kg/ac for reseeding;
• Methods used: Disc and one pass for reseeds, Earth Seeder for oversowing.

First rotation management

Our plan is to follow the spring rotation planner and aim to have 30% grazed by the end of February. We are well on the way to achieving this with cows out night and day since the 3rd of February and weanlings grazing their red clover paddocks. At the moment we are taking the opportunity to graze the wetter ground on the farm while the conditions are good.

February slurry and nitrogen plan

We made the Nitrogen Planner on PastureBase Ireland at the beginning of 2023 and aim to follow this plan for the remainder of the year. Slurry went out on 30% of the ground on the 4th of February at a rate of 2,600gallons/ac. The rest of the farm, aside from the red clover paddocks, received 23units/acre of protected urea. Red clover paddocks will receive nitrogen post grazing. The slurry that went out on clover paddocks is currently being tested and this information will be used to decide on next N applications while sticking to the Nitrogen Planner.

Top tip for clover

We prioritise clover paddocks to get a good graze out and not to build a heavy cover on those paddocks. However, to build farm cover for spring, some clover paddocks do end up with a heavier cover (~1600kg DM/ha). These paddocks are being targeted for grazing early in spring to ensure light gets down into the base of the sward and sets the clover paddocks up for the rest of the grazing season.

Robert O'Dea featured in this week's edition of the Grass 10 newsletter. For more information on the programme, click here.