10 April 2022

The Clover Reporter is Jim White

This week's The Clover Reporter returns to the farm of Jim White, Clonmel Co. Tipperary. Jim recently held a Clover Farm Walk on his farm. He outlines his clover plan for 2022 and his top tip for Clover in April.

Name: Jim White
Location: Clonmel, Co.Tipperary
Enterprise: Dairy
Soil Type: Dry Soils
% Farm In Clover: 32% (21.4ha)
% From Reseeding: 49% (10.4ha)
% From Oversowing: 51% (11ha)
Clover content 2021: 18% on 21.4ha

Clover Plan for 2022

Clover Management for Existing Swards: Grazing them at the right covers around 1200-1400 Kg DM/ha is the key thing now. It’s easy to say it, but doing it every day on the ground is the challenge. The plan is to reduce fertiliser use on these paddocks in the summer.
Clover Management for new swards: The paddocks I am oversowing with clover this year are all beside each other in one block. This makes it easier for grazing and fertiliser management throughout the year.
What % Grazing Block: 16% (11ha)
Why These Paddocks: Good soil fertility, in one block, open swards, no weed burden
Paddock Soil Fertility: pH - 6.6, P – Index 4, K- Index 3
When: April when conditions right (temperature and moisture)
Clover varieties: Buddy and Chieftain (medium leaf sizes)
Seeding Rate/Ac: 2 kg/ac - oversown
Method for 2022: Oversow - Mooredrill
Jim’s Top Tip for Clover in April: Having identified paddocks to oversow with clover, the plan is to graze them twice before oversowing. I do this because now I have two chances to get the cows to clean them out really well. This is essential to open the sward for soil-seed contact for the clover seed to establish and give it space and light to get going.

Have a listen to Jim in the video below

Further Information

The full list of Clover Farm Walks is available to see at: Teagasc Clover Farm Walks
A White Clover Factsheet produced by Teagasc, is available to view at: White Clover Factsheet
Find out more from Teagasc here about Clover
You can find out more about Grass10 here
Find out about all the previous farmers who took part in The Clover Reporter here