Field Options Performance Seed Guide 2026

2026 GRASS MIXTURES LEGUMES & HERBS SUSTAINABLE FARMING COVER CROPS FORAGE CROPS FODDER BEET MAIZE VARIETIES WHOLECROP SILAGE

PERFORMANCE SEEDS GUIDE

WELCOME

PERFORMANCE SEEDS 2026 Founded in 2004, Field Options is ProCam UK’s specialist seed brand, providing premium seeds, supporting products and technical expertise across the UK. We focus on grass, forage, environmental seed and cover crops — key to efficient, profitable ruminant production.

01954 712150 PROCAM.CO.UK

01954 712150 2

With farm margins under pressure, optimising homegrown forage has never been more important.

Through ongoing trials and variety evaluation, we select high-performing genetics and mixtures that strengthen resilience, raise productivity and help reduce on-farm costs.

GRASS MIXTURES

7–16

LEGUMES & HERBS

17–20

SUSTAINABLE FARMING

21–32

COVER CROPS

33–40

FORAGE CROPS

41–46

FODDER BEET

47–50

MAIZE VARIETIES

51–54

WHOLECROP SILAGE

55–56

EXPERT ADVICE

57–62

SUPPLY We supply a broad portfolio of grass mixtures, maize, fodder beet, wholecrop options, forage crops, environmental and cover crop mixtures, game cover and specialist turf. Our offer also includes fertilisers, silage inoculants, ensiling technology and clamp protection products.

We can arrange soil and forage sampling, analysis and interpretation, plus seed purity and germination testing.

ProCam agronomists are BASIS and FACTS qualified, providing integrated fertiliser and crop protection advice where required.

SERVICE Products can be ordered through ProCam agronomists across England, Scotland and Wales. Deliveries go direct to farm from production centres or depots. Core products are held in stock, while specialist mixtures are blended to order. Standard delivery is three days, with next-day options for orders placed before midday.

ADVICE & TECHNICAL SUPPORT We supply seeds alongside practical agronomy and forage planning advice. Support is available by phone, email or on farm.

Our crop guidelines and costings help farmers make informed choices, understand crop requirements and identify the best options for their system, soil and objectives.

3

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT & PROVEN PERFORMANCE

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

& PROVEN PERFORMANCE Developing high-performance grass and forage crops starts with understanding how species and mixtures truly behave in the field. We draw on UK data and recommended lists from neighbouring European countries, supported by breeders’ trials, to guide our selections. But for many crops — including fodder beet and forage brassicas, which no longer have UK recommended list trials — additional evidence is essential.

That’s why ProCam invests in independent, on-farm testing to build a robust picture of performance across soil types, systems and seasons.

Equally important is how our Field Options range performs for farmers day-to-day.

The following comments share real experiences from growers who have put our products to work in practical conditions. Their feedback, combined with our ongoing trials, helps ensure we offer mixtures and varieties with proven, reliable performance.

"We drilled 70 acres of Spitfire Pro-Nitro (page 10) in October 2024 into what I’d call an average seedbed — conditions were far from ideal, but the crop showed brilliant vigour right from the start; it was incredible how quickly it got away and never looked back.

Despite a tough drilling season followed by an equally challenging growing season, it’s delivered five strong cuts this year, even through the droughty spells.

"As a contractor, I’ve drilled a wide range of grass mixtures from different suppliers over the years, and I can really see the difference with Field Options seed. The early vigour and speed of establishment stand out straight away. Getting grass mixtures established isn’t always easy, and I’ve often found that other suppliers’ mixes start off thin and only thicken up gradually over time.

The field sits alongside a main road, and I’ve had no end of comments from people saying how good it looks. Our contractor also remarked on what an exceptional crop it’s been. I’ve been so pleased with the results that I’ve just drilled another 130 acres — that says it all, really."

With Field Options, the establishment is much more rapid and even, producing a strong, consistent sward right from the start.

People often think ‘grass is grass,’ but it’s not — you wouldn’t buy poor-quality wheat seed, the same applies to grass.

You get what you pay for, and Field Options mixtures are genuinely high-quality products that deliver real value for money."

ROB THORNTON

HEATH TOLT FARM, WEST SUSSEX

JON WATT

HEATH TOLT FARM, WEST SUSSEX

"When we converted from arable to organic dairy, our biggest concern was whether we could grow enough high-quality grass to support 430 spring-calving cows. We needed reliable swards that would deliver dry matter and stand up to grazing pressure, all within an organic system. That’s why we moved to ProCam’s Field Options mixtures.

Endurance II (page 15) was the first mixture we put in. It gave us a strong, high-yielding ley that suited our grazing ground perfectly.

As the herd grew and the grazing demand increased, we added Preference (page 14) for its grazing tolerance and the way it keeps coming back after heavy use. Both have performed exactly how we needed them to.

We’ve also introduced herbal leys across parts of the platform.

The deeper rooting has been a real benefit — better resilience in dry spells, improved soil structure, and consistent summer growth.

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As an organic unit, hitting over 10t DM/ha consistently is a big achievement for us, and these mixtures have played a major role in that. The cows like the quality, the leys last well, and the system feels more resilient. Field Options has genuinely helped us get the most from our ground."

MATHEW JONES

BERTH BACH, DENBIGHSHIRE

Grass mixture trial

By combining the best varieties from the recommended list will we get the best mixtures?

In 2006 we started testing mixtures in trials at Harper Adams University, alongside and under the same management as the UK Recommended List trials. The results helped us verify our mixture selection process and, in some cases, identified where we needed to reformulate for better performance. Expanded sets of trials, re-sown in 2013 and 2018, generated five years of data, (two years longer than the recommended list), to better identify persistence. Data from these trials is detailed alongside the mixture descriptions in this guide.

In a more recent trial the addition of white clover to a mixture increased yields by more than 2t DM/ha. Including red clover increased yields

by an extra 3t DM/ha. Adding the latest plantain and chicory varieties produced an extra 2t DM/ha. On arable soils, treating the clover with specific rhizobium inoculant has added an extra 1t DM/ha and the use of bio-root mycorrhizal and rhizobacteria treatment at establishment has produced an extra 0.75t DM/ha in the establishment period. Most extraordinary is the performance of our diverse stewardship mixture, Eco-Pasture, which out-performed one of our main long term mixtures without a significant drop in feed quality. Our trials will continue with NIAB, at a new site in Devon, for the next 4 years.

MAIZE TRIAL

Maize trial

In 2025 ProCam continued with two replicated maize variety trials, plus a series of farm strip trials and a Samco Film trial. All these trials generate greater knowledge and understanding how maize hybrids perform year to year, particularly in a drought year like 2025 which has tested the resilience of many hybrids. Stand out varieties like Rodriguez, Duke and Prospect delivered excellent feed quality, whilst Jardinero, Sunset, Marcopolo and DKC2742 delivered exceptional yields in their maturity classes. The countrywide trials have proven that not all varieties respond in the same way across different soil types, altitudes and locations from Devon, Linconshire, Warwickshire, Cheshire and Angelsey. Speak to your ProCam agronomist to get the best data driven choices for your soils and location.

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT & PROVEN PERFORMANCE

UNIQUE GRASS MIXTURE TRIALS

FODDER BEET TRIALS ProCam are UK agents for the KWS Momont fodder beet range.

As with maize we commission independent trials screening new material for UK conditions. More information on our fodder beet trials can be found on page 50.

Fodder beet trial

In collaboration with breeders, ProCam have also been involved in a series of fodder beet grazing trials aimed at improving transition management and quantify and optimising animal performance.

The best performing farms proved that the crop has the potential to be the lowest cost production system in the UK, even during a drought year where grass forage based systems underperformed, fodder beet is providing high energy feed at the lowest cost base of DM/t.

FODDER CROP TRIALS Due to limited UK data, ProCam continues to test a range of forage brassicas, including Gorilla, Greenland and new stubble turnip Kenai at locations around the UK. We continually look to improve existing offers with new genetics.

Fodder crop trial

COVER CROP TRIALS ProCam have been involved with cover crops and green manuring since the practice was established. Awareness of improving soil organic matter, structure and biology has grown in recent years.

The introduction of Environmental Focus Areas accelerated the use of cover crops and now they are part of almost all rotations. Over the last eight years we have tested a range of options, aiming to identify what does work and quantifying the benefits and cost efficiency.

Since the SFI rollout, cover crops are now a major part of UK agriculture and with ProCam trialing a multitude of species we have great knowledge of the benefits and any potential pitfalls.

Cover crop trial

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HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE

HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE

This catalogue is designed to help you quickly find the right seed mixtures and technical guidance for your farm.

It is organised by crop type so you can quickly navigate to the mixtures and technical advice most relevant to your system. Each section provides clear, practical detail to support confident decision-making.

PRODUCTS OF THE YEAR MARCOPOLO A standout variety for 2025, MarcoPolo handled both drought and late-season storms exceptionally well. Our 2022–2024 in-house trials confirmed its strength, performing consistently across varied soils and climates.

From Devon to Derbyshire and Wales to Norfolk, growers have praised its high dry matter and starch yields, strong digestibility and all-round performance for forage, biogas and grain/CCM

MARCOPOLO

SEE PAGE 53

ORGANIC VERSIONS AVAILABLE The UK’s organic area is steadily increasing again, and ProCam has long supported this sector. In 2021, while only 6–7% of temporary grassland was organically managed, organic growers accounted for 22% of our direct grass and clover seed sales.

We have extensive experience in organic seed supply and practical forage management. We also promote good soil nutrition, structure and rotation across both organic and conventional systems. Most Field Options mixtures are available as organic versions, selected to the same high standards as their conventional counterparts.

Look out for this symbol:

GERONIMO FODDER BEET Fodder beet has shown strong drought tolerance this season, making it a vital component of winter livestock diets. With forage stocks under pressure, it provides a cost-effective and energy-dense feed option.

Geronimo continues to perform in marginal conditions. In Hereford trials, its vigorous top growth and robust disease resistance, along with a balanced nutrition programme are supporting excellent bulking and canopy cleanliness — crucial for minimising losses during cold-weather periods and ensuring reliability for lifting or in-situ grazing.

GERONIM FODDER BEO ET

SEE PAGE 49

SFI COMPLIANT MIXTURES Look out for these symbols: CAHL1, CAHL2 & CAHL4 compliant

CIPM2 & CIPM3 compliant CNUM2 & CNUM3 compliant

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TESTED MIXTURES These mixtures have been independently tested in our long term replicated grass mixture trials.

For more information on our internal trials see pages 4–5.

CSAM2 & CSAM3 compliant SOH2, SOH3 & SOH4 compliant

Look out for this symbol

Details and mixture specifications in this brochure are accurate at the time of publication. As products may be updated or adjusted, we recommend speaking with your ProCam agronomist to confirm current availability and ensure the most suitable choice for your system before placing an order.

GRASS MIXTURES Grass mixture selection

8

Catch crop grass mixtures

9

Short term grass mixtures

10

Short-medium term grass mixtures

11

Medium term grass mixtures

12

Grazing mixtures — sheep dairy & beef grazing

13

Long term mixtures

14

Specialist long term mixtures

15

Equine grass mixtures

16

GRASS MIXTURES

Varieties in this section may change subject to availability.

GRASS MIXTURE SELECTION

GRASS MIXTURE SELECTION MIXTURE FORMULATION

WHICH MIXTURES SHOULD YOU CONSIDER?

Our philosophy is to achieve the optimum performance in any particular field. What are the best ingredients to include in a blend of grasses and clovers? We will use the best varieties available. In the case of our key products, these blends and our methods of formulation are tested in unique mixture trials. These quantify the benefits compared to top industry controls. The result, one of the UK’s most comprehensive ranges of grass and clover, backed up by proof of performance. From the selector below, identify appropriate mixtures from the basic duration and field use options.

How long do you want the field of grass to last? What are the chances of it needing to last longer? If in doubt, select for greater duration not less.

WHAT WILL THE FIELD BE USED FOR? Grazing mixtures can always be cut, but cutting mixtures are not always easy to graze. Consider all the mixtures in the relevant boxes below:

GRASS & CLOVER MIXTURE SELECTOR

All grass mixtures containing clover are SFI NUM2 and CNUM2 compliant, Eco-Pasture is SFI SAM3 compliant, Herbal versions CSAM3 compliant.

DURATION?

WHAT WILL THE FIELD BE USED FOR? CUTTING

CUTTING + LEGUMES

DUAL PURPOSE

CATTLE GRAZING

SHEEP GRAZING

Forage Rye T101 Forage Triticale

Pro-Rich T101 N-Max

Forage Rye T101 Forage Triticale

Forage Rye Clampsaver II Summer Grazer Plus

Forage Rye Clampsaver II Summer Grazer Plus

9–18 MONTHS (pages 9 & 11)

Hurricane III

Hurricane III Pro-Nitro

Hurricane III Hurricane III Pro-Nitro

Hybrid 3x3

1–2 YEARS (pages 10, 11, 13 & 24)

Tomahawk Spitfire

Tomahawk Pro-Nitro Spitfire Pro-Nitro

Spitfire Eco-Pasture

Hybrid 3x3 Ultra-Bite II

Ultra-Lamb

2–3 YEARS (pages 11, 12, 13 & 24)

Hybrid 3x3

Hybrid 3x3 Hybrid 3x3 Pro-Nitro

Hybrid 3x3 Eco-Pasture Grassmaster HS

Hybrid 3x3 Ultra-Bite II

Ultra-Lamb

4–6 YEARS (pages 12, 13, 14 & 18)

Grassmaster HS

Grassmaster Pro-Nitro Preference Pro-Nitro

Grassmaster HS Preference Eco-Meadow Clover Overseeding

Ultra-Bite II Preference Eco-Meadow

Ultra-Lamb Preference Eco-Meadow Clover Overseeding

Preference Invincible

Preference Pro-Nitro

Preference Endurance II Invincible

Preference Endurance II Highlander Invincible

Preference Endurance II Highlander Invincible

Preference Herbal Endurance II Herbal Eco-Pasture Eco-Meadow

Ultra-Bite II Herbal Preference Herbal Endurance II Herbal Red Herbal Grazing White Herbal Grazing Celtic Herbal

Ultra-Lamb Herbal Preference Herbal Endurance II Herbal Red Herbal Grazing White Herbal Grazing Celtic Herbal

<9 MONTHS (pages 36, 39 & 46)

>6 YEARS (pages 14 & 15)

HERBAL (pages 13, 14, 15, 19 & 24)

EQUINE (page 16 & 25)

CUTTING (HAY & HAYLAGE)

DUAL PURPOSE

EQUINE GRAZING

Tomahawk with Timothy Derby Haylage Hay Paddock

Hay Paddock Top Paddock

Top Paddock Herbal Boost

SPECIAL MIXTURES: As well as the range of mixtures in this catalogue, we are happy to formulate special mixtures to meet specific requirements.

We are not limited to the varieties used here. Contact us with enquiries or advice in the formulation of bespoke mixtures. If we can help, we will.

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Grassmaster HS

Hay Paddock

ProCam's Hurricane Catch Crop Mixtures have massive yield potential and are designed to last for up to 18 months. The species' used are more suited to cutting than grazing, but can be grazed successfully if appropriate controlled grazing techniques are employed. There are two main situations where catch crop mixtures are used: SPRING SOWN HURRICANE III

SUMMER-AUTUMN SOWN HURRICANE III

PLANT FROM MARCH TO JUNE

SOW LATE JULY: Available for cutting late September

SOW LATE MARCH: 1st summer cut c20th June at ±11.5 ME

SOW AUG–SEPT: 1st cut c5th May at ±11.5 ME

For maximum yield in the year of sowing, potentially a more flexible alternative to wholecrop or maize. Hurricane III mixtures are widely used for accumulated summer silage cuts, plus standing haylage for out-wintering.

For impressive growth for autumn grazing or cutting followed by massive spring yield potential.

Big 1st cut with the potential to produce silage or hay through to the following autumn.

5

13

4

12 Dry Matter Yield ME Mj/kg DM

3 2 1 0

11 10

3.76

4.88

2.76

1.57

1.10

Cut 2 Cut 3 Cut 4 Cut 5 Cut 1 21st June 20th July 26th Aug 21st Sept 20th Oct

Tonnes dry matter/ha/year

Harper Adams Grass Mixture Trials 1st Year Yield to 1st Cut Silage

ME Mj/kg

Tonnes dry matter/ha/year

Harper Adams Grass Mixture Trials Hurricane III + ME from a spring sowing

9

10 9 8 7 6 5

HURRICANE III Melworld

Westerwold Ryegrass Diploid

Melina

Italian Ryegrass Diploid

4.0

Melsprinter

Italian Ryegrass Tetraploid

12.5kg/acre pack

25–31kg/ha

MIN CUTTING HEIGHT: 10cm.

Ideal when you need grass in a hurry. Optimum performance for 6–18 months. Big cuts of silage plus spring and autumn grazing where required. Based on a high performance, persistent and hardy diploid westerwold ryegrass. All varieties are selected for combined high yield in the year of sowing plus huge early 1st cut the following season.

Hurricane III can last up to 18 months, if required.

• Responds well to high fertility • Potential to produce more than 10t DM/ha from a spring sowing • Holds ‘D’ value between cuts much better than straight westerwold ryegrass plus better sward density • High vigour small seed for economic sowing rate.

8.1

9.1

Hurricane III

Hurricane III Pro-Nitro

HURRICANE III PRO-NITRO

High performance catch crop ryegrass

3.5

7.4 Gemini IRG©

Performance over control Gemini Italian Ryegrass Hurricane III +2.3 t/ha 30% DM silage Hurricane III Pro-Nitro +5.7 t/ha 30% DM silage

2016 trials: 14 t/ha from an early April sowing Average ME across all cuts 11.5 Mj/kg DM

5.0

CATCH CROP GRASS MIXTURES

CATCH CROP GRASS MIXTURES (6–18 MONTHS)

There are a range of vigorous annual and biennial legumes which complement the Hurricane III grass blend. A range of formulae are available depending on the month of sowing and the number of months of production that are required.

• Higher yield potential than Hurricane III, especially in dry seasons • Improved protein content of the silage • Boosts fertility and enhances soil structure • Excellent aftermath grazing potential.

KEY BLENDS SPRING–SUMMER SOWN S

= Hurricane grasses + berseem, crimson & red clover

XS = Hurricane grasses + berseem, crimson & red clover + common vetch LATE SUMMER–AUTUMN SOWN (for 12 month production) A

= Hurricane grasses + red clover

XA = Hurricane grasses + red clover + hairy winter vetch

Hurricane III

Hurricane III Pro-Nitro

GRASS MIXTURES

‘Hurricane III is thriving — over 55,000 packs sown and growing strong!’

9

SHORT TERM GRASS MIXTURES

SHORT TERM GRASS MIXTURES (1–2 YEARS) For optimum energy yield these mixtures are dominated by either Italian or hybrid ryegrasses.

The more Italian ryegrass, the higher the potential yield, the more hybrid ryegrass, the greater the feed quality and persistence of the sward, especially following cold winters or hot dry summers.

Annual energy yield can be higher from mixtures dominated by hybrids and cutting intervals can be longer leading to fewer cuts per season.

TOMAHAWK PRO-NITRO

TOMAHAWK

1–2 year cutting ley with red clover

1–2 year cutting ley 3.5

Melina

Italian Ryegrass Diploid

2.0

Melina

Italian Ryegrass Diploid

3.5

Meribel

Italian Ryegrass Diploid

2.0

Meribel

Italian Ryegrass Diploid

4.0

Melsprinter

Italian Ryegrass Tetraploid

3.0

Melsprinter

Italian Ryegrass Tetraploid

3.0

AstonCrusader

Hybrid Ryegrass Tetraploid

2.0

AstonCrusader

Hybrid Ryegrass Tetraploid

3.0

Garant/Rozeta

Red Clover

14.0kg/acre pack

34.6kg/ha

CUTTING DATES: 70’D’ (11.2ME) 18th May. MIN CUTTING HEIGHT: 10cm.

12.0kg/acre pack

29.7kg/ha

CUTTING DATES: 70’D’ (11.2ME) 18th May. MIN CUTTING HEIGHT: 10cm.

A conservation mixture with massive yield potential, Tomahawk is based on high merit Italian ryegrasses with the best combination of yield and persistence through to a second season. A version including timothy is available for quality equine haylage production.

A version of the standard Tomahawk containing red clover for extra protein content, drought tolerance and much less dependence on nitrogen fertiliser.

• Unrivalled yield for up to two full seasons of production

• Very high silage yield for up to two full seasons of production

• Very good spring growth and high yields at 1st cut

• Very good spring growth and high yields at 1st cut

• Maintains better 2nd cut 'D' value than most Italian based mixtures • Good sward density for a short term ley

• Maintains high ‘D’ value for 2nd cut better than most Italian ryegrass mixtures

• Good all round disease resistance.

• High protein silage, especially at 2nd and 3rd cut • Excellent late summer/autumn grazing, especially for lambs.

SPITFIRE

2–3 year cutting ley

SPITFIRE PRO-NITRO

3.5

Fox/Jaccar

Italian Ryegrass Diploid

1.5

AberEcho

Hybrid Ryegrass Tetraploid

2–3 year cutting ley with red clover

3.0

AstonCrusader

Hybrid Ryegrass Tetraploid

2.0

Fox/Jaccar

Italian Ryegrass Diploid

2.5

Perkins

Hybrid Ryegrass Tetraploid

2.5

AstonCrusader

Hybrid Ryegrass Tetraploid

1.5

AberZeus

Perennial Ryegrass Intermediate Diploid

1.5

Perkins

Hybrid Ryegrass Tetraploid

2.0

AberSpey

Perennial Ryegrass Intermediate Tetraploid

1.5

AberZeus

Perennial Ryegrass Intermediate Diploid

1.5

AberSpey

Perennial Ryegrass Intermediate Tetraploid

2.0

AberClaret

Red Clover

1.0

Avisto/Garant

Red Clover

14.0kg/acre pack

34.6kg/ha

CUTTING DATES: 70’D’ (11.2ME) 18th May. MIN CUTTING HEIGHT: 10cm.

Slightly lower yield than pure Italian based mixtures, but potentially higher energy yield because quality is maintained for much longer due to the dominance of hybrid and perennial ryegrasses. Spitfire also produces a much denser sward and has the ability to last for up to three years.

12.0kg/acre pack

• Very good spring growth with excellent yield at both 1st and 2nd cut

A version of the standard Spitfire including red clover for extra protein content, drought tolerance and much lower dependence on nitrogen fertiliser.

• Much improved 2nd cut digestibility optimises silage quality

• Very good spring growth and yield at 1st cut

• Good grazing potential in spring and autumn

• High protein silage, especially at 2nd and 3rd cut

• Very good resistance to mildew, rust and rhynchosporium.

• Good 2nd cut and late season digestibility optimises forage quality

Tonnes dry matter/ha/year

3 YEAR TRIALS RESULTS: Spitfire averaged 3.4t/ha/yr more 30% DM silage than the control hybrid ryegrass.

70 60 50 40

Harper Adams Grass Mixture Trials Spitfire Mixtures v Hybrid Control 2019

2020

9.92

2021

• Excellent grazing in the autumn, especially for lamb finishing.

3 YEAR TRIALS RESULTS: Spitfire Pro-Nitro averaged 9.2t/ha/yr more 30% DM silage than the control hybrid ryegrass. In year 3, without N, this mixture out yielded by >1t DM/ha, the control PRG with 250kg/ha N.

2022

12.61

12.11 17.64

14.01

15.16

20

9.02

9.07

10

15.96

17.28

19.82

AberEve©

Spitfire

Spitfire Pro-Nitro

30

0

10.29

01954 712150 10

29.7kg/ha

CUTTING DATES: 70’D’ (11.2ME) 18th May. MIN CUTTING HEIGHT: 10cm.

Tomahawk Pro-Nitro

Spitfire

The hybrid ryegrasses we use combine high yield, high ME and persistence with good resistance to key diseases. In these mixtures they are combined with some of the best performing perennial ryegrasses which can also compete with the aggressive hybrids. In mixture trials they have out-yielded Italian ryegrasses and produced >1.0 Mj/kg dry matter higher quality in mid-season cuts. These mixtures can also produce excellent grazing, especially in spring and autumn.

HYBRID 3x3

HYBRID 3x3 PRO-NITRO

3 year dual purpose ley

3 year dual purpose ley with red clover

1.0

AberEcho

Hybrid Ryegrass Tetraploid

1.0

AberEcho

Hybrid Ryegrass Tetraploid

3.0

AstonCrusader

Hybrid Ryegrass Tetraploid

3.0

AstonCrusader

Hybrid Ryegrass Tetraploid

2.5

Perkins

Hybrid Ryegrass Tetraploid

2.5

AberZeus

Perennial Ryegrass Intermediate Diploid

3.5

AberZeus

Perennial Ryegrass Intermediate Diploid

2.5

AberSpey

Perennial Ryegrass Intermediate Tetraploid

3.0

AberSpey

Perennial Ryegrass Intermediate Tetraploid

0.5

AberSwan

White Clover Medium Leaved

0.4

AberDai

White Clover Medium Leaved

1.5

AberClaret

Red Clover

0.6

AberSwan

White Clover Medium Leaved

1.0

Avisto/Garant

Red Clover

14.0kg/acre pack

34.6kg/ha

12.0kg/acre pack

29.7kg/ha

CUTTING DATES: 70’D’ (11.2ME) 18th May. MIN CUTTING HEIGHT: 10cm.

CUTTING DATES: 70’D’ (11.2ME) 18th May. MIN CUTTING HEIGHT: 10cm.

Hybrid 3x3 produces high yields of silage for three years or more.

Similar to the standard Hybrid 3x3 but with red clover to increase protein content, drought tolerance and reduce dependence on nitrogen fertiliser.

• Impressive yield, similar to Italian ryegrasses but with simpler management and more persistence • Easier to maintain quality at 2nd and 3rd cut than Italian mixtures • Very high sugar content for enhanced fermentation • Ideal for multi-cut silage management and zero grazing

• Consistent high yields of high protein silage for three years • Lower nitrogen requirements for similar silage yields compared to the standard Hybrid 3x3

• Excellent resistance to foliar diseases

• Superior drought tolerance and excellent fertility building for the following crop

• Very good grazing in spring and late summer/autumn.

• Excellent late summer and autumn grazing, especially for lambs.

3 YEAR TRIALS RESULTS: Hybrid 3x3 averaged 4t/ha/yr more 30% DM silage than the control hybrid ryegrass.

SHORT–MEDIUM TERM GRASS MIXTURES

SHORT–MEDIUM TERM GRASS MIXTURES (3 YEARS)

3 YEAR TRIALS RESULTS: Hybrid 3x3 Pro-Nitro averaged 10.5t/ha/yr more 30% DM silage than the control hybrid ryegrass.

In year 3, without N, this mixture out yielded by >1t DM/ha, the control PRG with 250kg/ha N.

HYBRID 3x3 WITHOUT CLOVER 3 year dual purpose ley without clover 1.5

AberEcho

Hybrid Ryegrass Tetraploid

3.0

AstonCrusader

Hybrid Ryegrass Tetraploid

2.5

Perkins

Hybrid Ryegrass Tetraploid

3.5

AberSpey

Perennial Ryegrass Intermediate Tetraploid

3.5

AberZeus

Perennial Ryegrass Intermediate Diploid

14.0kg/acre pack

34.6kg/ha

CUTTING DATES: 70’D’ (11.2ME) 18th May. MIN CUTTING HEIGHT: 10cm.

Tonnes dry matter/ha/year

Hybrid 3x3 produces high yields of silage for three years or more.

70 60 50 40

Harper Adams Grass Mixture Trials Hybrid 3x3 Mixtures v Hybrid Control 2019

2021

12.06 9.92

30

14.01

20

9.02

10

15.96

0

2020

18.54

AberEve

©

2022

11.18 15.70

10.04

9.62

18.00

17.46

Hybrid 3x3

11.10 17.27 10.22 21.59

Hybrid 3x3 Hybrid 3x3 Without Clover Pro-Nitro

‘hybrid ryegrasses demonstrated their exceptional vigour and drought tolerance in the hot dry summer of 2025’ GRASS MIXTURES

Hybrid 3x3

Hybrid 3x3 Pro-Nitro

11

MEDIUM TERM GRASS MIXTURES

MEDIUM TERM GRASS MIXTURES (4–6 YEARS) Designed to produce energy-dense, highly digestible, high-intake forage that maximises milk yield and liveweight gain. Improving forage energy density boosts production, reduces losses, and supports greater profitability.

GRASSMASTER PRO-NITRO

GRASSMASTER HS

5–6 year cutting & grazing mixture

5–6 year cutting & grazing mixture 3.0

AberGreen

Perennial Ryegrass Intermediate Diploid

2.5

AberGreen

Perennial Ryegrass Intermediate Diploid

2.0

AberSpey

Perennial Ryegrass Intermediate Tetraploid

1.5

AberSpey

Perennial Ryegrass Intermediate Tetraploid

2.0

AstonEnergy

Perennial Ryegrass Intermediate Tetraploid

1.5

AstonEnergy

Perennial Ryegrass Intermediate Tetraploid

1.9

AberBann

Perennial Ryegrass Late Diploid

2.0

AberThames/AberLee

Perennial Ryegrass Late Diploid

1.9

AberThames/AberLee

Perennial Ryegrass Late Diploid

1.8

AberGain

Perennial Ryegrass Late Tetraploid

1.5

AberGain

Perennial Ryegrass Late Tetraploid

0.7

Comer/Presto

Timothy

0.7

Comer/Presto

Timothy

0.5

AberSwan

White Clover Medium Leaved

0.5

AberDai

White Clover Medium Leaved

1.0

AberClaret

Red Clover

0.5

AberSwan

White Clover Medium Leaved

1.0

Avisto/Garant

Red Clover

14.0kg/acre pack

34.6kg/ha

12.5kg/acre pack

30.9kg/ha

CUTTING DATES: 70’D’ (11.2ME) 24th May. MIN CUTTING HEIGHT: 8cm.

CUTTING DATES: 70’D’ (11.2ME) 24th May. MIN CUTTING HEIGHT: 8cm.

Top yields of quality silage and/or palatable grazing for five years or more. Upgraded with the best ‘Aber’ technology.

Similar to the standard Grassmaster HS but with red clover added to increase protein content, drought tolerance and allow less dependence on nitrogen fertiliser.

• Good spring growth for more grazing or extra 1st cut silage • High yield potential at 1st cut with flexibility over cutting date

• Consistent high yields of high-protein silage for three + years

• Ideal for multi-cut silage management and zero grazing

• As the red clover dies out, the white clover takes its place

• Contains five of the top ‘high sugar’ varieties

• Ideal for multi-cut silage management and zero grazing

• Excellent mid and late season growth boosted by AberGreen, AberGain and AberBann, plus timothy and clover

• The red clover varieties all have good scores for persistence, optimising the number of years red clover contributes to the ley

• Very good resistance to disease, especially crown rust

• Lower nitrogen requirements for similar silage yields compared with the standard Grassmaster HS

• Clovers selected for their ability to compete in a cutting regime and to adapt well to either sheep or cattle grazing.

3 YEAR TRIALS RESULTS: Grassmaster averaged 8.3t/ha/yr more 30% DM silage than the control perennial ryegrass.

In year 3, without N, this mixture out yielded by >1t DM/ha, the control PRG with 250kg/ha N.

• Excellent late summer and autumn grazing for lambs.

3 YEAR TRIALS RESULTS: Grassmaster Pro-Nitro averaged 10.8t/ha/yr more 30% DM silage than the control perennial ryegrass. In year 3, without N, this mixture out yielded by >1t DM/ha, the control PRG with 250kg/ha N.

GRASSMASTER WITHOUT CLOVER AberGreen

Perennial Ryegrass Intermediate Diploid

2.0

AberSpey

Perennial Ryegrass Intermediate Tetraploid

2.0

AstonEnergy

Perennial Ryegrass Intermediate Tetraploid

2.0

AberBann

Perennial Ryegrass Late Diploid

2.0

AberThames/AberLee

Perennial Ryegrass Late Diploid

1.8

AberGain

Perennial Ryegrass Late Tetraploid

0.7

Comer/Presto

Timothy

14.0kg/acre pack

34.6kg/ha

CUTTING DATES: 70’D’ (11.2ME) 24th May. MIN CUTTING HEIGHT: 8cm.

Tonnes dry matter/ha/year

5–6 year cutting & grazing mixture 3.5

70 60

Harper Adams Grass Mixture Trials Grassmaster Mixtures v Hybrid Control 2019

2020

50

2021

40

10.94

10.82

30

13.06

14.42

20

8.12

8.12

10 0

15.23 AberStar©

15.71

2022

12.15

10.92

16.90

16.57

9.23

8.96

19.53

18.63

Grassmaster Grassmaster Grassmaster HS Without Clover Pro-Nitro

Top yields of quality silage and/or palatable grazing for five years or more. Upgraded with the best ‘Aber’ technology.

‘Grassmaster HS is thriving — over 16,000 packs sown and growing strong!’

01954 712150 12

Grassmaster HS

Grassmaster Pro-Nitro

Multipurpose long duration grass mixtures to satisfy different stock type requirements, all powered by high sugar grasses with high digestibilty to drive dry matter intake, with low crown rust risk to improve grazing utilisation across the season.

ULTRA-BITE II

ULTRA-LAMB

5 year+ high intake cattle grazing mixture

5 year+ sheep grazing mixture 3.5

AberZeus

Perennial Ryegrass Intermediate Diploid

3.0

AberGreen

Perennial Ryegrass Intermediate Diploid

2.5

AstonEnergy

Perennial Ryegrass Intermediate Tetraploid

3.5

AberLee

Perennial Ryegrass Late Diploid

1.9

AberBann

Perennial Ryegrass Late Diploid

2.0

AberSevern/AberBann Perennial Ryegrass Late Diploid

1.9

AberThames

Perennial Ryegrass Late Diploid

2.5

AberGain

Perennial Ryegrass Late Tetraploid

2.5

AberGain

Perennial Ryegrass Late Tetraploid

2.0

Nashota

Perennial Ryegrass Late Tetraploid

0.7

Comer/Presto

Timothy

0.5

AberDai

White Clover Medium Leaved

0.5

AberDai

White Clover Medium Leaved

0.5

AberSwan

White Clover Medium Leaved

0.125

AberHerald

White Clover Medium Leaved

14.0kg/acre pack

0.25

AberLasting

White Clover Small Leaved

0.125

AberPearl

White Clover Small Leaved

34.6kg/ha

Designed to provide optimum performance for progressive sheep enterprises, Ultra-Lamb includes varieties selected for stronger spring growth, palatability, high sward density and very persistent clover.

Ultra-Bite II is based on the very best performing late perennial ryegrasses. It includes the award winning AberGreen, officially classified as an intermediate heading variety, but only by one day.

The mixture produces a very dense, hard wearing sward providing season-long production of highly palatable grass and clover. With 35% tetraploid grasses, production and palatability are enhanced without sacrificing density and persistence.

• Very early spring growth yet late heading for easy management

• Does not head until 4th June to help with grazing management

• Can produce excellent mid-season silage cut if required

• Varieties selected for high palatability and long season growth

• Strong summer and autumn growth for lamb finishing

• Clovers selected to tolerate intensive grazing and high fertility

• Highly adaptable clovers tolerant of hard grazing regimes

• Good crown rust resistance

• Good overall disease resistance

• Improved drechslera resistance

• Surplus production can make excellent quality hay or silage.

• Good winter hardiness

14.0kg/acre pack

34.6kg/ha

Ultra Lamb Herbal available including boston/tonic plantain blend, Puna II/Endure chicory blend and yarrow to enhance mineral content.

GRAZING MIXTURES — SHEEP DAIRY & BEEF

GRAZING MIXTURES — SHEEP DAIRY & BEEF (3–6 YEARS+)

• Surplus production can make excellent quality silage.

ULTRA-BITE II HERBAL

5 year+ high intake cattle grazing mixture + plantain & chicory

ULTRA-BITE II WITHOUT CLOVER 5 year+ high intake cattle grazing mixture

3.0

AberGreen

Perennial Ryegrass Intermediate Diploid

3.25

AberLee

Perennial Ryegrass Late Diploid

2.0

AberSevern/AberBann Perennial Ryegrass Late Diploid

2.5

AberGain

Perennial Ryegrass Late Tetraploid

3.5

AberGreen

Perennial Ryegrass Intermediate Diploid

2.0

Nashota

Perennial Ryegrass Late Tetraploid

3.5

AberLee

Perennial Ryegrass Late Diploid

0.5

AberDai

White Clover Medium Leaved

2.5

AberSevern/AberBann Perennial Ryegrass Late Diploid

0.5

AberSwan

White Clover Medium Leaved

2.5

AberGain

Perennial Ryegrass Late Tetraploid

0.25

AberClaret

Red Clover

2.0

Nashota

Perennial Ryegrass Late Tetraploid

0.3

Boston / Tonic

Plantain Blend

0.15

Puna II / Endure

Chicory Blend

0.05

—

Yarrow

14.0kg/acre pack

34.6kg/ha

14.5kg/acre pack

35.8kg/ha

A version of Ultra-Bite II high intake cattle grazing mixture with added Boston/Tonic plantain blend, Puna II/Endure chicory blend and yarrow.

The addition of herbs enhances drought tolerance and improves mineral availability in the pasture. The deep rooted herbs also take up nutrients at risk of leaching to groundwater and potentially improve the soil’s biological activity and water infiltration.

• High palatability and long season growth with extra mid-season yield • Clovers selected to tolerate intensive grazing and high fertility • Good crown rust resistance • Improved drechslera resistance • Good winter hardiness • Surplus production can make excellent quality silage.

Persistence of plantain & chicory can be enhanced by rotational grazing.

GRASS MIXTURES 13

LONG TERM MIXTURES

LONG TERM MIXTURES (6 YEARS+) Preference is our best selling grass mix by far! Combines leading Aberystwyth high-production, high-sugar, high-intake varieties with excellent crown rust resistance from other breeders, delivering durable, diverse genetics and resilient, season-long grass production.

PREFERENCE

PREFERENCE HERBAL

Long term dual purpose mixture

Long term dual purpose mixture

3.5

AberGreen

Perennial Ryegrass Intermediate Diploid

3.5

AberGreen

Perennial Ryegrass Intermediate Diploid

2.0

AberSevern

Perennial Ryegrass Late Diploid

2.0

AberSevern

Perennial Ryegrass Late Diploid

2.3

AberThames/AberLee

Perennial Ryegrass Late Diploid

2.05

AberThames/AberLee

Perennial Ryegrass Late Diploid

2.0

Delika

Perennial Ryegrass Late Diploid

2.0

Delika

Perennial Ryegrass Late Diploid

2.0

Nashota

Perennial Ryegrass Late Tetraploid

2.0

Nashota

Perennial Ryegrass Late Tetraploid

0.7

Comer/Presto

Timothy

0.7

Comer/Presto

Timothy

0.3

AberDai

White Clover Medium Leaved

0.3

AberDai

White Clover Medium Leaved

0.2

AberHerald

White Clover Medium Leaved

0.2

AberHerald

White Clover Medium Leaved

0.3

AberSwan

White Clover Medium Leaved

0.3

AberSwan

White Clover Medium Leaved

0.2

AberPearl

White Clover Small Leaved

0.2

AberPearl

White Clover Small Leaved

0.25

AberClaret

Red Clover

0.3

Boston / Tonic

Plantain Blend

0.15

Puna II / Endure

Chicory Blend

0.05

—

Yarrow

13.5kg/acre pack

33.3kg/ha

CUTTING DATES: 70’D’ (11.2ME) 29th May. MIN CUTTING HEIGHT: 8cm.

Currently our best selling mixture, Preference produces a highly palatable, productive and very dense sward. It is formulated primarily for grazing with an emphasis on longevity, but is actually adapted to a wide range of management regimes and can produce high yields of quality hay or silage.

14.0kg/acre pack

34.6kg/ha

• Suited to both sheep and cattle grazing

A herbal version of Preference including plantain, chicory and yarrow to enhance grazing performance through improved mineral content and extra production during dry periods.

• Very good cutting yields for a late heading mixture

• Extra yield during establishment season

• Ideal for multi-cut silage management and zero grazing

• Herbs provide extra drought tolerance and stock health.

• Very dense, hard wearing sward • Holds quality over a long period adding flexibility to silage dates • Good all round disease resistance, especially to crown rust • Top clover varieties, adapted to even the harshest grazing regimes.

TRIALS RESULTS: Preference averaged >2.4t DM/ha/yr more than the control perennial ryegrass. That’s an extra 40kg lamb/ha or over 4,00L of milk. In year 3, without N, this mixture out yielded by >1t DM/ha, the control PRG with 250kg/ha N.

PREFERENCE WITHOUT CLOVER Long term dual purpose mixture

In the dry seasons of 2020, 2022 and 2023, the herbs added an extra 1.4t DM/ha over standard Preference potential for 2,800L more milk or 180kg more lamb/ha.

PREFERENCE PRO-NITRO

Long term dual purpose mixture with added red clover 3.8

AberGreen

Perennial Ryegrass Intermediate Diploid

2.0

AberSevern

Perennial Ryegrass Late Diploid

2.3

AberThames/AberLee

Perennial Ryegrass Late Diploid

1.5

Delika

Perennial Ryegrass Late Diploid

4.0

AberGreen

Perennial Ryegrass Intermediate Diploid

2.0

Nashota

Perennial Ryegrass Late Tetraploid

2.5

AberSevern

Perennial Ryegrass Late Diploid

0.7

Comer/Presto

Timothy

2.3

AberThames/AberLee

Perennial Ryegrass Late Diploid

0.3

AberDai

White Clover Medium Leaved

2.0

Delika

Perennial Ryegrass Late Diploid

0.2

AberHerald

White Clover Medium Leaved

2.0

Nashota

Perennial Ryegrass Late Tetraploid

0.3

AberSwan

White Clover Medium Leaved

0.7

Comer/Presto

Timothy

0.2

AberPearl

White Clover Small Leaved

0.7

AberClaret

Red clover

13.5kg/acre pack

33.3kg/ha

CUTTING DATES: 70’D’ (11.2ME) 29th May. MIN CUTTING HEIGHT: 8cm.

Tonnes dry matter/ha/year

Harper Adams Grass Mixture Trials Preference Mixtures v Perennial Control 250N Herbal Inclusion 70 60

2019

2020

50 40

10.94

30

13.06

20

8.12

10

15.23

0

2021

12.59

AberStar

©

2022

12.31

11.47 16.19

16.29

16.42

9.96

10.31

11.37

17.92

18.57

20.14

Preference LT

Preference Pro-Nitro

Preference Herbal

14.0kg/acre pack

A variant of the popular Preference mixture with the persistent red clover AberClaret added to boost production in the first three years.

It provides extra protein, drought tolerance and enhanced grazing performance as well as reduced dependence on nitrogen.

• Enhanced cutting performance over standard Preference for the first three years • Excellent lamb performance on improved clover aftermaths.

Red clovers die out after 2–3 years, depending on management.

Note: Graph shows strong response to nitrogen applications.

01954 712150 14

Preference

34.6kg/ha

Organic Preference Herbal

Specialist mixtures to suit a range of localised, or adverse climatic factors in order to make grass production more resilient, whilst still producing high quality, high energy dense forage.

ENDURANCE II

ENDURANCE II HERBAL

Long term mixture for dry land

Long term mixture for dry land with additional herbs

3.0

AberGreen

Perennial Ryegrass Intermediate Diploid

3.0

AberGreen

Perennial Ryegrass Intermediate Diploid

2.95

AberLee

Perennial Ryegrass Late Diploid

2.95

AberLee

Perennial Ryegrass Late Diploid

2.5

AberGain

Perennial Ryegrass Late Tetraploid

2.5

AberGain

Perennial Ryegrass Late Tetraploid

1.0

Comer/Presto

Timothy

1.0

Comer/Presto

Timothy

1.5

Donata

Cocksfoot

1.5

Donata

Cocksfoot

1.0

Lucullus

Cocksfoot

1.0

Lucullus

Cocksfoot

0.5

AberDai

White Clover Medium Leaved

0.5

AberDai

White Clover Medium Leaved

0.125

AberHerald

White Clover Medium Leaved

0.125

AberHerald

White Clover Small Leaved

0.5

AberLasting

White Clover Small Leaved

0.5

AberLasting

White Clover Small Leaved

0.125

AberPearl

White Clover Small Leaved

0.125

AberPearl

White Clover Small Leaved

0.8

AberClaret

Red Clover

0.3

AberClaret

Red Clover

0.3

Boston / Tonic

Plantain Blend

0.15

Puna II / Endure

Chicory Blend

0.05

—

Yarrow

14.0kg/acre pack

34.6kg/ha

The best perennial ryegrasses are adapted to a range of conditions, but the performance of a sward can be enhanced by other species, especially in low fertility situations and dry areas. Endurance II contains a range of species adapted to these soil types and to enhance stock health.

• Primarily suited to grazing • Very long growing season

14.0kg/acre pack

34.6kg/ha

The highest yielding long term mixture in previous mixture trials, this is a herbal version of Endurance II including plantain, chicory and yarrow to enhance grazing performance through improved mineral content and extra production during dry periods.

• Modern cocksfoot varieties, with minimal heading after 20th June, are more palatable and less prone to producing tussocks than traditional varieties Tonnes dry matter/ha/year

• Excellent dry season performance • Very good persistence and winter hardiness • Wider mineral profile than ryegrass dominant mixtures.

3 YEAR TRIALS RESULTS: Endurance II averaged 2.6t DM/ha/yr more than the control perennial ryegrass. An extra 400kg lamb/ha or over 4,000L of milk.

70 60

Harper Adams Grass Mixture Trials Specialist Mixtures v Perennial Control 2019

2020

2021

2022

12.87

50 40

10.94

30

13.06

11.67

15.75

17.21

10.85

8.73

15.23

17.78

17.74

AberStar©

Endurance LT2

Highlander

20

8.12

10 0

INVINCIBLE

HIGHLANDER

Long term mixture for wet lying land

Long term mixture for hill and marginal land

2.5

AberGreen

Perennial Ryegrass Intermediate Diploid

3.0

AberGreen

Perennial Ryegrass Intermediate Diploid

2.5

AberLee

Perennial Ryegrass Late Diploid

3.5

AberBann

Perennial Ryegrass Late Diploid

3.1

Delika

Perennial Ryegrass Late Diploid

3.0

AberLee

Perennial Ryegrass Late Diploid

1.0

Comer/Presto

Timothy

1.5

Comer/Presto

Timothy

1.5

Laura

Meadow Fescue

1.4

Maxima

Strong Creeping Red Fescue

2.0

Donata

Cocksfoot

0.5

AberDai

White Clover Medium Leaved

0.8

AberDai

White Clover Medium Leaved

0.2

AberHerald

White Clover Medium Leaved

0.2

AberLasting

White Clover Small Leaved

0.2

AberAce

White Clover Small Leaved

0.4

—

Alsike Clover

0.2

AberPearl

White Clover Small Leaved

0.5

—

Alsike Clover

14.0kg/acre pack

34.6kg/ha

Invincible contains species which tolerate flooding and high winter water tables. It also includes some of the most persistent of the high performance perennial ryegrasses and clovers. It needs to be well established before it is first immersed in water.

14.0kg/acre pack

34.6kg/ha

Similar to Preference but with extra hardiness and persistence. For use in exposed hill locations, especially in high rainfall areas.

• Produces a very dense hard wearing sward which persists for many more years than a standard long term mix in these conditions

• Produces an exceptionally dense, hard wearing, productive sward

• Can be used for grazing either sheep or cattle

• Production enhanced by AberGreen

• Rhizobium inoculated AberDai boosts clover establishment.

• Tolerant to pH and fertility variation

• Excellent winter hardiness

Invincible

GRASS MIXTURES

• High clover content with varieties tolerant to hard grazing regimes.

Endurance II Herbal

SPECIALIST LONG TERM MIXTURES

SPECIALIST LONG TERM MIXTURES (6 YEARS+)

15

EQUINE GRASS MIXTURES

EQUINE GRASS MIXTURES There are approximately 1.3 million horses in the UK, requiring more than 800,000 acres of grazing paddocks and creating a significant market for hay and haylage. Equine grazing pasture and hay and haylage production require different specifications to the ruminant livestock industry. We produce a range of mixtures designed to meet these specific criteria.

GRAZING PADDOCKS

CUTTING MIXTURES

Pasture for horses needs to be dense, very hard wearing and to produce leafy, palatable growth through a long grazing season.

The quality market is dominated by low protein, well headed, strong ryegrass hay and haylage. Much of the rest of the market is made up of mixed species ‘meadow’ hay and haylage cut at a similar ‘headed’ stage. The objective, to produce dust free, stemmy material primarily for maintenance. Higher energy and protein levels can be created by cutting these mixtures at earlier growth stage. This type of fodder should only be used for performance working horses.

Unlike our mixtures designed for sheep and cattle, our equine mixtures do not contain high sugar grasses and tend to contain a range of species to optimise the length of the grazing season and to enhance the mineral profile of the herbage.

TOP PADDOCK

TOMAHAWK WITH TIMOTHY

Hard wearing equine grazing mixture

1–2 year ley for top quality hay and haylage

5.0

Toddington

Perennial Ryegrass Late Diploid

3.5

Melina

Italian Ryegrass Diploid

3.0

Turf Blend

Turf Perennial Ryegrass

3.5

Meribel

Italian Ryegrass Diploid

1.5

Rasant

Timothy

4.0

Melsprinter

Italian Ryegrass Tetraploid

3.0

Maxima

Strong Creeping Red Fescue

2.0

Rasant

Timothy

1.0

-

Smooth Stalked Meadow Grass

13.0kg/acre pack

13.5kg/acre pack

33.4kg/ha

Designed to tolerate tough use, this is a multi-species blend that develops a very dense hard wearing sward while also producing a uniform supply of palatable grazing throughout the growing season.

Surplus production can make excellent hay or haylage. Herbs can also be added (page 20).

32.2kg/ha

MIN CUTTING HEIGHT: 10cm.

A variation on our main one-two year ryegrass mixture with additional Timothy to add a new dimension to quality hay and haylage production. It produces very high yields of strong hay or haylage. Good resistance to the early season diseases, mildew, rhynchosporium and brown rust reduces the risk of producing dusty hay or haylage.

• Good range of stem thickness and broad leaf material • Good sugar content for rapid fermentation of haylage.

HAY PADDOCK

Long term mixture for equine hay, haylage and grazing

Also available without timothy.

5.0

Boyne

Perennial Ryegrass Intermediate Diploid

4.0

Nifty

Perennial Ryegrass Intermediate Diploid

2.25

Rasant

Timothy

2.0

—

Meadow Fescue

0.25

—

Crested Dogstail

13.5kg/acre pack

DERBY HAYLAGE

2–3 year specialist haylage mix

33.4kg/ha

This combination of varieties has been selected to produce high yields of top quality hay or haylage over many seasons. It is dominated by higher dry matter grasses for faster wilting. Disease resistance is high, reducing the risk of producing dusty forage. It produces a very dense pasture which can also be used for grazing.

‘our equine mixtures are formulated with equine health in mind, avoiding species which are likely to increase the risk of laminitis or colic’

4.0

Melina

Italian Ryegrass Diploid

4.0

Melcombi

Hybrid Ryegrass Tetraploid

4.0

Perun

Hybrid Festulolium Tetraploid

2.0

Rasant

Timothy

14.0kg/acre pack

Designed to produce strong haylage or hay for up to 3 years. It is based on varieties proven to produce top quality haylage. Italian ryegrass, with excellent annual yield, plus Lofa and Rusa, both hybrids, each crossed with more persistent species incorporating winter hardiness and drought tolerance.

• Good resistance to early season rust, mildew and drechslera, reducing the risk of dusty hay or haylage • Good range of thick and thin stems and broad leaves.

01954 712150 16

Top Paddock

34.6kg/ha

MIN CUTTING HEIGHT: 10cm.

Hay Paddock

LEGUMES & HERBS The benefits of clover

18

Introducing clover into swards

18

Key herbs & herbal mixtures

19

Lucerne

20

LEGUMES & HERBS

THE BENEFITS OF CLOVER | INTRODUCING CLOVER INTO SWARDS

THE BENEFITS OF CLOVER Clovers do not suit all situations, but we believe clovers should be more widely grown. In ProCam’s trials white clover increased annual yield over four seasons by 1.5t DM/ha. Including red clover increased dry matter yield by a further 1.5t/ha.

WHITE CLOVER

RED CLOVER

Primarily a grazing species — its annual yield is limited, but it boosts the yield of grass by producing up to 150kg/ha of extra nitrogen and it grows in summer when grass growth and quality declines. It also enhances grazing stock performance because it increases intake, along with having a very high nutrient density and broader mineral content.

Principally a cutting species, ideal for silage making. Its resurgence was stimulated by growth in organic farming, but farmers are now more widely aware of its benefits. In ProCam mixture trials red clover has boosted the annual yield of mixtures by more than 3t DM/ha. It can be grown solo, but can be challenging to ensile, so is ideally sown in mixtures with competitive grasses.

BENEFITS • Higher energy and protein content than perennial ryegrasses • Boost to grazing intake through higher digestibility and palatability • Improved mineral profile over perennial ryegrass

BENEFITS • Very high DM yield, +/- 13t DM/ha • High protein content (18–22% CP) and good ME • Protein naturally protected from degradation in ensiling

• Fixes +/- 150kg N/ha/yr.

• Very drought tolerant

WHICH TYPE OF WHITE CLOVER? There are a range of white clovers and each type performs best under specific management. Erect, large leaved varieties compete well in cutting regimes but have fewer stolons and are less tolerant of hard grazing. At the other extreme are compact, stoloniforous types with small leaves. These tolerate hard grazing but cannot compete in cutting regimes. Varieties in the mid-range, like AberDai and AberSwan, are highly adaptable with medium-large leaves and a lot of stolons.

ProCam select combinations which perform best in each management situation.

• Compatible with grasses • Adapted to most soils and regions • Excellent for late summer and autumn lamb grazing • Fixes +/- 150kg N/ha/yr.

Further development has been driven by the breeding of improved varieties. Yields are getting higher, but the key improvement is in persistence with varieties like AberClaret and Merula performing for 3–4 seasons.

DYNAMIC CLOVER RATE: Achieving good clover to grass balance is important if performance is to be optimised. Too much clover and grasses can be smothered. Too little, and the benefits cannot be realised. Clover establishes better in the spring and early summer than it does in the late summer and autumn so, in some mixtures, we advise adding an additional clover boost at the point of sowing.

INTRODUCING CLOVER INTO SWARDS In recent seasons there has been a resurgence in interest in using clover to boost sward production and enhance animal performance, or to reduce reliance on nitrogen fertiliser. Some farmers are also sowing mixtures without clover to give them the flexibility to use a wider range of herbicides in the establishment phase with a plan to introduce the clover once the weeds have been controlled.

The mixtures below are designed for introducing or re-introducing clover into established pastures.

Each contains a spectrum of highly adaptable clover varieties.

CLOVER OVERSEEDING MIX

WHITE CLOVER BOOST

Pasture renovation mixture

For introducing or boosting white clover content

3.0

AberGreen

Perennial Ryegrass Intermediate Diploid

1.0

AberDai

White Clover Medium Leaved

3.0

AberSevern

Perennial Ryegrass Late Diploid

0.5

AberHerald

White Clover Medium Leaved

4.0

AberGain

Perennial Ryegrass Late Tetraploid

1.0

AberSwan

White Clover Medium Leaved

2.0

Nashota

Perennial Ryegrass Late Tetraploid

1.0

AberLasting

White Clover Small Leaved

1.5

AberDai

White Clover Medium Leaved

0.5

AberPearl

White Clover Small Leaved

0.5

AberHerald

White Clover Medium Leaved

4.0kg/ha pack

0.5

AberPearl

White Clover Medium Leaved

1.5

AberSwan

White Clover Medium Leaved

16.0kg/ha pack

6.5kg/acre

A blend with 50% of the normal grass rate combined with 100% white clover rate. It is designed for introducing white clover into a sward whilst also boosting the grass content.

1.6kg/acre

A highly adaptable blend of white clovers for introducing or boosting the white clover content of pastures.

RED CLOVER BOOST

For introducing or boosting red clover content 3.0

AberClaret

Red Clover

1.5

Avisto

Red Clover

• Persistent clover varieties

1.5

Garant

Red Clover

• Adaptable to a wide range of management regimes.

6.0kg/ha pack

• Rapid establishment, producing a dense, hard wearing sward

2.5kg/acre

A competitive and high-yielding blend of red clovers for introducing or boosting the red clover content of swards.

01954 712150

RHIZOBIUM BOOST: Inoculation with rhizobium increased field performance by more than 1t DM/ha/yr on ProCam mixture trials.

See soil biology section on page 61.

18

Clover root nodules

Herbs provide good summer/autumn feed. In most of the UK they have a lower total yield potential than perennial ryegrass, but have a different growth pattern, increasing production especially in dry seasons like 2025. Herbs can be grown alone but are normally sown in mixtures with grass and clovers. Herbs greatly enhance the trace element profile in the forage. Pastures with a high herb density can be used as ‘tonic pastures’ to revive poor stock. Chicory and plantain are particularly reliable, deep-rooted and drought tolerant, both are available with yarrow in Herbal Boost. Both species have very good mineral profiles and are reported to have some anthelmintic properties. Both also contain tanins which can help to prevent bloat.

MINERAL PROFILE OF OTHER HERBAGE SPECIES* Chicory

P

K

Ca

Mg Mn

Na

Cu

Co

Fe

Se



    

 

 









     

  



   

Plantain Sheep’s parsley Yarrow Sheep’s burnet Trefoil

  







Our herbal grazing mixtures differ from many competitor products because they contain a significant amount of grass. This helps keep a dense base in the predominantly herb and clover rich sward, reducing ingress of weeds, extending the grazing season and broadening the nutrient profile of the sward.

KEY HERBS & HERBAL MIXTURES

KEY HERBS & HERBAL MIXTURES DROUGHT TOLERANCE & ENHANCED STOCK NUTRITION

These mixtures contain very small seed and should only be shallow drilled into very fine, firm seedbeds.





 More than perennial ryegrass.  Much more than perennial ryegrass. * Mineral profile compiled from a range of sources.

WHITE HERBAL GRAZING MIX

RED HERBAL GRAZING MIX

4–5 year herbal grazing blend for dairy, beef and sheep

3 year herbal grazing mix for lamb finishing

2.2

AberGreen

Perennial Ryegrass Intermediate Diploid

2.0

AberGreen

Perennial Ryegrass Intermediate Diploid

1.0

AberGain

Perennial Ryegrass Late Tetraploid

1.25

AberGain

Perennial Ryegrass Late Tetraploid

1.0

Nashota

Perennial Ryegrass Late Tetraploid

0.5

Nashota

Perennial Ryegrass Late Tetraploid

0.5

Comer/Presto

Timothy

1.0

AberSwan

White Clover Medium Leaved

0.75

AberDai

White Clover Medium Leaved

1.0

AberClaret

Red Clover

0.25

AberHerald

White Clover Medium Leaved

0.5

Avisto/Garant

Red Clover

0.25

AberPearl

White Clover Small Leaved

1.0

Boston / Tonic

Plantain Blend

0.25

—

Alsike Clover

0.75

Puna II / Endure

Chicory Blend

1.0

Boston / Tonic

Plantain Blend

8kg/half ha pack (half rate for overseeding)

0.75

Puna II / Endure

Chicory Blend

0.05

—

Yarrow

8kg/half ha pack (half rate for overseeding)

6.5kg/acre

Herbal ley with white and alsike clover. The herbs and clovers combined with easily managed late perennial ryegrass ensure a long growing season and better ground cover than many herbal mixes. It is designed for dairy, beef and sheep grazing.

• Strong summer and autumn growth • Rotational graze for best results.

BOSTON / TONIC PLANTAIN BLEND Grazing plantain

5 & 25kg packs Narrow leaved plantain is a particularly useful source of selenium and naturally occurs in the UK. Performance is best in low fertility and drought prone soils where it can last for many years. It does not always thrive on moist fertile sites. Boston has been our staple choice, developed in New Zealand, it is significantly higher yielding than Tonic, which shares similar attributes to ecotain plantain. Boston also remains much leafier because it flowers 25–28 days later.

For a pure stand sow 4.0kg/acre (10.0kg/ha) or, as part of a mixture, up to 1.0kg/acre (2.5kg/ha).

6.5kg/acre

Herbal ley containing red clover, herbs and dense but productive pasture perennial ryegrasses. Designed for summer-autumn lamb finishing systems. Excellent drought tolerance with strong summer and autumn growth. Must be rotationally grazed for best results.

HERBAL WELLBEING MIX (WITHOUT GRASS) Upgrade any grass mixture with key herb species 2.0

AberDai

White Clover Medium Leaved

0.6

Leo

Birdsfoot Trefoil

0.2

—

Sainfoin

3.0

Boston / Tonic

Plantain Blend

2.0

—

Agricultural Sheeps Parsley

2.0

—

Agricultural Burnet

0.2

—

Yarrow

10kg/ha pack

4kg/acre

Many of our grazing mixtures have ‘herbal’ options containing these key herbs. Other mixtures can be upgraded using these packs. Herbs are sensitive to many herbicides used to control broad leaved weeds in grassland. In these situations packs of Herbal Wellbeing can be useful where farmers want to sow herbs later, or on the headland where weed problems are often more limiting. It is vital to sow only when they have the best chance of establishing into existing swards, pH is a vital check needed before sowing.

PUNA II / ENDURE CHICORY BLEND Grazing chicory

LEGUMES & HERBS

5 & 25kg packs Puna II was developed in New Zealand to provide summer and autumn grazing in drought prone areas. It is widely used for grazing sheep, cattle and deer. Puna II can last up to 3 years sheep grazing, but only if rotationally grazed. It can last longer when grazed by cattle. This has been blended with Endure Chicory which is noted for its improved persistence in damper soils and fast establishment. Sown to enhance mineral profile of grazing. Fast establishing, it can be used as a one year crop for repeat summer-autumn grazing.

For pure stand sow 2.0kg/acre (5.0kg/ha) or, as part of a mixture, sow a maximum 0.5kg/acre (1.25kg/ha).

Boston / Tonic Plantain Blend

19

LUCERNE

LUCERNE Lucerne is the world’s most widely grown forage crop for ruminants. In recent years there has been a resurgence in the growing of lucerne as farmers strive to produce more home grown protein.

The impressive performance of lucerne in the hot dry seasons of 2022 and, most recently, 2025 has further stimulated interest. Lucerne is not suited to all farms, it is relatively slow to establish and needs specific field management and careful ensiling. Lucerne thrives on free draining, high pH soils, especially in drier areas of the UK. The key benefits and drawbacks of lucerne are listed below.

BENEFITS OF LUCERNE

POSSIBLE DRAWBACKS OF LUCERNE

• Very high DM yield +/- 13t DM/ha

• Slow to establish

• Protein content is 18–22% CP

• Only adapted to high pH, deep, free-draining soils

• Produces very good structural fibre

• Limited weed control options

• Complements high maize diets

• Needs a strict management routine for best results

• Ideal for summer zero grazing

• Limited compatibility with grasses

• Yield improves over the first three years

• It has a high demand for P, K and S

• Lasts for 4–5 years

• Low sugar level and protein buffers fermentation

• Exceptionally drought tolerant

• Must be cut at the right stage to avoid low ME

• Good break crop for grass and cereals

• Needs a 4–5 year break between Lucerne crops

• Unlike red clover it does not contain oestrogen so it is useful for autumn grazing for ewes or lambs

• Limited grazing opportunities, though systems are being developed, especially for sheep.

• Fixes +/- 150kg N/ha/yr • Improves soil structure.

LUCERNE VARIETIES There is limited testing in the UK, but there is excellent testing in Northern France where soils are similar to those of Central, East and South-East of the UK. These French trials combined with UK and Scandinavian trials have proved a reliable source of data.

Some cheaper seed offered in the UK are varieties from the Mediterranean and are unlikely to be hardy or persistent in UK conditions.

We include luzelle, a grazing variety which has a much more prostrate growth habit and is more suited to traditional grazing regimes.

LUCERNE SELECTOR

Data extracted from the French Recommended List 2021, except Luzelle, where the data is taken from a previous season when it was included.

MEAN DM YIELD

PROTEIN CONTENT

PERSISTENCE

EELWORM RESISTANCE

VERTICILLIUM RESISTANCE

VARIETY

T DM/HA

%

10 = BEST

10 = BEST

10 = BEST

Sibemol

17.7

19.1

7.5

7.0

6.8

Artemis

17.4

18.8

9.0

8.0

5.7

Volga

17.3

19.3

8.2

7.1

5.3

Galaxie

17.0

19.3

7.9

6.5

5.6

Timbale

16.6

19.6

—

5.7

5.7

Luzelle

(15.5)

(19.7)

Very High

(5.7)

(4.1)

‘to help you realise the potential of the crop, ProCam produce detailed Lucerne Growers’ Guidelines’ 01954 712150 20

Lucerne

SUSTAINABLE FARMING Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) & Stewardship

22

Actions for soils

23

High Performance Stewardship herbal options

24

Overseeding mixes for herbal leys

25

Actions for nutrient management

26–27

Actions for integrated pest management

28–29

Actions for wildlife

30–31

Additional actions for soil health

32

SUSTAINABLE FARMING

The introduction of this initiative offered a new focus on sustainable farming. The emphasis is now on soil health, nutrient management, biodiversity and wildlife conservation, with a focus on integrated pest management. There is also a strong focus on water quality and conservation along with run-off management. These agreements run for three years from their start date, and need BASIS & FACTS qualified advisers to initiate delivery of plans for some of the actions so as to fulfil the aim of the action.

Our main emphasis is on those listed below.

HORTICULTURAL

NON HORTICULTURAL

IMPROVED

LOW INPUT

PERMANENT PERMANENT CROPS GRASSLAND

TEMPORARY GRASSLAND

ARABLE LAND

ARABLE CROPS

SUSTAINABLE FARMING INCENTIVE (SFI) & STEWARDSHIP

SUSTAINABLE FARMING INCENTIVE (SFI) & STEWARDSHIP

CSAM1

Assess soil, produce a soil management plan & test soil organic matter

Static

Total only

£6/ha, plus additional £97 payment per agreement

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

CSAM2

Multi-species winter cover crops

Rotational or Static

Total or Part

£129/ha

Herbal leys

Rotational or Static

Total or Part

£382/ha

✔ ✔

✔

CSAM3

CODE

SFI ACTION

ROTATIONAL OR STATIC

TOTAL OR PART OF AVAILABLE AREA IN EACH LAND PARCEL

ANNUAL PAYMENT

ACTIONS FOR SOILS

SOH1

No-till farming

Static

Total only

£73/ha

SOH2

Multi-species spring-sown cover crop

Rotational or Static

Total or Part

£163/ha

SOH3

Multi-species summer-sown cover crop

Rotational or Static

Total or Part

£163/ha

SOH4

Winter cover crop following maize crops

Rotational or Static

Total or Part

£203/ha

✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

N/A – agreement level SFI Action

£652/ha

✔

✔

✔

✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

ACTIONS FOR NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT CNUM1

Assess nutrient management & produce a review report N/A

CNUM2 Legumes on improved grassland

Rotational or Static

Total or Part

£102/ha

CNUM3 Legume fallow

Rotational or Static

Total or Part

£593/ha

✔

✔ ✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

ACTIONS FOR INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT CIPM1

Assess integrated pest management & produce a plan

N/A

N/A – agreement level SFI Action

£1129/ha

✔

✔

✔

✔

CIPM2

Flower rich grass margins, blocks, or in-field strips

Rotational or Static

Part only

£798/ha

Companion crops on arable & horticultural land

Rotational or Static

Total or Part

£55/ha

✔ ✔

CIPM4

No use of insecticides on arable & permanent crops

Rotational or Static*

Total or Part

£45/ha

✔ ✔ ✔

✔ ✔ ✔

✔

CIPM3

✔ ✔

✔ ✔

✔ ✔

✔ ✔

✔ ✔

✔ ✔

✔ ✔

✔ ✔

✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

✔

✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

✔

✔

✔

ACTIONS FOR FARMLAND WILDLIFE ON ARABLE & HORTICULTURAL LAND CAHL1

Pollen & nectar flower mixes

Rotational or Static

Part only

£739/ha

CAHL2

Winter bird food on arable & horticultural land

Rotational or Static

Part only

£853/ha

CAHL3

Grassy field corners & blocks

Static

Part only

£590/ha

AHW1

Bumblebird mix

Rotational or Static

Part only

£747/ha

AHW2

Supplementary winter bird food

N/A

N/A

£732/t (max 1t for every 2/ha of AHL2/CAHL2)

AHW3

Beetle banks

Static

Part only

£764/ha

AHW4

Skylark plots

Rotational or Static

N/A – apply per plot

£11/plot/yr (min 2 plot/ha)

AHW5

Nesting plots for lapwing

Rotational or Static

Part only

£765

AHW6

Basic over-winter stubble

Rotational or Static

Total or Part

£58/ha

AHW7

Enhanced over-winter stubble

Rotational only

Total or Part

£589/ha

AHW8

Wholecrop spring cereals & over-winter stubble

Rotational or Static

Total or Part

£596/ha

AHW9

Unharvested cereal headland

Rotational or Static

Part only

£1072/ha

AHW10 Low input harvested cereal crop

Rotational or Static

Total or Part

£354/ha

AHW11

Cultivated areas for arable plants

Rotational or Static

Part only

£660/ha

AHW12

Manage woodland edges on arable land

Static

Part only

£428/ha

✔

ACTIONS FOR FARMLAND WILDLIFE ON IMPROVED GRASSLAND CIGL1

Take grassland field corners or blocks out of management

Static

Part only

£333/ha

✔

✔

CIGL2

Winter bird food on improved grassland

Rotational or Static

Part only

£515/ha

✔

✔

ACTIONS FOR BUFFER STRIPS CAHL4

4m to 12m grass buffer strip on arable & horticultural land

Static

Part only

£515/ha

CIGL3

4m to 12 m grass buffer strips on improved grassland

Static

Part only

£235/ha

BFS1

12m-24m watercourse buffer strip on cultivated land

Static

Part only

£707/ha

BFS2

Buffer in-field ponds on arable land

Static

Total or Part

£681/ha

BFS3

Buffer in-field ponds on improved grassland

Static

Total or Part

£311/ha

BFS4

Protect in-field trees on arable land

Static

Part only

£555/ha

BFS5

Protect in-field trees on intensive grassland

Static

Part only

£295/ha

BFS6

6m-12m habitat strip next to watercourses

Static

Part only

£742/ha

✔

✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

✔

✔

✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔ ✔ ✔

ACTIONS FOR LOW INPUT GRASSLAND

01954 712150 22

CLIG3

Manage grassland with very low nutrient inputs

Static

Total (unless £151/ha CIGL1 is on the same land parcel)

GRH6

Manage priority habitat species-rich grassland (endorsed)

Static

Total or Part

£646/ha

✔

*For arable crops this action is rotational. For permanent crops, this action is static.

ProCam offers a significant range of solutions and expertise to all these various schemes, we are happy to formulate and produce dynamic special mixtures to meet specific requirements. We are not limited to just the varieties used in the main mixtures, so please contact your local ProCam agronomist with any enquiries into specific bespoke mixture formulations. We are happy to help and advise.

CSAM2

CSAM3

Multi-species winter cover crop.

Herbal leys.

ACTION'S AIM: A multi-species cover crop that's well established over the winter months and present between harvesting one cash crop and establishing the next cash crop.

ACTION'S AIM: An established herbal ley with a mixture of grasses, legumes and herbs or wildflowers to provide varied root structures and areas of flowering plants from late spring and during the summer months.

ACTION'S PURPOSE: To protect the soil surface and provide root growth that benefits soil structure. To support soil biology and minimise nutrient leaching, soil erosion and runoff.

ACTION FOR SOILS

ACTION FOR SOILS

ACTION'S PURPOSE: To produce a high volume of forage with minimal use of inorganic fertiliser and improve drought resiliance. To help improve and maintain the soil's structure, carbon, biology and fertility.

Seed rate and timing is important to achieve this aim, the more seeds per square meter, the bigger the biomass created and the easier it is to achieve the action's aim. This cover crop must not be harvested as a ‘cash crop’.

CNUM2, CSAM2, CSAM3, SELECTOR FOR CURRENT FIELD OPTIONS FORAGE MIXTURES WHAT WILL THE FIELD BE USED FOR?

DURATION?

CUTTING

CUTTING + LEGUMES

DUAL PURPOSE

CATTLE GRAZING

SHEEP GRAZING

<9 MONTHS (pages 36 & 46)

Pro-Rich T101 N-Max

T101 N-Max

Clampsaver II Summer Grazer Plus

Clampsaver II Summer Grazer Plus

9–18 MONTHS (pages 9 & 11)

Hurricane III Pro-Nitro

Hurricane III Hurricane III Pro-Nitro

Hybrid 3x3

1–2 YEARS (pages 10, 11, 13 & 24)

Tomahawk Pro-Nitro Spitfire Pro-Nitro

Eco-Pasture

Hybrid 3x3 Ultra-Bite II

Ultra-Lamb

2–3 YEARS (pages 11, 12, 13 & 24)

Hybrid 3x3

Hybrid 3x3 Hybrid 3x3 Pro-Nitro

Hybrid 3x3 Eco-Pasture Grassmaster HS

Hybrid 3x3 Ultra-Bite II

Ultra-Lamb

4–6 YEARS (pages 12, 13, 14 & 18)

Grassmaster HS

Grassmaster Pro-Nitro Preference Pro-Nitro

Grassmaster HS Preference Eco-Meadow Clover Overseeding

Ultra-Bite II Preference Eco-Meadow

Ultra-Lamb Preference Eco-Meadow Clover Overseeding

Preference Invincible

Preference Pro-Nitro

Preference Endurance II Invincible

Preference Endurance II Highlander Invincible

Preference Endurance II Highlander Invincible

Preference Herbal Endurance II Herbal Eco-Pasture Eco-Meadow

Ultra-Bite II Herbal Preference Herbal Endurance II Herbal Red Herbal Grazing White Herbal Grazing Celtic Herbal

Ultra-Lamb Herbal Preference Herbal Endurance II Herbal Red Herbal Grazing White Herbal Grazing Celtic Herbal

>6 YEARS (pages 14 & 15)

HERBAL (pages 13, 14, 15, 19 & 24)

These mixtures meet CNUM2 aims. These mixtures meet CSAM2 aims. These mixtures meet CSAM3 aims.

Note: Some mixtures meet the aims of more than one option, but are coded for the option which pays highest.

50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0

CERC Harper Adams Grass Mixture Trials NO N 2019 - 2022 Longer Term Mixtures Total DM Yields T/Ha 2019

2020

2021

7.55

8.57

13.90

13.00

13.72

14.04

6.68

6.72

6.61

7.06

10.88

12.01

12.66

12.14

9.51

Grassmaster HS

Grassmaster HS Rz

Grassmaster Pro-Nitro

Preference

Preference Pro-Nitro

5.56 4.06 5.98

Grassmaster (NC)

8.94

8.20

5.64

6.39

2022

9.83 14.12 13.12 8.15 6.42

9.13

8.16

14.05

13.80

7.43

9.82

14.92

7.19

8.36

12.88

11.33

13.07

12.93

Preference Herbal

Endurance II

Endurance II Herbal

White Herbal Grazing

Trials over 4 years have shown that herbal leys are high yielding, compared to conventional and legume based mixtures, even in a zero nitrogen management system. Particularly noticeable is the consistency of production, even in a drought situation.

SUSTAINABLE FARMING

Tonnes dry matter/ha/year

The value of legumes and herbal inclusions into our grass mixtures has been borne out by 10 years of ProCam trials at Harper Adams which have shown, across a spectrum of short and long term mixtures, that they increase dry matter yield, improve protein content, and are more resilient to changing weather patterns.

Milk buyers are looking for producers to reduce imported soyabeans in rations, making home grown protein vitally important. CNUM2 rewards producers for adopting this practice.

23

HIGH PERFORMANCE STEWARDSHIP HERBAL OPTIONS

HIGH PERFORMANCE STEWARDSHIP HERBAL OPTIONS Some stewardship options are designed for utilisation by livestock as well as to enhance the environment. In these situations, selecting the best performing varieties within a spectrum of species permitted can radically enhance the field performance of these scheme areas — a win-win situation where scheme income can be combined with impressive livestock performance and improved environmental impacts. We have a number of examples of higher performance pastures listed in this catalogue. Eco-Pasture is our flagship GS4, SAM3 and CSAM3 herbal ley, trial data can be seen below and on page 26. Celtic Herbal is an example of higher performance pasture within the Sustainable Farming and Growing For The Environment (Wales) schemes.

CELTIC HERBAL

ECO-PASTURE

2–5 year ‘Legume & herb rich sward’

3.0

AberGreen

Perennial Ryegrass Intermediate Diploid

4.0

AberGreen

Perennial Ryegrass Intermediate Diploid

3.0

AberBann

Perennial Ryegrass Late Diploid

3.3

AberGain

Perennial Ryegrass Late Tetraploid

4.0

AberRoot

Festulolium

1.0

Comer/Presto

Timothy

2.75

Comer/Presto

Timothy

1.5

Laura

Meadow Fescue

0.5

Bornito

Sheeps Fescue

1.0

Maxima

Strong Creeping Red Fescue

0.75

Donata

Cocksfoot

0.5

AberDai

White Clover Medium Leaved

1.0

AberClaret

Red Clover

1.0

Avisto/Garant

Red Clover

0.55

—

Alsike Clover

0.85

Leo

Birdsfoot Trefoil

0.2

—

Yellow Trefoil / Black Medic

0.42

Boston / Tonic

Plantain Blend

0.3

Puna II / Endure

Chicory Blend

0.05

—

Agricultural Sheeps Parsley

0.05

—

Agricultural Burnet

0.03

—

Yarrow

1.5

Laura

Meadow Fescue

0.75

Donata

Cocksfoot

1.0

AberDai

White Clover Medium Leaved

1.0

AberSwan

White Clover Medium Leaved

1.0

AberLasting

White Clover Small Leaved

2.5

Avisto/Garant

Red Clover

1.5

Leo

Birdsfoot Trefoil

2.0

Boston / Tonic

Plantain Blend

0.8

Puna II / Endure

Chicory Blend

0.2

—

Agricultural Sheeps Parsley

25kg/ha pack Celtic Herbal has been designed to exceed the requirements of Growing For The Environment Scheme Option 1 and mixed leys on Improved land under SFS. It is best suited to grazing under rotational management and suited to a wide range of soil types and climates in Wales. A focus on proven varieties and species will ensure successful establishment and performance through the growing season. Celtic Herbal is designed to persist for 3 Years. Sow between April and early August for best establishment. A version is available without chicory where cutting is desired.

17kg/half ha pack

34kg/ha

• Soil structuring and carbon sequestration to depth

Eco-Pasture is a very high performance herbal ley that meets the specification for those wanting to sow a fresh herbal ley, (always our first choice method in establishing a new herbal ley). This mix is tried and tested, and has surpassed all expectations as to how herbal leys perform against high performance straight and perennial ryegrass mixtures in over a decade of trials at Harper Adams University.

Eco-Pasture will respond to a wide range of management systems.

A version is available without chicory where cutting is desired.

• Nitrogen fixation and scavenging = reduced nitrogen use

• Suited to all ruminant livestock in controlled grazing situations

• Production from proven varieties and species

• Long season of production

• When rested will provide abundance of nectar

• Very good mid-season production and drought tolerance

• Improved mineral and trace element profile.

• Enhanced mineral profile from the wide range of species grown

• Excellent diversity of rooting depths and structure

• Suitable for both cutting and grazing • Ideally cut at five weeks to guarantee high quality Harper Adams Grass Mixture Trials Accumulated Quality Data Seasons 2019 (wet) 2020 (dry) Control PRG v Standard Mix v Eco-Pasture 16

Preference

Preference Herbal

Some key species of clover and herbs may need to be reintroduced after three seasons to maintain stewardship specifications.

Eco-Pasture

14

Harper Adams Grass Mixture Trials Two Seasons 2019 (wet) 2020 (dry) Control PRG v Standard Mix v Eco-Pasture

10 8 6

01954 712150 Eco-Pasture

2019 ME

2019 Protein

15.5

16.2

16.3

13.1

2020 ME

15.4

13.2

13.5

13.6

13.8

14.3

11.9

13.4

12.8

13.2

2

13.0

4

2020 Protein

Two years’ dry matter T/ha

12

0

24

AberStar (Control)

13.2

Two years’ Ave. Nutrient Analysis

18

• Add bio-root mycorrhiza & rhizobacteria to turbocharge soil biology.

50 40

2019

2020

30 20 10 0

10.31

11.37

17.92

20.10

19.19

Preference

Preference Herbal

Eco-Pasture

9.96

8.12 15.23 AberStar Control

©

We recognise the keen interest to upgrade current grass swards to CSAM3 status under the new SFI schemes. The government guidance for establishing herbal leys suggests growers choose a mix of grasses, legumes and herbs to use in the herbal ley, however choosing the correct seed mix is vital to ensuring successful establishment. ProCam has a wealth of experience and can offer practical advice in this regard. We strongly recommend following the advisory notes on pages 58–62 of this catalogue to ensure successful establishment of the species' being introduced.

In most areas of the UK herbal mixtures have a lower annual yield than perennial ryegrass but they have different seasonal growth patterns, adding to pasture production in the summer and autumn when grass growth is poor. Herbal mixtures can outperform conventional leys on light soils, in dry areas and dry seasons. This is because species like chicory, plantain and yarrow are deep rooted and heat tolerant.

HERBAL BOOST

HERBAL WELLBEING

Upgrade any grass mixture with key herb species

Upgrade any grass mixture with key herb species

2.4

Boston / Tonic

Plantain Blend

1.5

Comer/Presto

Timothy

1.4

Puna II / Endure

Chicory Blend

1.0

Donata

Cocksfoot

0.2

—

Yarrow

1.25

AberDai

White Clover Medium Leaved

1.25

Avisto/Garant

Red Clover

0.62

Leo

Birdsfoot Trefoil

0.5

—

Sainfoin

0.88

Boston / Tonic

Plantain Blend

1.5

—

Agricultural Sheeps Parsley

1.25

—

Agricultural Burnet

0.25

—

Yarrow

4kg/2ha pack

1.25–2kg/ha

Many of our grazing mixtures have ‘herbal’ options containing these key herbs. Other mixtures can be upgraded using these packs.

Available with or without chicory.

HERBAL UPLIFT (RED CLOVER, WITHOUT CHICORY) Upgrade any grass mixture with key herb species

10kg/ha pack

1.5

AberLee

Perennial Ryegrass Late Diploid

1.5

AberThames

Perennial Ryegrass Late Diploid

3.0

AberGain

Perennial Ryegrass Late Tetraploid

2.0

AberSwan

White Clover Medium Leaved

1.0

AberClaret

Red Clover

0.5

Boston / Tonic

Plantain Blend

0.5

­—

Agricultural Sheeps Parsley

10kg/ha pack

10–30kg/ha

Designed for tired or poached swards needing a quality and production uplift, this mix comes in 4 different forms with and without red clover, with and without chicory.

10–12.5kg/ha

Herbs are sensitive to many herbicides used to control broad leaved weeds in grassland. In these situations packs of Herbal Wellbeing can be useful where farmers want to sow herbs later, or on the headland where weed problems are often more limiting. It is vital to sow only when they have the best chance of establishing into existing swards, pH is a vital check needed before sowing.

A variation with chicory and without red clover is available in addition to a version without grass.

We can tailor ingredients to suit demands as needed.

Ask your ProCam agronomist for details.

Chicory tap root

SUSTAINABLE FARMING

‘speak to your ProCam agronomist for guidance on how to maximise establishment when introducing herbs into existing swards’

Herbal Ley

OVERSEEDING MIXES FOR HERBAL LEYS

OVERSEEDING MIXES FOR HERBAL LEYS

25

ACTIONS FOR NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT

ACTIONS FOR NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT CNUM2, legumes on improved grassland, backs up our trials data of adding legumes into grass mixtures, with the savings gained on nitrogen applications, the increased value of homegrown protein and benefits to soil health and carbon capture, complemented by the £102/ha payment. CNUM3, legume fallow, offers an opportunity to address soil health by taking arable land out of production and 'resting it' for one crop cycle or longer backed by a payment of £593/ha. It also offers the opportunity to use a more diverse mixture of species to improve soil structure, along with providing nectar sources for pollinators and producing additional sources of food for farmland birds and wildlife.

CNUM2

CNUM3

Legumes on improved grassland.

Legume fallow.

ACTION'S AIM: Legumes growing from spring until early autumn.

ACTION'S AIM: An established legume fallow with plants that grow and flower from late spring and during the summer months and provide green cover over the winter months.

ACTION'S PURPOSE: To manage nutrient efficiency and protect the soil surface.

To provide root growth that maintains soil structure, supports soil biology, and minimises nutrient leaching, soil erosion and runoff. To support an integrated pest management approach if located close to cropped areas.

ACTION'S PURPOSE: To manage nutrient efficiency and improve soil health. To provide food for farmland wildlife, pollinators and birds. To support an integrated pest management approach by reducing grass weeds and, if located close to cropped areas, to encourage natural crop pest predators.

Use one or more legumes such as red clover, white clover, alsike clover, crimson clover, sainfoin, lucerne, birdsfoot trefoil. These species are tailored to grassland that is being cut or grazed and can be added to existing swards, or sown as a mixture. They must be managed in such a way as to achieve the aims.

Sow a mixture of at least 6 flowering species, including legumes such as birdsfoot trefoil, alsike clover, common vetch, yellow trefoil (black medic), lucerne. The mixture can also contain nonlegume flowers and grasses such as timothy and cocksfoot for blackgrass control.

As a fallow, it cannot be grazed with livestock or cut (unless to control blackgrass). No fertilisers, manures or pesticides may be used, but herbicides may be used for spot treatments of injurious weeds or invasive non-native species.

LEGUME FALLOW 1.5

Early Red Clover

1.5

Late Red Clover

1.0

Alsike Clover

0.5

Berseem Clover

0.5

Birdsfoot Trefoil

0.75

Yellow Trefoil

1.0 1.25

Common Vetch ­

Hairy Winter Vetch

8kg/half ha pack

16kg/ha

This mixture is a flexible version with legumes only. It is designed to produce a similar number of flowers in its 2nd year and yellow trefoil extends the flowering period further.

Sow at 16-20kg/ha depending on soil conditions.

• Eight flowering species lengthens flowering cycle • Transforms depleted arable soils, improves soil structure and biological activity • Reduces nutrient losses • Avoids species that may become an issue in an arable rotation.

If this mixture is being used primarily for fertility building, increase seed rate to 20kg/ha to maximise biomass production. This will in turn increase root exudate production and root mass density to improve soil structure. It will also help suppress black grass.

White clover in improved grassland

CERC Harper Adams Grass Mixture Trials NO N 2019 - 2022 Shorter Term Mixtures Total DM Yields T/Ha

01954 712150 26

Tonnes dry matter/ha/year

70 60 50 40 30

2019

12.37 13.95

20

11.19

10

16.60

0

2020

2021

12.42 15.03 12.81 19.16

Hurricane III Hurricane III Pro-Nitro

2022

14.27 10.76 15.03 12.83 14.29 ClampSaver

12.11

12.06

17.64

18.54

15.70

10.29

10.04

9.62

17.28

19.82

18.00

17.46

Spitfire

Spitfire Pro-Nitro

12.61

8.99

9.92

16.17

14.01

15.16

9.36

9.02

9.07

19.20

15.47

15.96

Eco-Pasture

Gemini©

AberEve©

17.20 12.51

11.18

11.10 17.27 10.22

10.94 13.06 8.12

21.59

15.23

Hybrid 3x3 Hybrid 3x3 Hybrid 3x3 AberStar© without Pro-Nitro clover

DIVERSE LEGUME FALLOW

LEGUME FALLOW PLUS GRASS

0.5

Alsike Clover

3.0

Perennial Ryegrass Intermediate Diploid

0.25

Birdsfoot Trefoil

2.5

Perennial Ryegrass Late Diploid

3.5

Blue Sweet Lupin

1.0

Timothy

2.5

Red Clover

1.0

Cocksfoot

2.25

Hairy Winter Vetch

0.5

Small Leaved White Clover

0.75

Phacelia (Coated)

1.0

Early Red Clover

0.25

Yellow Trefoil

1.0

Late Red Clover

0.5

Berseem Clover

1.0

Crimson Clover

0.25

Birdsfoot Trefoil

0.25

Yellow Trefoil

0.5

Hairy Winter Vetch

0.5

Phacelia

10kg/half ha pack

20kg/ha

This version is for those who want the benefits of a legume fallow, alongside proven soil enhancing benefits from phacelia and blue lupins.

It will look fantastic when flowering and will provide abundant nectar to all key pollinators during its long flowering window. Ideal for areas near footpaths and public roads.

Unlike other mixtures that rely heavily on non-winter hardy vetches as their base, this is a more balanced mixture,, designed to do two flowering cycles, with yellow trefoil coming to flower in year two.

ACTIONS FOR NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT

The advantages of slightly more diverse mixtures are the positive visual impact they create, and the increased benefit for pollinators, natural predators and farmland birds. Crimson clover, lupins and phacelia are visually attractive and plentiful nectar producers.

10kg/ha pack A multi-year flowering legume fallow. The cocksfoot and clovers are deep rooting once fully established. The small leaved white clover forms a clover understory to the mix whilst the phacelia, red clovers and crimson clover are abundant, colourful nectar sources for pollinators.

TOP TIP: SEED BED AND SOWING DEPTH pH should be >6.0. A range of sowing techniques can be used, but seed to soil contact is critical because of the small seed size of the species' in these mixtures. For the best establishment, seed should be placed at 0.5–1.5cm, tilth should be fine and the soil around the seed must be very well consolidated. The best establishment periods for sowing these mixtures are seen in the graphic below.

SOWING PERIOD FOR ECO-LEGUME FALLOW TWO YEAR NUM3 MIXTURE JAN

FEB

MAR

APR

MAY

JUN

JUL

AUG

SEP

OCT

NOV

DEC

‘our mixtures are designed with optimum performance in mind, formulated to provide maximum benefit to your soils, your business and your bottom line’

Lupin Root Nodules

Phacelia roots showing their dense fibrous nature. They are excellent surface soil conditioners.

Phacelia Root Mass

SUSTAINABLE FARMING

Blue lupin roots showing Nitrogen fixing nodules. These are very aggressive taproots which grow deep into the soil and retrieve nutrients from depth, especially phosphorus. Blue lupins are highly efficient at Nitrogen fixing and can grow in a wide range of soil types.

27

ACTIONS FOR INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT

ACTIONS FOR INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a sustainable approach to managing pests, weeds, and diseases that combines biological, cultural, physical, and chemical tools to minimize economic, health, and environmental risks. It prioritises prevention and uses chemical pesticides only when necessary.

CIPM2 Flower rich grass margins, blocks, or in-field strips.

ACTION'S AIM: An established multi-annual flower-rich grass mix which is growing in margins, blocks or in-field strips and produces flowering plants during the spring and summer months, into early autumn.

Once the margin, block or in-field strip is established, you can cut or graze it with livestock providing it’s done in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim. To help you achieve this action’s aim, you could do some or all of the following:

ACTION'S PURPOSE: To encourage natural crop pest predators as part of an integrated pest management approach if located close to cropped areas.

To provide habitat and foraging sites for invertebrates, including natural crop pest predators, wild pollinators (such as bumblebees, solitary bees, butterflies and hoverflies) and farmland birds.

• Cut in the spring (usually before the start of April), so vegetation is short enough to allow flower species to grow without competition from dominant grasses.

Sow a seed mixture which includes at least 4 grass species (which should not make up more than 90% of the total mixture by weight) and 10 wildflower species (with no individual species being more than 25% of the total wildflower element by weight).

• Stagger the cutting or grazing, so all the margins, blocks or infield strips are not grazed or cut at the same time — this will help to provide a constant supply of flowers for invertebrates.

Do not cut or graze it in such as way as would mean the actions aims cannot reasonably be expected to be achieved. However, cutting the margin, block or in-field strip regularly during the first 12 months after sowing will help to control weeds, so the sown plants can establish. You can do this whenever the weeds are just above the sown flowers, so they’re starting to shade them out.

• Cut or graze the summer growth between mid-August and the end of October — this will help reduce soil fertility and boost flower numbers in subsequent years.

• Leave an area within each margin, block or in-field strip (for example, 10%) uncut or ungrazed each year — this will help to provide a refuge for insects and other wildlife over winter.

TUSSOCKY BUMBLEBEE 1.0

Timothy

1.5

Hard Fescue

2.0

Meadow Fescue

2.0

Slender Red Fescue

1.55

Strong Creeping Red Fescue

2.5

Tall Fescue

1.5

Cocksfoot

0.5

White Clover

1.5

Red Clover

0.5

Alsike Clover

1.0

Crimson Clover

0.55

Birdsfoot Trefoil

0.8

Yellow Trefoil

1.3

Sainfoin

1.0

Common Vetch

0.2

Cornflower

0.2

Corn Marigold

0.1

Ladys Bedstraw

0.1

Oxeye Daisy

0.1 0.1

Knapweed ­

Wild Carrot

20kg/ha pack A flower rich mixture with legumes and tussocky grasses to provide the ideal habitat for pollinators over the three year duration of the agreement.

Flower Rich Field Margin

• Provides a wide flowering window with diverse species • Grasses offer ideal habitat for hibernating bumblebee species • Legumes improve fertility and soil microbial activity • Grass species provide a food source to small seed-eating bird species into winter months.

The legumes help improve fertility and build soil microbial health, whilst the wild flowers will self-seed, sustaining their presence in the mix. The grass species will provide bird food to a variety of small-seed eating species into the winter months.

01954 712150 28

Brassica Break

Tartaric Buckwheat

Companion crop on arable and horticultural land.

ACTION'S AIM: A companion crop growing with a main arable or horticultural crop.

natural crop pest predators. To manage nutrient efficiency.

To protect soil and improve its condition.

ACTION'S PURPOSE: To support an integrated pest management (IPM) approach by acting as a trap crop for pests or by suppressing weeds. To provide a habitat for birds and invertebrates, including pollinators and

The companion crop does not have to be present for the full growing period. It can be a trap crop, companion crop or an undersown living mulch (e.g. undersown maize).

COMPANION CROPPING WITH OSR PRO-DETER

TARTARIC BUCKWHEAT

7.2

Lifago

Buckwheat

2.8

—

Fenugreek

10kg/ha pack

• This subspecies of buckwheat is smaller seeded and has a lower thousand grain weight than standard buckwheat (fagopyrum esculentum). This provides a higher plant population and eases drilling with OSR. • Vigorous growth helps to hide and protect the oilseed rape plant from flea beetle more effectively

PRO-GUARD

• Aids beneficial phosphate mobilisation

2.25

Tabor

Berseem Clover

5.5

Lifago

Buckwheat

2.25

—

Fenugreek

• Frost sensitive, so breaks down, easing negative crop competition through the winter.

BERSEEM CLOVER (TABOR)

10kg/ha pack

ACTIONS FOR INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT

CIPM3

• Tabor is the only single-cut berseem clover variety available in the UK — it is killed by frost and does not regrow • Alternative multi-cut varieties are not suitable to use as companion crops due to spring regrowth • Promotes good soil biology and conditioning • Limited N fixing due to short time in the ground.

FENUGREEK • Produces a natural (garlic) odour to deter flea beetle

Common Buckwheat

Tartaric Buckwheat

• Survives later into the autumn for prolonged defence, but will still be controlled by frost • Promotes good soil biology and conditioning.

COMPANION CROPPING IN OTHER CROPS Clover understory in over winter forage, but can also be used in a number of arable cropping scenarios such as winter wheat and barley or maize.

Sheep grazing forage rape and stubble turnips, directly sown into a cereal stubble undersown with clover.

For more information on our companion cropping work, see page 40.

SUSTAINABLE FARMING

Berseem Clover

Fenugreek

29

ACTIONS FOR WILDLIFE

ACTIONS FOR WILDLIFE We need to include a broad range of flowering periods in order to maximise the benefits and realise the intentions of the pollinating, nectar rich and wildflower elements included in SFI. FLOWERING PERIODS OF POLLINATOR ATTRACTING WILDFLOWERS EARLY SEASON MAR

APR

MID SEASON MAY

JUN

JUL

LATE SEASON AUG

SEP

OCT

Red Campion Yellow Trefoil / Black Medic Primrose Cowslip Meadow Vetchling Yellow Rattle Meadow Buttercup Birdsfoot Trefoil Common Vetch Wild Red Clover Hoary Plantain Alsike Clover Red Clover Oxeye Daisy Wild Carrot Cornflower Sainfoin Common Poppy Tufted Vetch Kidney Vetch Autumn Hawkbit Mignonette Yarrow Common Knapweed Betony Vipers Bugloss Rough Hawkbit Self Heal Greater Knapweed Corn Marigold Devils Bit Scabious Wild Basil Field Scabious Small Scabious Agrimony Marjoram Musk Mallow POLLINATOR HUNGRY GAP

Chart adapted from Habitat Creation & Management for Pollinators, Nowakowski & Pywell.

CREATING YOUR HABITAT AND MAINTAINING IT KEY POINTS: •P ollinators require food, homes and a mate to propagate and survive •E arly spring flowers (March to May) are vital to fill the pollinator hungry gap •M atch the appropriate pollinator habitat to the right site and soils •S ow on the surface onto a firm, fine, weed free seedbed!

•S ow in spring (mid March to early May), or autumn (mid July to end of August) •S pring sow where blackgrass is a problem •M anagement of sown habitats is vital for them to succeed •W ildflower and pollen and nectar type mixes need frequent cutting in the 1st year

01954 712150 30

Wildflower mixture

•M ow when weeds obscure planted species, ideally removing cuttings if they contain grasses •C utting parts in early June will extend the flowering period into late summer •R otational cutting will allow some grass species to seed leaving tall grass over winter •G rass left tall over winter provides ideal hibernating habitat for bumblebees •A lack of cutting is a major cause of failure.

CAHL2

Pollen and nectar flower mix.

Winter birdfood on arable and horticultural land.

ACTION'S AIM: An established pollen and nectar flower mix which is growing in blocks or strips and produces areas of flowering plants from late spring and during the summer months.

ACTION'S AIM: An established winter bird food mix growing in blocks or strips with plants that grow and flower during the spring and summer months and set seed to produce a supply of small seeds from late autumn until late winter.

ACTION'S PURPOSE: To provide food for beneficial pollinators, such as bumblebees, solitary bees, butterflies and hoverflies. To encourage natural crop pest predators as part of an integrated pest management approach if located close to cropped areas.

Use a grass-free seed mixture which includes at least 6 flowering species, with no individual species making up more than 50% of the total mixture by weight. The seed mixture must include at least two of the following flower species: Common knapweed, musk mallow, oxeye daisy, wild carrot, and yarrow.

Do not cut or graze it in such as way as would mean the actions aims cannot reasonably be expected to be achieved.

No fertilisers, manures or pesticides may be used, except for herbicides to weed wipe or spot treat to control injurious weeds or invasive non-native species.

ACTION'S PURPOSE: To provide food resources for smaller farmland birds, especially in late autumn and winter. To encourage flowering plants in the summer, which will benefit insects, including bumblebees, solitary bees, butterflies and hoverflies. To support an integrated pest management approach if located close to cropped areas.

You must use a seed mixture which includes at least six small seed-bearing species, which are suitable for smaller farmland bird species. The mixture must not include artichoke, reed canary grass, giant and intermediate sorghum, maize, miscanthus, sweet clover or tic beans.

One year mixtures include cereals, brassicas and other small seeded crops. Two year mixtures include biennial crops like kale, stubble turnips, teasel.

MEDIUM/HEAVY SOILS NECTAR FLOWER MIX

WINTER BIRDFOOD 2 YEAR

0.5 1.0 1.0 1.3 1.0 0.5 1.5 1.0 2.0 0.1 0.1

5.0 5.0 5.0 1.25 0.75 1.0 0.75 1.0 0.25

White Clover Early Red Clover Late Red Clover Alsike Clover Sweet Clover Birdsfoot Trefoil Sainfoin Lucerne (innoculated) Hairy Winter Vetch Yarrow Oxeye Daisy

10kg pack (sow at 14–20kg/ha) A Light Land version is available.

CAHL4 4–12m buffer strips on arable and horticultural land.

ACTION'S AIM: A grass buffer strip with an intact grass sward throughout the year, without tracks compacted areas or poaching.

ACTION'S PURPOSE: To protect existing landscape and heritage features. To provide habitat for wildlife. To prevent pollutants, such as sediment and nutrients, from being carried in surface water runoff, if located next to a watercourse. To support an integrated pest management approach, if located close to cropped areas, which can help reduce costs and improve farm resilience.

HI-GROW HABITAT Perennial Ryegrass Intermediate Diploid Timothy Cocksfoot Meadow Fescue Strong Creeping Red Fescue Tall Fescue

20kg pack A Low-Grow Habitat mixture is also available.

Winter Birdfood

Spring Barley Spring Oats Spring Triticale Buckwheat Fodder Radish Fodder Rape Grazing Chicory Millet Quinoa

20kg/half ha pack

40kg/ha

WINTER BIRDFOOD WITHOUT BRASSICA 5.0 5.0 5.0 1.75 0.5 1.75 0.5 0.5

Spring Barley Spring Oats Spring Triticale Buckwheat Grazing Chicory Linseed Red Millet White Millet

20kg/half ha pack

40kg/ha

WINTER BIRDFOOD 2 YEAR SSO 2.5 1.5 2.0 1.5 2.0 0.5

Buckwheat Fodder Radish Fodder Rape Grazing Chicory Millet Quinoa

10kg pack One year mixtures also available.

Small Seeds Option to be sown with home-saved cereals.

Winter Bird Options to be resown as needed to maintain food source resource.

SUSTAINABLE FARMING

3.0 2.5 2.5 3.0 6.0 3.0

ACTIONS FOR WILDLIFE

CAHL1

31

ADDITIONAL ACTIONS FOR SOIL HEALTH

ADDITIONAL ACTIONS FOR SOIL HEALTH SOH2 & SOH3

SOH4

Multi-species spring or summer sown cover crops.

Winter cover following maize crops.

ACTION'S AIM: A well established spring sown, or summer sown, multi-species cover crop that’s present between harvesting one cash crop until the establishment of another, or after a winter cover crop is destroyed or oversown, until the next cash crop is established, or a winter cover crop is sown (SOH3).

ACTION'S AIM: A cover crop on land which is not at risk of soil erosion, or surface runoff, follows the early harvest of a maize crop and is well established during the winter months.

ACTION'S PURPOSE: To protect the soil surface. To provide root growth that benefits soil structure To support soil biology and minimise leaching, soil erosion and run-off.

ACTION'S PURPOSE: To reduce the risk of soil erosion and surface runoff. To slow water runoff and allow soil to settle out, reduce losses of sediment, nutrients and chemicals carried in surface water.

To help take up of nutrients and reduce nitrate leaching through the soil profile.

To add organic matter you must use rapid establishing seed mixtures that contain at least four species. This must include two species from two or more of the following plant families; brassicas, legumes, cereals and grasses (with grasses not exceeding 25% by total weight), herbs. The seed mixture cannot contain Japanese reed millet, maize, miscanthus or reed canary grass, sorghum (all varieties), artichokes, or sweet fennel.

After maize harvest, you must establish a cover crop that will not be harvested as a cash crop. This can be done either as soon after maize harvest as possible or established as an under-sown cover crop earlier in the year that remains after the maize crop is harvested. This cover crop can be either a mixture, or a fastestablishing single species, but must be frost tolerant to ensure a well-established cover crop over the winter months.

You cannot graze, or cut this cover crop, unless for the purpose of destruction or apply any fertilisers or manures. Do not destroy it more than two weeks before the intended next main crop.

You must not use a multi-species temporary grass mixture that is being used for grazing, nor a multi-species cover crop you intend to harvest as a cash crop, such as a mixture of wheat and clover.

BRASSICA BREAK PRO

PRO-RICH

3.5

Berseem Clover

20.0

Forage Rye

3.0

Blue Sweet Lupin

5.0

Hairy Winter Vetch

7.0

Buckwheat

25kg/ha pack

4.0

Crimson Clover

3.0

Linseed

1.5

Phacelia (Coated)

22kg/ha pack

PROCAM CATCH CROP Sow at 18–22kg/ha

Sow in April–May for full summer cover. Sow July for incorporation late September–October before autumn cereals. Sow August to provide autumn to early winter cover. Spring sown and left over winter as part of CSAM2 option.

• Good weed suppression • Clovers build fertility (>50kg N/ha) • Excellent nectar source for beneficial insects • Enhances soil structure and reduces nutrient leaching • Not hardy, so minimum biomass left in spring.

12.5

Westerwold Ryegrass Diploid

12.5

Italian Ryegrass Tetraploid

25kg/ha pack This vigorous mixture establishes and grows away rapidly, making it an excellent choice for sowing after maize. It will grow away quickly in spring, responding well to fertiliser to provide large yields of quality forage the following spring.

Please note that any silage produced from ground in SOH4 must not be sold as a cash crop.

PROCAM ITALIAN MIX 12.5

Italian Ryegrass Diploid

12.5

Italian Ryegrass Tetraploid

25kg/ha pack

01954 712150 32

Brassica Break Pro

Maize under-sown with Italian ryegrass

COVER CROPS Fertility building, soil conditioning & weed suppression

34

Non-hardy stewardship & SFI cover crop mixtures for autumn biomass

35

Hardy SFI compliant cover crop mixtures for spring bulk, grazing or ploughing

36

Key leguminous cover crop species

37

Key non-leguminous cover crop species

38–39

Utilising cover crop species as companions

40

COVER CROPS

With the government adoption of the SFI payment structure, it has signalled that improving soil health, soil structure and building soil fertility whilst preventing soil erosion through the adoption of cover crops are key requirements for future farming. Below are the benefits, principles and information on a number of crops and mixtures we can incorporate into farm rotations.

THE BENEFITS OF USING COVER CROPS • Holding soluble nutrients in the soil to prevent leaching

FACTORS AFFECTING THE CHOICE OF COVER CROP SPECIES

• Increase soil organic matter content

• Date the crop is to be sown

• Maintaining ‘active’ soil biology between crops

• Date when the crop is to be incorporated

• Suppression or control of weeds

• Duration of green manuring period

• Improve soil structure

• Rotation limitations

• Reduce risk of soil erosion

• Winter hardiness

• Leguminous green manures help build fertility

• Is there a need for fertility building?

• Some cover crops can be used for biological pest control

• Ability to be utilised by grazing stock

• Some qualify as EFA cover crops in Scotland

• Potential for ensiling.

• Some can also be utilised for grazing or ensiled forage.

It is best to incorporate leafy material that will break down quickly in the soil. Too much fibrous material can absorb nutrients in the process of breaking down.

GR AZ EA BL E

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

✘

✔

✔

✔

✘

✔

L

✔

✔

✔

✔

L

✔

✔

✔

✔

L

✔

✔

✔

✔

White, Brown & Black Mustard Annual

H

✘

✔

✘

?

Pirat Late Flowering Mustard Annual

H

✘

✔

✘

✔

Fodder Radish Annual

H

✘

✔

?

✔?

Tillage & Smart Radish Annual

H

✘

✔

?

✔?

Phacelia Annual

H

✘

✔

✘

✘

Buckwheat Annual

H

✘

✔

✘

✔?

Linseed Annual

M

✘

✔

✘

✔?

Ryegrass Biennial

M

✘

✔

✔

✔

JUN

JUL

AUG

SEP

OCT

NOV

DEC

Common Vetch Annual

JAN

FEB

MAR

APR

MAY

M

Hairy Winter Vetch Annual

M

Crimson Clover Annual

M

Berseem Clover Annual

M

Yellow Trefoil Perennial (Understory) White Clover (Small Leaved) Perennial (Understory) Red Clover Perennial

HO LD ER

✔

MAY

N

?

APR

BU ILD ER

✔

MAR LEGUME COVER CROPS

N

HA RD Y

KEY COVER CROP SELECTOR — MAIN SOWING AND MULCHING/DESTRUCTION DATES VI GO UR

FERTILITY BUILDING, SOIL CONDITIONING & WEED SUPPRESSION

FERTILITY BUILDING, SOIL CONDITIONING & WEED SUPPRESSION

✔

CRUCIFER/BRASSICA SPECIES

OTHER NON-LEGUMINOUS SPECIES

Forage Rye Annual

H

✘

✔

✔

✔

Spring Oats Annual

H

✘

✔

✔

✔

Soil Buster Annual

H

✘

✔

✘

?

Nematode Buster Annual

H

✘

✔

✘

✘

Mega Root Annual

H

✘

✔

✘

?

COVER CROP MIXTURES

01954 712150 34

Brassica Break Pro Annual

H

✔

✔

✘

✘

Pro-Rich Forage Rye x Hairy Vetch

H

✔

✔

✔

✔

Ideal sowing period.

✔? Grazeable in vegetative state.

Results dependent on season. ? Possibly appropriate.

Destruction & Mulching.

Biomass dependent on season.

This is a basic guide to sowing dates in England and Wales up to 200 metres above sea level. Good soil conditions and seedbed are of overriding importance. The growing season is shorter at higher altitudes and in the North. The season is longer in coastal locations.

Non-hardy cover crops will not survive winter frost, and are often used for quick cover or green manure as they die back naturally requiring minimal tillage. Non-hardy cover crops are ideal for autumn biomass.

SOIL BUSTER

Now including Smart Radish

NOT HARDY

BRASSICA BREAK PRO

3.0

Fodder Radish

3.5

Berseem Clover

3.0

Smart Radish

3.0

Blue Sweet Lupin

4.0

White Mustard

7.0

Buckwheat

4.0

Crimson Clover

3.0

Linseed

1.5

Phacelia (Coated)

10kg pack (sow at 8–10kg/ha) Sow July for incorporation late September–October before autumn cereals. Sow August–early September to provide autumn to early winter cover.

• Good weed suppression

NOT HARDY

22kg pack (sow at 18–22 kg/ha) Sow in April–May for full summer cover. Sow July for incorporation late September–October before autumn cereals. Sow August to provide autumn to early winter cover. Spring sown and left over winter as part of CSAM2 option.

• Enhances soil structure and reduces nutrient leaching • Surplus biomass may be grazed.

• Good weed suppression

NEMATODE BUSTER 4.0

Anti-Nematode Fodder Radish

5.0

Anti-Nematode Mustard

• Clovers build fertility (>50kg N/ha) NOT HARDY

• Excellent nectar source for beneficial insects • Enhances soil structure and reduces nutrient leaching • Not hardy, so minimum biomass left in spring.

9kg pack (sow at 7.5–9kg/ha)

Add Bio-Root mycorrhiza and rhizobacteria to turbocharge soil.

Sow July for incorporation late September–October before autumn cereals. Sow August–early September to provide autumn to early winter cover.

• Active nematode reduction • Good weed suppression • Enhances soil structure and reduces nutrient leaching.

MEGA-ROOT 3.0

Fodder Radish

2.5

Smart Radish

2.5

Tillage Radish

NOT HARDY

8kg pack (sow at 6.5–8kg/ha) A blend of Smart Radish plus widely used Tillage and Fodder Radish.

For use as later summer-autumn or autumn-winter catch or cover crop.

Sow July for incorporation late September–October before autumn cereals. Sow August–early September to provide autumn to early winter cover.

• Very good weed suppression • Enhances soil structure and reduces leaching • Surplus biomass may be grazed.

‘speak to your ProCam agronomist to discuss which cover crops are most suitable for your rotation’

NON-HARDY STEWARDSHIP & SFI COVER CROP MIXTURES FOR AUTUMN BIOMASS

NON-HARDY STEWARDSHIP & SFI COVER CROP MIXTURES FOR AUTUMN BIOMASS

COVER CROPS

Soil Buster

Brassica Break

35

Hardy cover crops can survive cold temperatures to protect the soil over winter. They will also bulk up in the spring to provide additional biomass for incorporation. Hardy cover crops also provide the option of utilisation for forage in the form of spring grazing or an early spring silage cut PRO-RICH

VERY HARDY

Forage rye and winter vetch mixture

T101 N-MAX

Forage Rye

80%

5.0

Hairy Winter Vetch

20%

60–90kg/ha (25–36kg/acre)

25 & 500kg packs

Pro-Rich provides good autumn weed suppression. Very hardy, it continues to grow even in very hard winters, providing the best potential yield of spring biomass. Sow from early September to early October for optimum performance. Pro-Rich also makes a good winter to spring forage crop if allowed to grow on through to late January before grazing. It can then be rotationally grazed through to April or cut for silage late April-early May. • Good weed suppression

T101

Forage Tritcale Hairy Winter Vetch

90–165kg/ha (36–66kg/acre)

25 & 500kg packs

T101 was bred in New Zealand to provide spring forage for early turnout of stock and reduce winter feed costs. It has since been also used as an arable cover crop to scavenge and retain soluble nutrients and reduce leaching. UK trials have proven its potential performance in the British Isles. Good autumn weed suppression. Very hardy, it continues to grow even in very hard winters, providing excellent potential yield of spring biomass. Sow from early September to early October for optimum performance.

• Autumn to early spring grazing

• Vetches build fertility

• Very early 1st cut silage

• Excellent reduction of nutrient leaching

• Similar feed value to Forage Rye

• Holds soil nutrients and enhances soil structure

• Ideal ‘after Maize’ cover crop

• Spring growth dries out soil through transpiration

• Reduce soil erosion

• Surplus can provide both autumn and early spring grazing.

• Reliable cover from September–October sowing • Suppression of pernicious weeds • Spring biomass for green manuring • Potential income from winter–spring grazing • Vigorous root development enhances soil structure.

NZ COVER CROP TRIALS: AUTUMN SOWN — SPRING HARVEST AS FORAGE

T101 Triticale v Forage Rye UK Early Spring Growth 2023 7.0 Tonnes dry matter/ha

The table below shows that T101 was the only winter forage option in the trial where the kg/ha of Nitrogen removed at the final harvest exceeded the total Nitrogen (Mineral N + applied N).

This highlights both its nitrogen use efficiency and its ability to scavenge valuable nutrients during the winter months.

N APPLIED (KG/HA)

TOTAL SOIL N (KG/HA)

0–60CM SOIL MINERAL N POST-TRIAL

N HARVESTED (KG/HA)

168 DAYS AFTER PLANTING

T101 Forage Triticale

57.6

40

97.6

14.4

100.3

DOUBLETAKE Forage Triticale

57.6

40

97.6

10.8

81.4

MILTON Forage Oats

57.6

40

97.6

14.4

79.0

TORCH Winter Wheat

57.6

40

97.6

14.4

65.0

HOGAN Westerwold Ryegrass

57.6

40

97.6

10.8

55.3

VARIETY

Pro-Rich

6.0

Yield to 22nd March

Yield to 28th April

+1.1t DM/ha

5.0 4.0 3.0

4.3 4.1

2.0 1.0 0.0

1.2 T101

0.4 Forage Rye

SPECIAL MIXTURES: The mixtures detailed here are solutions to regularly requested scenarios. Each farm may have specific objectives and species which perform well in their particular situation. ProCam can give you guidance on the formulation of any combination of species. Summaries of the key species are on the following pages.

‘speak to your local ProCam agronomist for more information’

01954 712150 36

VERY HARDY

Forage triticale and winter vetch mixture

20.0

0–60CM SOIL MINERAL N PRE-TRIAL

HARDY SFI COMPLIANT COVER CROP MIXTURES FOR SPRING BULK, GRAZING OR PLOUGHING

HARDY SFI COMPLIANT COVER CROP MIXTURES FOR SPRING BULK, GRAZING OR PLOUGHING

T101

In addition to providing cover, reducing erosion and improving soil structure, legumes improve soil health by fixing nitrogen from the atmosphere in a plant available form. They also attract beneficial insects, making them a valuable plant group for inclusion in cover crops.

COMMON VETCH Seed rate: 50–75kg/ha (20–30kg/acre)

HARDY

25kg pack

Common Vetch is an 'N' fixing UK native. A vigorous, scrambling plant with very good weed suppression, it also has the potential to be grazed and ensiled. Common Vetch is often planted with cereals. Spring-sown, it will keep growing through to late summer and can produce high yields of biomass. Summer–autumn sown, it may grow through a mild winter. There are some hardier varieties.

HAIRY VETCH Seed rate: 38–62kg/ha (15–25kg/acre)

VERY HARDY

25kg pack

A very vigorous, scrambling plant with excellent nitrogen fixing potential. Hairy Vetch is more hardy than common vetches making it an ideal winter cover crop either on its own or in combination with rye or oats. Its weed suppression is excellent and rhizobium nodulation is reliable. Hairy Vetch provides excellent potential for grazing or silage. It has a smaller seed than Common Vetch, so is sown at a lower seed rate.

CRIMSON CLOVER Seed rate: 12.5–15kg/ha (5–6kg/acre)

KEY LEGUMINOUS COVER CROP SPECIES

KEY LEGUMINOUS COVER CROP SPECIES

NOT HARDY

25kg pack

An 'N' fixing, rapid growing annual clover with good weed suppression. Crimson Clover is an impressive crop when flowering and can be a good source of nectar. It can be sown any time from April to August. Early sown crops can produce impressive volumes of biomass, which can be cut twice if cut young enough. Provides good potential for grazing or silage.

BERSEEM CLOVER (MULTICUT) Seed rate: 10–15kg/ha (4–6kg/acre)

NOT HARDY

25kg pack

An 'N' fixing, rapid growing annual clover with good weed suppression. Less fibrous than Crimson Clover, it can be sown any time from April to late August. Early sown crops produce impressive volumes of biomass, which can be cut two or three times. Provides good potential for silage and autumn growth is excellent for finishing lambs.

YELLOW TREFOIL (BLACK MEDIC) Seed rate: 10–12kg/ha (4–4.8kg/acre)

HARDY

10 & 25kg packs

A leafy perennial legume used as a straight green manure and in mixtures. It is often used as an understory companion crop in cereals and pulses to suppress weeds and build fertility while not competing too much with the crop. It thrives on free draining, neutral to alkaline soils.

RED CLOVER Seed rate: 12.5–15kg/ha (5–6kg/acre)

HARDY

25kg pack

Red Clover is slower establishing than Crimson and Berseem Clover, but less fibrous and much more persistent, lasting for 2–3 years, making it better suited to longer periods of fertility building. It puts down a long taproot which can have an impressive effect on soil structure.

Red Clover also provides good silage and lamb grazing opportunities. Sow from April to August.

WHITE CLOVER (SMALL LEAVED) Seed rate: 6–8kg/ha (2.4–3.2kg/acre)

VERY HARDY

5 & 25kg packs

The listed range of seed rates covers drilling to broadcasting. All seed rates are for monocultures. When in mixtures adjust in proportion to the crop required. For example, if you want 50% mustard and 50% fodder radish, 5kg/ha mustard + 4kg/ha fodder radish is adequate for drilling.

COVER CROPS

Small leaved white clovers are lower yielding and have more stolon growth than larger leaved varieties. This makes them less competitive as a companion crop. Because of the greater root network, they also have potential to fix more nitrogen. This combination of characteristics makes them makes them ideal as an understory companion species.

37

KEY NON-LEGUMINOUS COVER CROP SPECIES

KEY NON-LEGUMINOUS COVER CROP SPECIES These species are used for their rapid growth, which helps create maximum ground cover as quickly as possible, suppress weeds and improve soil structure. Different species offer specific benefits, such as tillage radish which has a deep tap root to help break up compaction.

WHITE MUSTARD Seed rate: 10–12.5kg/ha (4–5kg/acre)

NOT HARDY

Various pack sizes

A very low cost cover crop widely used in the UK. Its aggressive establishment makes it very good for weed suppression. White Mustard should be topped 50–60 days after sowing to avoid accumulation of stemmy material which is slower to breakdown in the soil. Surplus growth can provide good grazing, especially for sheep, but only in the vegetative phase.

LATE FLOWERING MUSTARD Seed rate: 25–30kg/ha (10–12kg/acre) (to provide maximum forage)

NOT HARDY

Various pack sizes

Ultra-late flowering Mustard, extending the period of leafy growth. This produces biomass that is easier to incorporate or can be grazed for longer. Flowering date from a mid-August sowing would not be until November. Excellent for grazing but, like all Mustards, it should be grazed by the end of November, because it is not hardy.

ANTI-NEMATODE MUSTARD Seed rate: Brown: 8–10kg/ha (3.2–4kg/acre). White: 12–15kg/ha (4.8–6kg/acre).

NOT HARDY

25kg pack

Some Mustard varieties are bred to suppress eelworm, especially strains of beet cyst nematode.

They combine resistance to the nematode with not acting as a host to other species. We can supply a range of varieties. They also appear to reduce the incidence of rhizoctonia.

CALIENTE ROJO SUPER HOT MUSTARD Seed rate: 8–10kg/ha (3.2–4kg/acre)

NOT HARDY

25kg pack

The ultimate ‘biofumigant’, it is a Brown Mustard with very high levels of glucosinolates. These chemicals break down when the plant is macerated and incorporated into the soil, they release isothiocyanate and other compounds which suppress nematodes and other soil borne pests and pathogens.

FODDER RADISH Seed rate: 7.5–20kg/ha (3–8kg/acre)

NOT HARDY

25kg pack

A vigorous and low cost option with similar characteristics to Mustard. Fodder Radish provides less groundcover, but a similar level of weed suppression. It is later flowering, less stemmy and normally hardier. Some varieties also suppress a range of nematodes. If leafy material is to be incorporated, crimp or swipe 70–80 days after sowing.

TILLAGE RADISH Seed rate: 7.5–15kg/ha (3–6kg/acre)

NOT HARDY

25kg pack

Tillage Radish appears similar to standard Fodder Radish above the ground but develops impressive 30–40cm tap roots below the surface. These create and open up fissures in the soil, helping to improve soil structure. When they die off in the winter, they break down fast, releasing nutrients into the soil in organic form. Weed suppression is very good. Less hardy than Fodder Radish or Smart Radish.

SMART RADISH Seed rate: 7.5–10kg/ha (3–4kg/acre)

01954 712150 38

NOT HARDY

25kg pack

A new development in soil structure enhancing Fodder Radish. Smart Radish produces a ground penetrating fat tap root combined with strong lateral roots which exploit horizontal fissures in the soil. Smart was originally selected for its massive top growth. This biomass can be used for mulching or grazing.

The listed range of seed rates covers drilling to broadcasting. All seed rates are for monocultures. When in mixtures adjust in proportion to the crop required. For example, if you want 50% mustard and 50% fodder radish, 5kg/ha mustard + 4kg/ha fodder radish is adequate for drilling.

NOT HARDY

Seed rate: 7.5–10kg/ha (3–4kg/acre)

25kg pack

Phacelia provides an ideal break crop, due to not being related to any crop species in the UK. Fast establishing, it is an excellent weed suppressing annual. It is easily incorporated because top growth breaks down easily. In summer it can flower over a long period, providing a good nectar source. Not hardy.

COMMON BUCKWHEAT

NOT HARDY

Seed rate: 50kg/ha (20kg/acre)

25kg pack

A fast growing and competitive, broadleaved annual of the polygonum family, Buckwheat is easy to grow, supresses weeds and flowers readily in late summer, providing a good source of nectar for bees. Seed shed through the autumn-early winter period provides good feed for a range of birds and small mammals.

LINSEED

KEY NON-LEGUMINOUS COVER CROP SPECIES

PHACELIA

NOT HARDY

Seed rate: 40–60kg/ha (16–24kg/acre)

Various pack sizes

A highly adaptable and competitive native species which can create additional diversity in a mixture, linseed produces a mass of fibrous roots which colonise the soil laterally and horizontally in a 50mm radius from the stem base. It provides a limited nectar source due to being mainly self-pollinating.

ITALIAN OR HYBRID RYEGRASS

VERY HARDY

Seed rate: 25–35kg/ha (10–14kg/acre)

20 & 25kg packs

These ryegrasses are not often considered as a cover crop, but their rapid establishment and smothering nature makes them a useful green manure, especially in late summer and autumn when they can mop up nutrients that would otherwise be leached out during the winter. Surplus can be grazed or cut.

FORAGE RYE

VERY HARDY

Seed rate: 125–185kg/ha (50–75kg/acre)

25 & 500kg packs

The fastest growing cereal species and best weed suppressor, Forage Rye is also exceptionally hardy. Sown in the autumn, it will keep growing in all but the coldest conditions. Forage types produce much more winter biomass than grain types, providing an opportunity for spring grazing or early silage.

OATS Seed rate: 100–150kg/ha (40–60kg/acre)

Spring Oats: NOT HARDY

Winter Oats:

HARDY

500kg pack

More widely available than rye and cheaper, but not as hardy. Winter and spring types establish reliably and suppress weeds well. Spring Oats are more vigorous, but not hardy. Even Winter Oats can lose top growth in very hard winters, but regrow in early spring. Often combined with Hairy Vetch.

BLACK OATS Seed rate: 30–75kg/ha (12–30kg/acre)

NOT HARDY

25kg pack

The listed range of seed rates covers drilling to broadcasting. All seed rates are for monocultures. When in mixtures adjust in proportion to the crop required. For example, if you want 50% mustard and 50% fodder radish, 5kg/ha mustard + 4kg/ha fodder radish is adequate for drilling.

COVER CROPS

Suitable for sowing from mid-April to October, Black Oats create a mass of fibrous roots to relieve soil compaction. Rapid autumn growth ensures high biomass heading into winter.

Black Oats are resistant to take all and have good tolerance to BYDV, making them a useful species in cereal and brassica rotations.

39

UTILISING COVER CROP SPECIES AS COMPANIONS

UTILISING COVER CROP SPECIES AS COMPANIONS Companion cropping has a key place in developing and improving IPM strategies.

ProCam has therefore increased the focus on managing companions, to ensure we can maximise the delivery of agronomic benefits from establishing them alongside arable and forage crops.

This is because there are a lot of challenges to overcome- for example controlling weeds but not the companions, and controlling the companions when they no longer deliver value. When and how to establish is a key question, as establishing at the wrong time, or failed establishment results in no value being captured from the companion.

COMPANION CROPPING WITH WHEAT At Ickleton, work was conducted in 2023 looking at companion crop choice in wheat. Getting the wrong mixture can hinder yield enormously. Get the right mixture and there is a clear benefit. The data below is showing the benefit of clover in Mixture 2 — as the mustards all were eaten by flea beetle.

YIELD BENEFITS FROM COMPANION CROPS AT ICKLETON, CAMBS (250KG N) Mix 1

Mix 2

Mix 3

20 10

13%

10%

Change in yield (%)

1%

13%

3%

3%

7%

0 -10

12%

-16%

-20 -30 -40

-38% -45% -52%

-50 -60

Skyfall

RGT Grouse

RGT Bairstow

Average

COMPANION

CONSTITUENTS

Mix 1 16.5kg/ha

50% Resistant Radish 30% Berseem Clover 20% Phacelia

Mix 2 13.5kg/ha

55% Abyssinian Mustard 45% Berseem Clover

Mix 3 12.5kg/ha

24.7% Linseed 7.3% Buckwheat 13.9% Phacelia 2.9% Daikon Radish 5.3% Fodder Radish 16.7% Brown Mustard 3.6% Hairy Vetch 24.8% Crimson Clover

The yield uplift from companions was further enhanced when incorporated with a bio-fertiliser strategy. In 2024, work began on screening herbicides vs companion species. The objective being to give agronomists more tools to understand what may and may not be safe — without compromising weed control. This work was conducted on two sites over 2024 and 2025.

As well as understanding residuals and safety, understanding how to kill the companions is equally important. The reason the 38% yield reduction was observed at Ickleton was due to crop competition from the phacelia which went uncontrolled. Research is ongoing for clover being undersown under wheat. Some varieties will hinder yield due to competition, but a micro-white clover gave a yield uplift.

YIELD IMPACT FORM THE ADDITION OF A NITROGEN-FIXING COMPANION CROP AND/OR BIO FERTILISER PROGRAMME (SR3 FOLLOWED BY ENCERA) (250KG N APPLIED) 11

Average

Skyfall

Grouse

7.6

Bairstow

7.4

10

Yield (t/ha)

Yield (t/ha)

10.5 9.5 9 8.5 8

01954 712150 40

7.2 7 6.8 6.6 6.4

7.5 7

IMPORTANCE OF COMPANION CROPPING CHOICE IN PALLADIUM WINTER WHEAT, STOCKBRIDGE TECHNOLOGY CENTER, 2025

Untreated

Companion crop

Biofertiliser programme

Companion & biofertiliser programme

6.2

Untreated

White Clover

Berseem Clover

COMPANION CROPPING WITH MAIZE Via the Field Options brand, ProCam has long been involved with under sowing maize with ryegrass.

We are now investigating other species to utilise in the same way – screening herbicides for safety, and looking at ground cover to ensure the IPM benefits are still achieved (i.e. protecting soil). A large trial was conducted in 2025 for this.

The reason for looking for ryegrass alternatives is due to the growing risk of resistance to herbicides in ryegrass. ProCam are considering the best ways to avoid resistance building and therefore continue to supply the best advice and agronomic options to our customers.

FORAGE CROPS Forage crops

42

Swedes

43

Kale

43

Kale — rape hybrids

44

Fodder rapes

44

Maincrop turnips

44

Stubble turnips

45

Fodder mustard

45

Fodder radish

45

Winter to spring catch crops

45

Fodder crop mixtures

46

FORAGE CROPS

FORAGE CROPS

FORAGE CROPS There are many forage crops available. The table below gives details of the main species and their relative differences in yield, nutrient content and the number of days needed to reach optimum growth.

We also include figures for calculating grazing budgets, subject to certain adjustments detailed below the table. The bar chart below the table identifies the ideal sowing time and associated utilisation period for the full range of species and associated mixtures included in the following sections of the guide.

It also gives an indication of the potential extended sowing time and utilisation window when the crop can be utilised. This performance is dependent on a favourable site and season.

To help farmers realise the potential of their crops, ProCam’s Growers’ Guidelines are available for some of the species.

COMPARATIVE PERFORMANCE OF FORAGE CROPS IN UK TESTING SYSTEMS GRAZING BUDGET AT 86% UTILISATION DM YIELD T/HA

DM %

PROTEIN CONTENT %

ME MJ/KG DM

DAYS TO OPTIMUM GROWTH

AVERAGE M2/DAY FOR GRAZING 60KG EWES

AVERAGE M2/DAY FOR GRAZING 500KG COWS

Fodder beet (roots)

14.0 – 18.0

10 – 20

10

12.6

200 – 250

1.21

6.71

Fodder beet (tops)

2.0 – 4.0

10 – 12

15

10.4

200 – 250

N/A

N/A 13.8

Swedes

8.0 – 10.0

8 – 12

11

13.1

160 – 210

2.3

Kale

8.0 – 10.0

15.0

14

9.0 –11.2

160 – 210

2.3

13.8

Turnip (maincrop)

4.5 – 6.5

9.0 – 10.0

16.0

10.5

90 – 130

3.5

N/A

Fodder rape

4.0 – 6.0

12.0

19.0 – 22.0

9.9 –10.5

90 – 120

4.3

25.3

Stubble turnips

4.0 – 6.0

8.0 – 9.0

19.0

11.0

60 – 90

4.3

24

Assumptions: 85% utilisation of forage crop. Dry matter intake for maintenance + some liveweight gain = 3% of liveweight.

Ewes = 100% DMI from crop 1.8kg dry matter/head/day. Cattle = 70% DMI from crop, 30% from supplementary forage. 15kg dry matter/head/day.

For fodder beet the grazing budget yield is calculated as root yield + 2t DM/ha from tops. Top yield may decline through winter.

KEY FODDER SOWING & UTILISATION DATES MAR

APR

MAY

JUN

JUL

AUG

SEP

OCT

NOV

DEC

JAN

FEB

MAR

APR

MAY

SUMMER/AUTUMN CROPS Fodder rape Main grazing period/regrowth1 Kale x rape Main grazing period/regrowth1 Stubble turnip Summer grazer plus Kale Clampsaver II2

AUTUMN/WINTER CROPS Fodder beet Harvested beet Grazed beet Swedes Kale Winter keep Maincrop turnips Kale x rape hybrids Fodder rape Stubble turnips Brassica express Smart radish Late flowering mustard Clampsaver II2

Forage Rye3, Pro-Rich & T101 N-Max

01954 712150 42

Sowing period

Utilisation period

1: Regrowth will be limited by very tight grazing or trampling by stock. 2: Early sown Clampsaver will take longer to reach the grazing stage due to slower growing in cool conditions. 3: Forage Rye can either be rotationally grazed or growth can accumulate for early spring turnout. ?: Risk of frost damage in later lifted beet.

This is a basic guide to sowing dates in England and Wales up to c200 metres. Good soil conditions and seedbed are of overriding importance.

The growing season is shorter at higher altitudes and in the North. The season is longer in coastal locations.

Swedes produce exceptional quality feed, they are the highest energy root crop that you can grow.

They also have the advantage of good winter hardiness. The disadvantage is challenging establishment and there are few recommended herbicides so weed control options are limited. Farmers are adopting different drilling techniques and seed treatments to limit flea beetle and cabbage root fly damage.

We select varieties for consistently high yields and disease resistance.

SWEDES | KALE

SWEDES 150–200 DAYS TO GRAZING

If late feeding is required, go for hardy, higher dry-matter varieties.

INVITATION

TOP VARIETY

Graded & natural seed.

Option for start-up PK + bio stimulant.

TRIUMPH Graded & natural seed.

Bred in Scotland by JHI, Invitation produces high yields of high dry matter roots. It has excellent establishment vigour, along with big tops and very good tolerance to clubroot and mildew. Invitation is the best variety for winter hardiness, making it ideal for late feeding.

Bred in New Zealand by PGG Wrightsons, Triumph has massive yield potential with medium to high dry matter purple roots and yellow flesh. It also has good winter leaf retention and is very palatable.

GOWRIE

LOMOND

Graded & natural seed.

Option for start-up PK + bio stimulant.

Graded & natural seed.

Option for start-up PK + bio stimulant.

Bred by JHI Scotland, Gowrie is the highest yielding variety. It is a medium dry matter % variety with good resistance to mildew and good tolerance to clubroot.

Gowrie yields 8t/acre more roots than Marian.

Suitable for both stock feeding and table use.

Bred by JHI Scotland, Lomond is a medium dry matter, very high yielding, dual purpose variety for grazing or human consumption. It has good tolerance to mildew, clubroot and splitting.

SEED RATES

PRECISION DRILL: Graded seed at 0.5–1.25kg/ha (0.2–0.5kg/acre). 500g pack.

CONVENTIONAL & DIRECT DRILL: Natural seed at 1.25–2.5kg/ha (0.5–1kg/acre). 1kg pack.

BROADCAST: Natural seed at 1.7–3kg/ha (0.7–1.25kg /acre). 1kg pack.

Ask your local ProCam agronomist for a copy of our Swede Crop Costs & Growers’ Guidelines.

KALE 130–190 DAYS TO GRAZING Kale is slightly faster maturing than swedes with similar yield potential, but lower energy density and higher protein content. The table on page 42 highlights the range in digestibility of kale, varieties range from a low of 9.0 ME to a high of 11.2 ME. For stock use we focus on very high digestibility types, like Maris Kestrel and Keeper, with a high leaf to stem ratio, highly digestible stems and low levels of SMCOs (sulphur compounds found in brassicas, especially in late winter, which can reduce animal performance by causing anaemia in stock). Kale responds very well to high fertility situations.

KEEPER

TOP VARIETY

Natural seed only.

Keeper replaces Bittern as the variety with the best combination of high yield, digestibility and hardiness.

It has a high leaf to stem ratio and can be grazed by cattle or sheep.

Keeper Kale

Caledonian is a medium height, very high-yielding kale, bred by JHI in Scotland. Its quality and hardiness are similar to Keeper and Proteor, but it produces significantly higher yields and has good tolerance to clubroot.

PROTEOR Natural seed only.

Maris Kestrel is a dwarf kale with the highest ‘D’ value and a very high leaf to stem ratio. Low levels of SMCO, relative to others, optimise winter stock performance.

It has good bolting and mildew resistance so is suitable for spring planting for summer/autumn feeding as well as June sowing for autumn/winter use.

Proteor is a high-yielding, leafy kale. Intermediate height thin stems and high leaf to stem ratio provide good ‘D’ value and palatability. It offers high yield and similar hardiness to Keeper. Proteor has very good lodging resistance and better digestibility than Grampian.

CONVENTIONAL & DIRECT DRILL: 2–5kg/ha (0.8–2kg/acre). 1kg & 25kg packs.

BROADCAST: 3.7–6.2kg/ha (1.5–2.5kg/acre). 1kg & 25kg packs.

Higher plant populations produce thinner stemmed plants.

Ask your local ProCam agronomist for a copy of our Kale Crop Costs & Growers’ Guidelines.

FORAGE CROPS

MARIS KESTREL Natural seed only.

SEED RATES Kestrel

CALEDONIAN Natural seed only.

Option for start-up PK + bio stimulant.

43

KALE — RAPE HYBRIDS | FODDER RAPES | MAINCROP TURNIPS

KALE — RAPE HYBRIDS 90-120 DAYS TO MATURITY Known as kale-rapes, these are forage brassicas produced by crossing kale and rape to produce varieties which have the rapid establishment and quality of rape combined with the higher yield and potential hardiness of kale. The best are hardier and more alternaria resistant than most forage rapes and slightly higher yielding. Interval is ideally suited to summer planting and winter use. Redstart is a variety selected for good resistance to bolting, alternaria and mildew. Normally used for spring planting and summer use, it has also proven good for autumn/winter use.

REDSTART

SPITFIRE

Untreated natural seed only.

Untreated natural seed only.

Ideal for summer or autumn grazing. Bred in New Zealand, Redstart was selected for spring sowing and summer grazing. It is higher yielding than Winfred but with similar high palatability and regrowth characteristics if first grazed at about eight weeks from emergence. It reaches full yield potential in 110 days.

Experience during the hard winter of 2010–11 suggests that Redstart also exhibits good hardiness, so can be summer sown for autumn and early winter utilisation.

Also bred in New Zealand, Spitfire is a highly palatable kale rape with very high yield potential.

It has good disease and pest resistance and is suited to summer, autumn or early winter grazing.

INTERVAL

CONVENTIONAL & DIRECT DRILL: 2.5–5kg/ha (1–2kg/acre).

5kg & 25kg packs.

BROADCAST: 3.7–6.2kg/ha (1.5–2.5kg/acre).

5kg & 25kg packs.

Untreated natural seed only.

Option for start-up NPK + bio stimulant.

Redstart

SEED RATES

Bred in Scotland by SCRI, Interval is a cut leaved variety with high yield potential, fairly good hardiness and good alternaria tolerance.

FODDER RAPES 90-120 DAYS TO MATURITY Not as popular as stubble turnips, but fodder rapes have a number of potential advantages. They are potentially higher yielding, especially if planted early enough to realise their full potential and, if planted in the spring for summer grazing, they hold quality over a much longer period. Because all of the grazed plant is above the ground, utilisation is also higher and the leaves are more frost tolerant when autumn–winter feeding. The best varieties have good bolting, mildew and alternaria resistance as well as a high leaf to stem ratio and good hardiness. Some also have strong regrowth after grazing allowing them to be grazed twice.

SF GREENLAND

TOP VARIETY

A medium-height, leafy rape with good aphid tolerance, Greenland can be used for summer, autumn and winter feeding. It matures later than Winfred but has similar re-growth potential and much higher yield potential. In UK trials it out yielded Hobson by 0.9t/ha. Outstanding performance from spring sown Greenland for grazing in summer.

GORILLA A very high yielding variety suited to summer, autumn or winter grazing, Gorilla also has good re-growth potential. It is a medium height variety with a high leaf to stem ratio and excellent palatability. It has some alternaria tolerance and UK trials have also indicated good clubroot tolerance.

Also available: Hobson, Emerald.

SEED RATES SF Greenland

CONVENTIONAL & DIRECT DRILL: 2.5–5kg/ha (1–2kg/acre). 5kg & 25kg packs.

BROADCAST: 3.7–6.2kg/ha (1.5–2.5kg/acre). 5kg & 25kg packs.

MAINCROP TURNIPS 90-130 DAYS TO MATURITY Maincrop turnips have the advantage over swedes and kale of more vigorous establishment and faster maturity.

The turnip market is dominated by fast growing stubble turnips. Traditional turnips are slower to mature, but have a number of benefits over stubble turnips; they are higher yielding, have higher ME and better root anchorage. Some are not hardy and only suitable for feeding in late autumn/early winter, but the best, like Massif, were developed from Green-Top Scotch and are both high yielding and very hardy.

MASSIF

01954 712150 44

Massif

TOP VARIETY

GREEN GLOBE

Natural seed only.

Option for start-up NPK + bio stimulant.

Natural seed only.

Option for start-up NPK + bio stimulant.

Bred by SCRI in Scotland, Massif is the highest yielding variety combined with good hardiness.

It matures in 100–125 days.

Green Globe is a popular variety. It is faster maturing than Massif, but not as high yielding or as hardy.

SEED RATES

CONVENTIONAL & DIRECT DRILL: 1.25–3kg/ha (0.5–1.25kg/acre). 1kg & 5kg packs.

BROADCAST: 1.7–3kg/ha (0.7–1.25kg/acre). 1kg & 5kg packs.

The most widely grown of all the forage brassicas, yield potential is above 4t DM/ha or 3–4,000 lamb grazing days/ha, but only if they are given appropriate soil nutrition and planted early enough to reach full maturity.

Some varieties like Vollenda have bolting and disease resistance which allows them to be sown in late spring for summer grazing.

VOLLENDA (TETRAPLOID)

TOP VARIETY

The best all-round variety for summer, autumn or winter use, providing reliable high yields. A vigorous tetraploid with large, pink, tankard shaped roots and good tolerance to bolting, alternaria & clubroot.

Very good hardiness.

SAMSON

Vollenda

SKYFALL Fast growing with much higher leaf yield than other stubble turnips, but very little bulb development.

Suitable for summer–early winter use.

SEED RATES

Very high yielding variety with large pink ‘tankard’ roots. Good disease resistance.

For autumn/winter use.

CONVENTIONAL & DIRECT DRILL: 2.5–5kg/ha (1–2kg/acre). 5kg & 25kg packs.

BROADCAST: 3.7–6.2kg/ha (1.5–2.5kg/acre). 5kg & 25kg packs.

FODDER MUSTARD 50-70 DAYS TO GRAZING Mustard is not widely used as fodder, but can produce excellent autumn grazing for cattle, lambs and for flushing ewes. It is easy to grow and much faster to establish than rape or stubble turnips. From late August, it has the potential to produce more dry matter yield than rape or turnips and can be available for grazing within seven weeks of sowing. Graze before it is in full flower to optimise palatability and quality. Lamb growth rates can be above 300g/day. Mustard is not hardy, so should be grazed by the end of November.

PIRAT

Late flowering mustard

TOP VARIETY

One of the latest flowering varieties, Pirat heads 30 days later than most, so remains leafy for much longer.

SEED RATES CONVENTIONAL & DIRECT DRILL: 10–12.5kg/ha (4–5kg/acre). 25kg pack.

BROADCAST: 12–14kg/ha (4.5–5.5kg/acre). 25kg pack.

FODDER RADISH 60-90 DAYS TO GRAZING Widely used for autumn-winter cover crops, fodder radish is slightly slower to flower and hardier than mustard, so can potentially be grazed for longer, but ideally by the end of the year. As with mustard, for best results graze before well before flowering.

SMART RADISH

Smart Radish

Selected for its high biomass above ground, Smart Radish produces an impressive tap root with many strong side shoots.

SEED RATES CONVENTIONAL & DIRECT DRILL: 7.5kg/ha (3kg/acre). 25kg pack.

BROADCAST: 10kg/ha (4kg/acre). 25kg pack.

STUBBLE TURNIPS | FODDER MUSTARD | FODDER RADISH | WINTER TO SPRING CATCH CROPS

STUBBLE TURNIPS 60-90 DAYS TO GRAZING

WINTER TO SPRING CATCH CROPS* SOW LATE AUG/OCT, GRAZE NOV/APR PROTECTOR, POWERGREEN OR HUMBOLT Forage rye

• Hardier than any other cereal • Rarely stops growing in winter • Exceptional March grazing

Protector

• Holds soil nutrients and builds soil fibre • Extra silage.

SEED RATE 125-185kg/ha (50-75kg/acre).

25kg & 500kg packs. *See also Pro-Rich rye x hairy vetch mix (page 36)

FORAGE CROPS

From a September sowing the best forage ryes can produce 6t DM/ha by 1st May. By the end of March rye can produce 2t DM/ha more than Italian ryegrass. Early sown rye can also be grazed in the autumn-early winter period. Rye is exceptionally hardy and will grow through the winter producing the earliest spring grazing. It is normally strip grazed by cattle, or rotationally block grazed by sheep. Surplus growth can make good silage at the end of April.

45

FODDER CROP MIXTURES

FODDER CROP MIXTURES CLAMPSAVER II

Rape, ryegrass and berseem clover mixture 4.0

-

Berseem Clover

2.5

Greenland/Gorilla

Fodder Rape

17.5

Fox/Jaccar

Italian Ryegrass Diploid

24kg pack

Clampsaver II

Improved with berseem clover to broaden the nutritional profile and enhance fertility building, and now with more Italian ryegrass seed per kg. Sow from April to mid August. Clampsaver II is normally ready for grazing 60 days from emergence. Ideal for summer use or for extending autumn–winter grazing, block graze or strip graze with a back fence. The rape and clover will die out after 2nd or 3rd grazing, depending on how hard it is grazed. The Italian ryegrasses do not head in the sowing season and remain palatable and leafy through to the following spring. If kept beyond the following April Clampsaver II is better for cutting.

SUMMER GRAZER PLUS Rape, chicory and berseem clover mix 5.0

–

Berseem Clover

2.0

Puna II/Endure

Chicory Blend

2.0

Gorilla/Greenland

Fodder Rape

9kg pack

Summer Grazer Plus

Reliable summer grazing yield from spring planted fodder crops can be a challenge, especially in dry seasons. In New Zealand and South Eastern Australia there has been widespread experience of using re-growing summer fodder rapes, chicory and other annual species for summer grazing. Introduced in 2019 following the dry summer of 2018, Summer Grazer Plus has been further enhanced with aggressive Berseem Clover.

It is an ideal option for graziers needing a drought tolerant break crop.

WINTER KEEP 2.0

Redstart

Hybrid Brassica

1.25

Maris Kestrel

Kale

1.75

Massif/Green Globe

Turnip

5kg pack Designed for feeding ewes or lambs from October–February where land is available for sowing before the 20th July, Winter Keep combines one of the best quality kales available with hardy turnips and fast growing kale x rape hybrid. It is slower to establish and reach maturity than Brassica Express, but higher yielding, more frost tolerant and it has the potential to produce 30% more grazing days/ha.

Rape and stubble turnip mix 2.0

Gorilla/Greenland

Fodder Rape

0.1

Maris Kestrel

Kale

2.9

Vollenda

Stubble Turnip

5kg pack

01954 712150 46

BROADCAST: 22–27kg/ha (9–11kg/acre).

24kg pack.

SEED RATES DRILL: 3.6kg/ha (9kg/acre).

9kg pack.

BROADCAST: 4.5kg/ha (11kg/acre).

9kg pack.

DRILL: 2.5–5kg/ha (1-2kg/acre).

5kg pack.

BROADCAST: 3.7-6.2kg/ha (1.5-2.5kg/acre).

5kg pack.

Can be sown by organic growers with a derogation.

BRASSICA EXPRESS

Brassica Express

DRILL: 20–25kg/ha (8–10kg/acre).

24kg pack.

SEED RATES

Hardy kale and turnip mix

Winter Keep

SEED RATES

Sown from the end of March–August, Brassica Express is designed for feeding cattle or sheep from summer through to autumn and winter.

It is ready to graze 70–80 days from sowing. It combines fast and slow maturing varieties with bolting and disease resistance, hardiness, high yield and digestibility. The rapes provide high protein, palatable leaf and stems which hold quality over prolonged grazing periods. The turnips produce massive root yield and relatively higher energy levels.

SEED RATES DRILL: 2.5–5kg/ha (1-2kg/acre).

5kg pack.

BROADCAST: 3.7-6.2kg/ha (1.5-2.5kg/acre).

5kg pack.

‘forage crop mixtures encourage higher dry matter intakes and provide a more balanced diet, through increased diversity and variety’

FODDER BEET Fodder beet

48

Medium dry matter varieties

49

High dry matter varieties

49

Very high dry matter varieties (feed/energy beet)

49

How we test fodder beet varieties

50

FODDER BEET

FODDER BEET

FODDER BEET Potentially the highest yielding forage crop that can be grown in UK. Fodder beet has gone through a period of revival in recent seasons due to the development of cattle finishing systems encompassing the use of grazed low–medium dry matter fodder beet to achieve high daily liveweight gains (0.85–1kg+/head).

Another area of growth is the out-wintering of in-lamb ewes and fodder beet is also still being grown as a profitable cash crop in the arable rotation where there is good demand from livestock farms and anaerobic digesters. We are also seeing growth in the organic sector as a high energy feed for organic dairy herds.

We are able to advise on all aspects of fodder beet agronomy and nutrition.

‘ACTIVE BOOST’ PRIMED SEED TECHNOLOGY Five years data from ProCam trials near Hereford show the value of using Active Boost seed as opposed to standard seed. Over the four years, the variability of yield is reduced, stands are more uniformly achieved, beet size is more consistent, making overall management of the growing crop easier, either when grazed in-situ, or machine lifted and stored.

ProCam and KWS were early introducers of the technology to UK grown fodder beet. Results in our annual trials with Geronimo have been impressive, increasing root yield by up to 8t DM/ha from faster and more uniform germination and in-field establishment, leading to higher plant populations and earlier canopy closure and equating to increased yields. Varieties available with Active Boost seed technology are Lactimo and Geronimo. Geronimo is also available untreated for organic use.

• Faster and more uniform germination • Higher plant populations

From our trials, the average yield benefit of Active Boost vs standard seed was 2.3t DM/ha, which equates to over 14t/ha (>5.5t/acre) fresh root. Clearly the benefit is greater in challenging conditions and we saw an 8t DM/ha yield increase in 2022.

• Earlier canopy development and closure • Increased yield.

Tonnes dry matter/ha/year

If we put a value on the 14t at £35/t ex farm = +£490/ha output.

35

Fodder Beet Trials Geronimo Standard v Geronimo Active Boost

30

2020

2021

2022

2023

25 20 15 10 5 0

Lactimo Geronimo Standard

Geronimo

Summo

Gahan

Geronimo Active Boost

Standard

Active Boost

BEET SELECTOR — KEY VARIETIES 2026 LOW DRY MATTER

HIGH DRY MATTER

VERY HIGH DRY MATTER 21-24%

Root dry matter

11-13%

14-16%

17-20%

% Root above ground

60-55%

45-36%

35-26%

Key varieties

Lactimo

Geronimo

Brigadier

Other varieties

01954 712150 48

MEDIUM DRY MATTER

Dynamo

Use

Jamon Feldherr

Summo Blaze Kyros

Robbos

Bangor

Grazed/Whole

Enermax

Magnum

Grazed or Harvested

Feeding

25-15% Gahan Blizzard Barents

Fosyma

Brick

Harvested Grazed/Whole/Chopped

Chopped only

Fresh yield

Higher

Lower

Dry matter yield

Lower

Higher

Storing

Shorter

Longer

Dirt tare

Cleaner

Dirtier

LACTIMO

For all classes of livestock — grazing and lifting.

Active Boost seed is available.

Established, popular variety, Lactimo produces high fresh weight yields of medium dry matter yellow/orange, highly palatable roots. Lactimo possesses good seedling vigour and good foliar growth that holds well into winter. Combined with high % of root above ground, this makes it the variety of choice for in-situ grazing by sheep and young cattle. It is easily harvested by machine or many are now using beet buckets.

GERONIMO

High yields of root for lifting + massive tops - No.1 beet for cattle grazing.

Active Boost seed is available.

Geronimo produces circa. 12% higher dry matter yields than Lactimo. It has excellent seedling vigour and strong tops with good disease resistance to mildew and ramularia. Geronimo also benefits from good resistance to bolting & rhizomania. It is easily harvested by machine or many are now using beet buckets with Geronimo.

FODDER BEET HIGH DRY MATTER VARIETIES With lower fresh weight but higher dry matter yields than the medium dry matter beets, these varieties offer better storage characteristics. Deeper roots mean they are not quite as clean lifting, so may be better suited to lighter soils where dirt tare is less of a problem.

SUMMO

For high yield and excellent feed quality.

Summo produces very good yields of high dry matter, very uniform, red roots. It has strong foliar growth and is ideal for machine lifting. Summo also has very good storage characteristics.

FODDER BEET VERY HIGH DRY MATTER VARIETIES FEED/ENERGY BEET

The highest density of energy per tonne along with excellent storage characteristics and much lower haulage costs per tonne vs conventional beet. Combined with high sugar content that is relatively slow release, the inclusion of very high dry matter beet in rations increases animal intake and performance.

The 1st choice for dairy, beef and AD feedstock.

GAHAN

Possibly the highest yield of dry matter in UK.

Degas and Clemens from Strube are increasing yields, new material Hakimo, 2E976, 3E980 from KWS look promising, with Clemens Primed highest yielder in trials in 2024.

FODDER BEET

Initially developed for the AD market by Strube, Gahan is now also used as animal feed.

It combines very high yield with relatively clean lifting roots. DM yield in trials has been 5–6t/ha higher than Beretta, with 12% higher energy yields. Gahan has large tops, potentially protecting the crown when harvesting late. Bolting resistance is excellent. Ramularia and rust resistance are also very good. Gahan is also rhizomania tolerant.

MEDIUM DRY MATTER VARIETIES | HIGH DRY MATTER VARIETIES | VERY HIGH DRY MATTER VARIETIES

FODDER BEET MEDIUM DRY MATTER VARIETIES

49

HOW WE TEST FODDER BEET VARIETIES

HOW WE TEST FODDER BEET VARIETIES

To ensure confidence in the varieties we recommend, ProCam runs an ongoing on-farm evaluation programme for fodder beet. This work has been carried out for more than seven years, giving us a strong multi-season dataset to support reliable decision-making.

Each year, around 20 varieties are sown side-by-side using commercial farm practice and standard field inputs. The trial covers a full spectrum of beet types — from low dry matter options suited to grazing, to higher energy varieties for lifting, livestock feeding or anaerobic digestion.

Assessments begin at emergence, monitoring establishment and early vigour. At harvest, yield comparisons are based on lifted sections from each variety, with tops and roots weighed separately and results adjusted for dry matter content.

Additional observations include disease resilience and the proportion of root above or below ground — information that helps determine suitability for either grazing or lifting.

Running the trial on the same farm each season allows us to build consistent, comparable data across different weather patterns and growing conditions. New varieties are benchmarked annually against established standards, ensuring that only well-proven options are carried forward into our recommendations.

01954 712150 50

‘for further, more detailed information on trial results, contact your local ProCam agronomist or visit procam.co.uk’

MAIZE VARIETIES Maize — for silage, crimp & grain

52–53

Grain maize

54

Maize undersowing service

54

MAIZE VARIETIES

MAIZE — FOR SILAGE, CRIMP & GRAIN

MAIZE FOR SILAGE, CRIMP & GRAIN Over the last nineteen years we have developed a range of reliable, high performance maize varieties sourced from several key breeders. As well as analysing data from UK and European national list trials, we have our own replicated trials as well as strip trials on farms across the country, in both favourable and challenging sites, some with varieties tested under film with the Samco System.

Selection in challenging seasons is of value, allowing us to confirm the performance of key varieties and discard others. 2022 and, more recently, 2025 tested the drought tolerance of varieties, but a variety is only reliable if it performs in a cool wet season, like 2015 and 2024. Our priorities are stability of earliness and yield, plus high energy density along with absence of agronomic weaknesses.

The table below identifies which varieties are suited to each segment of the market.

KEY MAIZE VARIETIES VERY HIGH ENERGY FAO

MATURITY CLASS

PIT FILLERS

HIGH STARCH

HIGH FIBRE 'D'

GRAIN MAIZE

Jardinero

Duke Jardinero

Duke Jardinero

Duke

P7179 Sunset Prospect Rodriguez P7381 Marcopolo LG30-179 P7034

P7179 Sunset Prospect Rodriguez P7381 Marcopolo LG30-179 P7034

Prospect Rodriguez P7381 Marcopolo LG30-179 LG31.160

P7647 Agagold

Agagold

Agagold

12 Ultra-early (150–160)

11

UNDERLINED = COOL SEASON PERFORMERS BIOGAS MAIZE

UNDER FILM

Jardinero

Prospect P7236 P7034

10 9 Early (170–190)

8

P7326 DKC2742

7 Maincrop (200–230)

6

P7647 Aroldo

P7179 Sunset Prospect Rodriguez P7381 Marcopolo DKC2742

Isanto P7948

P7647 Agagold P7948

GROWER GUIDELINES & VARIETY PROFILES ProCam offer a comprehensive range of maize varieties, with grower guidelines, profiles and yield data. Contact your ProCam agronomist or visit procam.co.uk to access details.

Maize under film

MAIZE TRIAL DATA 2024 ProCam has been conducting NIAB protocol maize trials for many years at favourable and less favourable sites, along with a multitude of farm trials to determine variety stability, yield and growth characteristics so our agronomists can provide customers with data driven advice. 2024 was a memorable year for many reasons, as weather influenced growth, yield and maturity in maize varieties unlike years before, which made the results significant. Our aim is to select high yielding, clean ripening, high energy, quality varieties that deliver proven on farm performance across different seasons and geographies.. We also screen upcoming National List trial varieties to work with in future, Jardinero and Marcopolo being two examples of this process, with Sunset and Duke also joining our portfolio in 2025.

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Jardinero screening trial, Devon

Maize under film trial, Devon

Duke

Impressive performance in a very difficult year, it has performed extremely well across all areas. High starch and cell wall digestibility ensures excellent feed quality.

Jardinero

A great new extra early variety, incorporating higher dry matter, starch, grain, yields, with a more farmer friendly harvest window.

EARLY Prospect

Reliable, good early vigour, high yield and quality, earliness, disease resistance and standing power. A solid consistent performer.

Sunset

New early variety from Limagrain. With excellent feed value in the form of high starch yields and exceptional energy density — a top choice for forage maize.

Rodriguez

Our best-selling all-rounder variety. Big yields of very high quality silage. Totally stable and adaptable. Good lodging resistance.

LG30.179

Best vigour score. Excellent grain maize variety.

MarcoPolo

New very high yielding early variety from KWS. A stay green variety with rapid early vigour and excellent standing power, MarcoPolo is an agronomically sound choice for Forage, AD and Grain maize growers.

MAINCROP DKC2742

A new agronomically robust variety with excellent dry matter yields and very high energy yields.

Aroldo

A huge biomass variety, very tall, with large root ball making it a strong standing, clean ripening variety.

Agagold

Potentially the highest yielding variety in the portfolio. Agagold is a massive variety with potentially excellent digestibility. Ideally suited to the better growing areas.

UNDER FILM P7326

Very early variety. Robust and stable. Good lodging resistance.

P7034

Early variety with high yield of excellent quality.

Isanto

Thrives under the SAMCO film. Vigorous variety producing impressive, uniform crops.

MAIZE — FOR SILAGE, CRIMP & GRAIN

ULTRA EARLY

GRAIN A high yielding grain maize variety bred specifically for this purpose. Very good cob maturity and excellent standing, combined with high grain yields, makes this the ideal variety for grain maize growers.

LG31.160

Dry Matter Yield T/Ha v Dry Matter % Nantwich 2024 21

P7647

20

MarcoPolo

18

NL Material

17

P7364 P7655

NL Material DKC3218

16

NL Material

15

Agagold

P7381 NL Material

NL Material

LG30.179

Prospect

Jardinero

P7179

MAKAYLA

P7326 NL Material

14 13

LG Duke

Sunset

P7034

Increasing Yield

Dry Matter Yield T/Ha

19

Sergio 23

25

27

29

31

33

35

37

39

41

Dry Matter %

Increasing Earliness of Maturity

FURTHER MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ON TRIAL RESULTS: Contact your local ProCam agronomist or visit procam.co.uk

Cold temperature vigour is an important trait we look for in our varieties, here Rodriguez, in the middle, can be seen showing its excellent vigour compared to others next door which have gone purple due to a lack of phosphate uptake in cold soil. Seedbed preparation, crumb structure, air ratio, soil temperature and seed depth at planting are all vital to ensure quick germination and rapid growth from the start. Having the right nutrients freely available will give the plants the best possible start.

MAIZE VARIETIES

4 rows Rodriguez, showing its vigour compared to others at a less favourable site in West Devon

53

GRAIN MAIZE | MAIZE UNDERSOWING SERVICE

GRAIN MAIZE It is imperative, if growing maize for grain, that growers have a high capacity, continuous flow, type dryer.

Maize needs low heat and high airflow to dry down without caramelising the starch. Do not allow grain to sit in a heap waiting to dry for more than 48hrs, to avoid Aflatoxin (Aspergillus flavus) contamination taking hold, resulting in rejected grain. Fully sheaved varieties are less prone to contamination.

Growing maize for crimp, or CCM is easier, but preservation with a suitable additive is imperative to preserve quality and prevent degradation in the clamp. This works very well in high energy TMR feed systems and is far kinder on rumen health compared to barley or wheat which can be quite ‘hot’.

PROCAM HYBRIDS SUITED TO GRAIN PRODUCTION Very early: Prospect, Rodriguez, P7179

|

Early: LG30.179, LG31.160, Agagold, Marcoplo, P7948

£/HA (excluding rent)

MAIZE SILAGE

GRAIN MAIZE

CRIMP MAIZE

SPRING BARLEY

SPRING WHEAT

Total income

2669

2076

1730

1334

1359

Total variable costs

581

561

581

457

Total fixed costs

381

600

427

Net margin

1707

914

722

|

Late: P7381

GRAIN

CRIMPED MAIZE

GEM

MAIZE SILAGE

Yield t/ha

10.2

12.0

18.0

43.0

578

Dry matter t/ha

8.5

8.2

10.0

13.8

297

334

Dry matter

85%

67%

55%

32%

581

447

Starch

72%

65%

55%

28%

Crude protein

8.5%

8.5%

9.0%

9.0%

ME Mj/Kg DM

14.5

14.2

13.4

11.2

Calculations based on 2024 costings.

Combining maize in Cornwall

MAIZE UNDERSOWING SERVICE SPECIALIST DRILL & SEED Complying with environmental regulations discourages or prevents farmers leaving soil bare over winter.

Planning to establish a crop or cover after maize harvest is often not realistic because of autumn soil conditions and problems of late sowing. Erratic weather events compound this issue. Undersowing maize with grass, legumes and other species is a practical and cost-effective alternative to leaving maize stubbles bare over winter.

The technique effectively establishes grass without significant effect on the performance of the maize crop. It dramatically reduces risk of soil erosion and creates winter cover which can produce up to 4t DM/ha. This can be incorporated as green manure or used to provide useful early winter or spring grazing.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS? • Reduces soil erosion and defuse pollution

• Less compaction from harvest machinery

• Retains soil nutrients (+/- 40kg/ha N + K)

• Winter/spring grazing opportunity >1,500 Ewe grazing days/ha, or

• Builds fertility

A Maize Undersowing Service is offered in some parts of the country. Please enquire with your ProCam agronomist.

>300 heifer grazing days

• Builds organic matter

• Easier preparation of spring seedbeds

• Enhances soil structure — active root mass

• Simple all-inclusive service provided

• Compliance with Farming Rules for Water (England)

• Eligible for the Growing for the Environment scheme in Wales (Option 9).

• Eligible for CIPM3 SFI payment

01954 712150 54

Undersowing

Mid-season undersown

Post-winter undersown

Cutting in spring

WHOLECROP SILAGE Wholecrop silage

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WHOLECROP SILAGE

WHOLECROP SILAGE

WHOLECROP SILAGE Each year we are frequently asked, “Which is the best cereal species to use for wholecrop.”

ProCam have been involved with two sets of trials comparing varieties and species. From these trials we have access to a comprehensive amount of data to help identify which species is most appropriate to each situation along with which harvest management is most appropriate to different ruminant or anaerobic digester diets.

Yield and economics are defined by identifying the best species for optimum potential on each soil type, or at each point in a rotation. Quality is defined by the ratio of grain to straw and the digestibility of the straw. One of the best options is therefore, spring barley. Quality can be further improved by the addition of peas.

Contact us for our Wholecrop Growers’ Guidelines and the associated costs of production for each species or mixture.

WHOLECROP BPX

WHY PEAS?

Pea x barley wholecrop mixture 60%

Rose

Maple Peas

• Higher protein and ME than straight cereal wholecrop

40%

Westminster

Spring Barley

• Potential to add 70kg/ha of nitrogen for the following crop

250kg & 500kg packs

• Similar harvest date to spring barley

PLANTING DATE: Mid-March to mid-April. SOWING DEPTH: 3–4cm.

SEED RATE: 175kg/ha (70kg/acre).

ORGANIC SEED RATE: 190kg/ha (76kg/acre).

• 3–5 weeks earlier than lupins and more reliable

Increase seed rate if sowing after 15th April. Decrease seed rate by 30% if under-sowing.

• More vigorous than other peas — easier to establish!

• Short growing season of 12–15 weeks

• Less attractive to pigeons!

• Potential yield: 22–27t/ha (9–11t/acre) @ 35% DM

• Higher protein % than conventional peas

• Potential quality >12% protein and 10.9 ME • Low input • High degree of reliability • Potential for under-sowing • Can also be combined and dried or crimped In fertile soils, the vigour of standard Wholecrop BPX can shade out grass seedlings, especially slower growing, longer term species To optimise grass establishment decrease cover crop seed rate by 30% and sow the grass seed on the same day.

WHY MAPLE PEAS? • Tannin in seed protects it from pests and disease

WHY ROSE? • High grain yields for maple peas giving optimum nutrient densities • Proven in wholecrop trials • Tall, very stiff-stemmed, semi-leafless variety • Early ripening and highest protein of all PGRO listed peas • Small seeded variety for easier drilling and low seed rates • More compatible with barley than aggressive forage peas

WHY SPRING BARLEY? • Proven high wholecrop yield • Better ‘D’ value than wheat, triticale or oats • Earlier than the other spring cereals • Harvest date similar to peas

‘mixtures with other cereal & pulse species are also available’

WHY WESTMINSTER BARLEY? • Good grain yield for optimum energy density • Very competitive • Tall, soft, highly digestible straw • Excellent mildew and rhynchosporium resistance

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Wholecrop BPX

Wholecrop Trials

EXPERT ADVICE Sowing grass & clovers — getting the best results

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Soil structure & health

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Soil nutrition & pH

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Cultivation & seedbeds

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Broadcast vs drilled grass seed

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Overseeding & drilling

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Pest control

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Turbocharging soil biology & nitrogen use efficiency

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Weed control

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EXPERT ADVICE

The aim of this section of the Grass, Clover & Forage Crop Guide is to draw attention to the advantages of reseeding and to highlight best practice when reseeding to ensure optimum establishment, thereby protecting your investment in herbage seed, maximising the performance of the sward and reducing production costs.

BENEFITS OF RESEEDING Reseeding creates an opportunity to massively increase sward yield and quality leading to: • Increased stocking density • Reduced bought-in feed requirements • Extended production seasons • Added resilience and benefits from new species in the forage system.

The Economics of Reseeding on a Dairy Farm 12

6

10

5

8

4

6

3

4

2

2

1

0

2%

5%

10%

15%

Net Profit c/l

• Improved intakes and stock performance

Grass Utilisation Tonnes DM/ha

SOWING GRASS & CLOVERS — GETTING THE BEST RESULTS | SOIL STRUCTURE & HEALTH 01954 712150 58

SOWING GRASS & CLOVERS GETTING THE BEST RESULTS

0

Proportion of farm reseeded

The financial benefit of reseeding is significant, even when considering that costs can be £400 to £800/ha.

A young well-managed ley is capable of producing 13.5t DM/ha at an energy content of 12.0–12.5ME when compared with an average sward only producing 7t DM/ha, at 10.8ME this equates to a difference of 93,150 MJ/ha.

At 80% utilisation from grazing, that is 13,549l/ha of milk production gained, (at £0.40/l = £5420/ha). Irish research on dairy farms identified a clear positive relationship between the area of a farm reseeded each year and net on farm profit.

SOIL STRUCTURE & HEALTH Poorly structured soils that remain wet will have a reduced grazing season. An extra 30 days at grass can save £3,725/100 cows in housing costs alone. Any damage through poaching when wet can reduce grass production by at least 20% and increase weed species ingress.

Optimum field performance is highly dependent on adequate soil structure and nutrition for all the species being sown. Whatever the method of establishment, any compaction issues that limit root growth or drainage should be identified. This is best done by digging a spade depth hole of 30x30cm and carefully extracting the soil (and turf, if present). The soil should have a good crumb structure with vertical fissures and roots evident throughout the profile.

Well-structured soils contain aggregates that can be broken down easily with one hand and evidence of roots throughout the spade depth. Conversely, compacted soils have aggregates that are very cloddy and angular, these do not break up as easily and have tight horizontal layers.

There may also be areas of ferrous ions which look like rust. This marks where waterlogging and anaerobic conditions have occurred.

If compaction is at depth of greater than 10 cm then rooting and any cracks or natural fissures in the soil will be limited to that depth.

The depth that a limiting layer occurs at, is an indicator of its cause, but also defines the remedial work required. For compaction at less than 10cm a sward aerator may be appropriate, or it will be eliminated by ploughing. Deeper compaction requires a grassland subsoiler, set 4cm below the problem layer, but only when soil at that depth is dry enough to heave and crack. Heavier ‘plastic’ soils, like clays may require moledraining to improve and maintain drainage.

For optimum establishment it is recommended that a soil should be at pH 6.5 when reseeding grass and clover on mineral soils. For organic, peaty soils the ideal pH is lower at 5.5–5.7. Knowing your soil type is paramount. These pH targets will ensure nutrient availability from the soil and optimum efficiency of all applied nutrients, mineral fertiliser or organic manures. Maintaining an appropriate pH also supports good soil biology whilst promoting good soil structure, especially on heavier clay soils. It also benefits the environment by reducing potential leaching of macro and minor nutrients into waterways.

Nitrogen is vital for plant growth but is not required in significant amounts during establishment. For spring sowings, the requirement is 60kg N/ha. However, applied nitrogen is not essential for late summer/ autumn reseeding, due to soil mineralisation of nitrogen throughout the year, though some can be beneficial if establishment may be challenged by seedbed conditions or if direct drilling into a desiccated sward where nitrogen will be used by soil biology to breakdown the previous turf/crop residues. Do not apply nitrogen where it will stimulate weed growth (eg. in weedy stubbles) or seedling competition (eg. where direct drilling into an existing sward).

Be aware of NVZ regulations and closed periods if sowing later in the season.

Undertake soil analysis well in advance of reseeding, at least six months and preferably twelve months beforehand. If pH needs addressing, consider your liming product options carefully. Neutralising value and fineness/particle size of lime define its effectiveness and overall return on investment as a soil pH amendment.

Phosphate (P) and Potash (K) indexes should be maintained at P2 and K2-. Available forms of both nutrients are essential, when reseeding, to promote cell division and vigorous development of shoots and roots.

Reseeding is a good opportunity to utilise organic manures as nutrient sources, whilst having the added benefit of adding organic matter into the soil. Tables 1 and 2 give the nutrient (NPK) recommendations for grass and clover reseeds (extracted from RB209). Remember to deduct any nutrient applied as organic manures from the total requirement.

TABLE 1

TABLE 2

Grass establishment nitrogen requirements (RB209)

Grass establishment P and K requirements (RB209)

Soil Nitrogen Supply (SNS) Low

Moderate

Soil Index High

0

1

Kg N/ha Spring sown (April-June) Summer/autumn sown (July–mid October) Grass & clover

60

60

2

3

4+

Kg N/ha 60

30–50

0–30

0

0

0

0

P

120

80

50

30

0

K

120

80

60 (2-) 40 (2+)

0

0

SOIL NUTRITION & PH | CULTIVATION & SEEDBEDS

SOIL NUTRITION & PH

We have a team of FACTS qualified advisors and agronomists who can advise on liming product suitability.

CULTIVATION & SEEDBEDS There are many methods of sowing grass and clover, but to achieve optimum seedling vigour, the key objective must always be to sow every seed at the correct depth, to ensure even seedling emergence.

Each seed must have good contact from soil consolidated around it and there needs to be adequate levels of moisture and nutrients in addition to freedom from pests.

SEEDBED The perfect seedbed is level, uniform, fine, firm and well consolidated, ensuring a good seed to soil contact and moisture retention. Direct drilling may be an option and can be very successful, but cultivation methods will ultimately be defined by soil type. We have Reseeding Without Ploughing Guidelines available on request.

Sowing depth is critical and should be no deeper than 5–20mm, with small seed species, like clovers ideally placed shallower. Pre-sowing cultivations must be appropriate to achieve this. Cultivations are often deeper than necessary meaning that once sown and rolled, the seed is buried too deep and emergence is reduced. Deeply worked soils are also difficult to fully consolidate post-sowing. The seedbed should be firm before sowing and then rolled after sowing, ideally with a Cambridge roll which will give a better structure to the surface. Any variation between headland area and in-field, or ability to easily identify

tractor tyre tread marks points to lack of consolidation. Remember the 3 “Rs”: Required seedbed depth, roll and roll.

In recent years there has been an increase in the use of one-pass cultivation and sowing machines. These cultivate, then broadcast the seed and follow with a roller to consolidate. Their use must be considered carefully and is very dependent on soil type. They are great machines for stonier, shallower ground, but best results are often achieved if cultivation and sowing are separate operations.

An appropriate and uniform sowing depth is most easily achieved with a well-designed, narrow row drill operating on a well consolidated level seedbed.

EXPERT ADVICE

A poor quality seedbed

An ideal seedbed

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BROADCAST VERSUS DRILLED GRASS SEED | OVERSEEDING & DRILLING

BROADCAST VS DRILLED GRASS SEED There are many methods of sowing grass seeds and clover, but to achieve optimum establishment, anything that diminishes seedling vigour should be avoided.

Sowing depth in particular is vitally important, especially in cover crop and small seeded stewardship/SFI mixtures, where there are numerous small seeded species. In short rotation mixtures with Italian and Westerwold species, drilling is a useful way to establish, however in long term mixtures — four plus years in duration — with a mixture of ploidy, broadcasting gives thicker, more even establishment with better weed suppression. When drilling, a better ground cover will be achieved by drilling at half rate then drilling again at 90 degrees.

Sowing depth as illustrated below has a dramatic impact on seedling vigour, emergence and sward establishment. The difference in dry matter yield between the left, middle and right plot was 30% less in the middle and 60% less in the right hand plot in year 1, worsening further in year 2. The right start is critical to a long term mixture’s potential.

OVERSEEDING & DRILLING Pressure on keeping fields in production and the cost of traditional re-seeding techniques has inspired the development of machines designed to renovate and revitalise pasture. Success is not guaranteed and careful planning is required.

Effective renovation needs to be done with care and attention to detail.

Many of our grass mixtures are suitable for renovation, mix choices being dependent on soil type, area and planned use.

Certain mixtures are more appropriate than others. Hybrid 3x3 (page 11) and Grassmaster HS (page 12), are ideal, due to their vigour and flexibility of management. If the objective is to introduce clover and thicken up the grass in the sward, then Clover Overseeding and Clover Boost mixtures (page 18) are recommended.

Farmers are also becoming aware of the extra drought tolerance, yield and nutritional benefits of herbs in the sward. Page 25 details our Herbal Wellbeing and Herbal Uplift mixtures, plus other mixtures

01954 712150 60

which could be used for introducing herbs, grass and clovers into a pasture. In our experience seed-box/rake combinations are not as effective as direct drilling or slot seeding, unless a very good tilth is created and the sward is relatively open. Swards need to be cut or grazed as short as possible before seeding and grazed immediately afterwards until the new seedlings are showing through. In all cases, good seed to soil contact is essential to maximise germination.

For a full blueprint on renovation ask for our Pasture Renovation or Reseeding Without Ploughing Guidelines.

Certain pests can cause severe damage to establishing leys. Currently the only options to control them are cultural techniques including cultivations, avoiding high risk periods, disrupting pest lifecycles through rotation and growing break crops. Pest mobility can be reduced and seedling vigour enhanced by creating a fine, firm seedbed that’s well consolidated after sowing.

When renovating pastures, seedlings are more vulnerable to grassland pests because you are introducing seeds into a potentially ‘infested’ soil. There are a limited number of pesticides available to control either the weeds or pests associated with grass to grass reseeding, so it is important to plan for success. For more information on strategies for reducing them please contact your local ProCam agronomist.

FRIT FLIES Frit flies can be a problem throughout the growing season, but the population is at its highest with the third generation, from July– October. Adults lay their eggs on grass plants and larvae, once hatched, migrate down and feed on the central shoot, causing deadheart symptoms, they move from plant to plant. Italian ryegrass is more susceptible to attack than perennial ryegrass, some grasses and clovers are not affected. Late direct drilled reseeds are at the highest risk.

• Lower risk with spring reseeds.

• Break the lifecycle by destroying old sward at least six weeks before reseeding.

• Break the lifecycle by planting a summer brassica break crop.

LEATHERJACKETS Leatherjackets are the larvae of the crane fly (daddy long legs).

They feed on roots and shoots of plants on or just below the soil surface. Eggs are laid during July–October in grass and cereal fields. As weak fliers, adult crane flies are most likely to lay eggs in the same field that they emerge from, leading to population growth and the higher associated risk with grassland and direct reseeding in these fields. A high population of leatherjackets feeding on newly emerged seedlings can lead to total failure or, at best, a reduced establishment of sown species. This can lead to significant loss in production, quality and rapid sward deterioration. Peak damage to swards is during March–May when the larvae reach maturity. Feeding stops when they pupate in the soil during late May–July.

SLUGS

• Break the lifecycle by planting a summer break crop which does not attract the egg laying adult. Brassica catch crops are ideal.

‘use pesticides responsibly & consult our BASIS registered agronomists for advice’

• Ploughing in July and leaving at least two weeks before seeding can reduce the risk by 50% by allowing birds to feed on the larvae.

• When leatherjackets have stopped feeding, sward rejuvenation could be undertaken if other conditions are favourable.

• Crane flies prefer to lay eggs into long swards. Tightly grazed swards are less attractive, so hard grazing through the egg laying phase can be effective.

Leatherjackets

In some conditions and scenarios, slug attack can be devastating to all species in newly sown grass leys. Direct drilled crops can be at higher risk, especially if there is a lot of previous crop/ley residues on the surface, as in wet land and poor, unconsolidated seedbeds.

• Plough to minimise surface trash.

• A fine, firm, well consolidated seedbed reduces slug mobility and enhances seedling vigour.

• Slug pellets can be applied as an effective control. Use ferric phosphate pellets as part of integrated pest management.

Frit fly

Slug

TURBOCHARGING SOIL BIOLOGY & NITROGEN USE EFFICIENCY Volatile nitrogen prices are driving a growing interest in efficient use of all applied nitrogen. There are a wide range of products on the market that enhance nutrient use efficiency (NUE), or provide alternative sources of nitrogen to improve uptake and reduce requirements for, and reliance on, applied nitrogen. We are testing these products in a wide range of scenarios, from the EIP Wales project, to our own in-house ProCam trials across the country. The results are very encouraging in being able to reduce applied N, without incurring a yield penalty.

BIO-ROOT

PEST CONTROL | TURBOCHARGING SOIL BIOLOGY & NITROGEN USE EFFICIENCY

PEST CONTROL

Soils with healthy biological activity can support a vast range of fungi and bacteria, thereby providing a synergistic relationship with the field species. Low organic matter soils have been shown to release more nitrous oxide (Rothamstead 2022), hold less moisture and are far less resilient. Trials where mychorrhizae and rhizobateria were applied at sowing showed a significant response, as seen below in data from Harper Adams university low organic matter trial.

CLOVER RHIZOBIUM BOOST

Mycorrhizae & rhizobacteria granules

Rhizobium inoculant

All legumes rely on specific strains of rhizobium bacteria to fix nitrogen to boost establishment and optimise performance. The rhizobium associated with white and red clover is naturally occurring in most healthy soils, but soils with poor biological activity can benefit from inoculation with appropriate bacteria.

Available blended into seed mixtures at 2kg/ha or 20kg packs.

Available in packs to treat 25kg clover seed.

Effect of bio-root on mixture yield in sowing year.

Effect of rhizobium boost on mixture yield in sowing year.

Yield t DM/ha

Benefit

Preference +Bio-Root granules

4.96t/ha

+0.75t/ha

Preference Control

4.21t/ha

Two year yield t DM/ha

Benefit

Grassmaster HS + Rhizobium inoculant

30t/ha

+2.4t/ha

Grassmaster HS Control

27.6t/ha

EXPERT ADVICE

Reintroducing Mycorrhizae & Rhizobacteria to soils is widely adopted in horticulture, but only recently considered in agriculture. Using grass and clover mixtures is recognised as a way of improving organic matter, soil biology and fertility. It is also an opportunity to turbocharge the biology, to the long term benefit of the rotation.

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WEED CONTROL

WEED CONTROL Reducing weed competition is critical to optimising grass and clover seedling performance. This involves the control of problem perennial weeds prior to reseeding, minimising weed seedling development through optimising establishment of the sown species then, where necessary, controlling established seedlings of problem weeds as early as possible in the establishment phase.

WEED CONTROL, A PROGRAMMED APPROACH

WEED CONTROL WITH CLOVER

A programmed approach is the most effective solution to controlling troublesome perennial grassland weeds (e.g. docks, creeping thistle, nettles, buttercups), and annuals such as chickweed which can be problematic in autumn reseeds on high fertility sites.

Some herbicide manufacturers recommend that you should not include clover in mixtures because it limits weed control options. Instead, they recommend that clover should be introduced once the sward is established. This strategy is sometimes necessary, however later introduction of clover can be a challenge. Clover-safe herbicides are now available and generally effective on weeds at the seedling stage.

With some products the clover may suffer a transient check. Consult a ProCam BASIS agronomist with grassland experience for up to date advice on weed control options in leys containing clovers.

1. Routinely controlling weeds in established swards.

By implementing a grassland weed control strategy you will minimise weed populations on farm. Using the appropriate product, at the correct rate and timing, in good growing conditions will achieve the best results.

2. Pre-cultivation/drilling herbicide to kill-off the old sward and any weeds present.

Start clean, by controlling key weeds in the previous crop or sward.

Glyphosate ensures minimal carryover, be it broadleaved or grass weeds. The key to success is to ensure adequate growth of the target species before application with the correct rate of herbicide, and allowing enough time for the active ingredient to translocate to the roots. Leave for a period of 7–10 days (minimum 5 days) before applying FYM/Slurry or cultivating, or in some instances grazing/ mowing the previous sward.

Weed free reseed

WEED CONTROL WITH HERBS

Chickweed

Many of our main grass mixtures are available with the addition of plantain and chicory. There are no herbicide options that are safe to use as an overall spray. Light populations of annual weeds such as redshank, fat hen or charlock can be controlled through well managed grazing/topping or flailing. If weeds are a known issue, sowing at a higher seed rate is an effective and cost effective way to reduce weed issues. For perennial weeds, the use of a weed-wiper and glyphosate has shown some success.

Glyphosate is less effective on some weed species. A co-formulation with 2,4-D is available for enhanced control of thistles, docks, buttercups and nettles, but there are restrictions dependant on reseeding method and clover use. Discuss with a ProCam BASIS agronomist with grassland experience.

3. Early selective post-emergence herbicide It is easier to control weeds at an early stage of growth, so checking establishing swards is a high priority. The effectiveness and timing of each herbicide is defined by the growth stage of both the sown species and the weed seedling. Early well-timed application when weeds are at the seedling stage (2–4 leaf) will achieve very good results ensuring minimal competition, this maximises establishment of sown species. Grazing is a key management tool to promote tillering of a newly established ley, but there is a defined period after application for each herbicide before a sward can be grazed. Product choice needs to be tailored to individual fields and weed species/pressure along with species present in sown sward.

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‘consult your local ProCam agronomist for more advice on weed control’

All transactions are subject to ProCam’s Trading Terms & Conditions. These are available at: procam.co.uk/terms-conditions Any information provided in our PERFORMANCE SEEDS GUIDE is given in good faith and to the best of our existing knowledge. Any advice should therefore be taken as a general guide only and not relied upon for all growing conditions and circumstances. Individual requirements for your farm should be discussed with your agronomist. We cannot accept any legal liability for information given in this guide. In any instance where there are shortages of specified species/varieties we reserve the right to substitute equivalent or better species/varieties without prior notice.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

TERMS & CONDITIONS

Systemic Nitrogen Fixation

Maize That Delivers More

5% Higher Dry Matter and Energy Yield Per Hectare* EASY TO USE FOLIAR APPLIED

NITROGEN FIXED DIRECTLY FROM THE AIR

SUSTAINABLE N SOURCE

Encera™ is a breakthrough foliar biological that helps maize capture more nitrogen, more efficiently, all season long. By fixing atmospheric nitrogen inside the plant, it supports stronger growth, resilience and yield potential.

Key Benefits for Maize Internal nitrogen fixation Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus colonises maize cells and fixes atmospheric N exactly where the crop needs it.

More efficient nutrient use Supplements applied fertiliser, reduces losses and supports consistent nutrition through the season.

Improved crop vigour Better early growth, stronger biomass development and enhanced stress tolerance.

Seamless fit on farm Easy foliar application; works alongside standard fertiliser and agronomy programmes.

The Result : An average 5% uplift in DM and ME yield per hectare

Encera™ is available exclusively through ProCam Contact your local ProCam agronomist for information *Results based on average performance across trial sites

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PROCAM UK, 2030 CAMBOURNE BUSINESS PARK, CAMBRIDGE CB23 6DW 01954 712150 | PROCAM.CO.UK

1. Robertson Crop Services – Kildary 01862 842552 2. Robertson Crop Services – Cuminestown 01888 544666

1

3. Fieldcare North – Thirsk 01845 537555

2

4. BCS – Garton 01377 240118 5. County Crops – Burscough 01704 895001 6. Fieldcare South – Gamston 01777 839000 7. Fieldcare South – Scothern 01673 866118 8. ProCam UK – Cambourne 01954 712150 9. Field Options – Cambourne 01954 712150 10. ProChem – Leominster 01568 615686

3

11. ProCam – Bassingbourn 01763 245223

4 5

12. Croesgoch Farm Stores – Haverfordwest 01348 831777

6

7

13. ProCam – Little Bentley 01206 231999 14. Chemega – Swindon 01672 539591 15. ProCam South West – Cullompton 01884 34275

8 9

10 12

11

13

14

16. Rutherfords – Ashford 01233 820693

16

17. Rutherfords – Alton 01420 544227

17

15

18. Rutherfords – Lewes 01273 478860

18

19

19. Rutherfords – Isle of Wight 01983 522938

Information in this brochure is correct at time of printing. Mixtures may change.

Please check with your ProCam agronomist for up-to-date advice before ordering.

Your local contact is:

Version: 2026/01