Dear Member,

I hope you are all well and have managed to make the most of the recent weather windows for silaging and haymaking.

The Met Office has reported that this year has already seen more days above 30°C than the whole of 1976, which many will remember as the drought of all droughts. It has also become the first year on record to reach 35°C in May, June and July, so it is no surprise that many of us are now hoping for some much needed rain.

In this mailing, we are focusing on two areas that can have a significant impact on milk from forage, feed costs and overall farm profitability: understanding exactly what is in your silage and ensuring your grassland is performing to its full potential.

In your Mailing,

Reseeding & Oversowing Strategies Dairy Insight

Many farms invest considerable time and money producing quality forage, but without regular analysis it is difficult to know exactly what is being fed.

Our latest Analysing Your Grass Silage Dairy Insight explains why routine testing remains one of the most valuable management tools available. Silage can vary considerably throughout the feeding period, even within the same clamp, and regular analysis helps ensure diets are accurately balanced, reducing the risk of both underfeeding and expensive overfeeding.

The publication also introduces the NutriOpt rationing system, now widely adopted by nutritionists across the industry. Alongside practical sampling guidance, it explains how to interpret key silage parameters and use the information to improve both feeding decisions and future silage making practices.

One figure that stands out is the potential return on investment from regular testing, with even modest improvements in ration accuracy delivering substantial savings and performance benefits.

Analysing your Grass Silage Dairy Insight

Grass remains one of the cheapest and most valuable feeds on dairy farms, yet many grassland decisions are still based on the age of a ley rather than its actual performance.

In our new Reseeding and Oversowing Strategies Dairy Insight, we explore how to assess whether paddocks are truly delivering, when a full reseed is justified, and where a lower cost oversowing approach may offer the best return.

The publication highlights the importance of starting with soil health before investing in any grassland renovation work. From correcting pH and nutrient imbalances to addressing compaction and drainage issues, the message is clear: the best seed in the world cannot overcome poor soil conditions.

You will also find practical advice on establishment timing, clover inclusion, and how minimum tillage and direct drilling techniques can fit into modern, productive grassland systems.

As always, our aim is to provide practical, independent information that helps members make informed decisions on farm.

I hope you find both publications useful. If either topic raises questions or you would like to discuss the findings further, please don't hesitate to get in touch with the Kingshay team.

All the best,

We are keen to hear from as many farmers as possible about the cow brushes you are using; what works well and what does not work quite so well. The results will be published to help farmers make informed decisions when investing in cow equipment, so your input is extremely valuable.

To help reduce paper use, we won’t be sending out printed copies of this survey as standard. However, if you would prefer us to send you a paper version, please contact the office and we will be happy to arrange one for you.

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Contact us with any technical queries on contact.us@kingshay.co.uk or call 01458  851555