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Grass &Forage Manager Grass & Forage Manager A British Grassland Society Publication | Issue 144 | Spring 2021 | £3.00 In this issue: Talking to Sarah Byford Soils update Managing upland grasslands Sussex Grassland Societies BGS Research Conference The benefits of virtual fencing BGS gfm144.indd 1 26/01/2021 13:35 Editorial BGS News Drew McConnell Welcome to the first edition of Grass & BGS President Forage Manager of 2021. BGS is continuing to adapt to the various restrictions in place due Firstly can I wish all our members a happy, to Covid-19 and is planning to move activity prosperous and healthy New Year. It is great online for at least the first half of this year. to see the back of 2020, but it is looking like 2021 will bring its own challenges for Presidential team farming and society alike. Following the significant disruption to BGS The turn of the year brought the realities activities and events since last March, the BGS of Brexit. Whilst it was great to see a trade Council unanimously agreed at the November deal being agreed before the deadline, the 2020 meeting that the current Presidential devil is in the detail. There is still much Team of Drew McConnell (President), to be worked out to allow our agri-food Richard Simpson (Immediate Past President) industries to operate successfully going and Elizabeth Stockdale (President Elect), forward. should be nominated to continue for a second This detail will be particularly important term from July 2021. The nominations by the for us here in Northern Ireland. In truth BGS Council will be proposed at the 2021 AGM. there is much head-scratching going on, as Summer Meeting our producers and processors get to grips With the continued uncertainty around with the new arrangement. possible travel restrictions the decision has We have remained in the EU Single also been taken by the Summer Meeting Market for goods, which helps facilitate Committee to postpone the tour of Northern movement of our produce across the Irish Ireland until the summer of 2022. border, but our country-of-origin status is UK. An alternative virtual event will be held This will affect how our produce is viewed on the evenings of the 29 and 30 June 2021. in the global marketplace. Furthermore, This will include virtual farm tours with a Q&A certain products are requiring additional discussion with each of the host farmers. testing and veterinary certificates, which Details of the 2021 virtual tour visits will all come at a cost. This inevitably will put be placed on the BGS website as they are pressure on farm gate prices. confirmed. Next month sees the return of the BGS The 2021 BGS AGM will also be carried out Research Conference, this year focussing online. This will be held as a separate session on the potential role of multi-species Top: The Summer Meeting in Northern Ireland will now to the evening virtual farm tours, on the swards in UK grasslands. The conference take place in 2022. morning of 29 June 2021. Above: Multi-species leys under the spotlght in the will provide an opportunity to learn more virtual Research Conference in March. about the management of these swards Research conference and the role they may play in providing key Plans are now progressing well for the 13th BASIS/Dairy Pro CPD Points: ecosystem services. I hope many of you will BGS Research Conference, investigating the To claim 2 BASIS points for reading Grass & Forage Manager, email [email protected] or telephone join us on 2 March. pros and cons of growing and feeding multi- On our own farm, cows are milking well 01335 343945, quoting CP/100771/2021/g species leys, and will take place between the To claim 2 Dairy Pro points for reading Grass & Forage on first cut silage which was harvested 2 and 4 March online. Further details of the Manager, email [email protected] or telephone 024 7647 868, quoting GM/2501/01/21a mid-May in good conditions. A weather conference can be found on page 15. BGS is delay meant second cut silage is of poorer Published by: British Grassland Society, extremely grateful to the Stapledon Memorial Reaseheath, Nantwich, Cheshire CW5 6DF quality and this is being fed to youngstock Trust for the support given to enable this Telephone: 01270 616464 and beef animals. Email: [email protected] event to take place. Registered Charity No. 261800. As with the turn of each year, we look For details of membership please contact the office or how to progress the farm business and we Grassland Farmer of the Year see www.britishgrassland.com are actively searching to bring someone The BGS Grassland Farmer of the Year Copyright: British Grassland Society. No part of this publication can be reproduced without permission. new into the business, either through competition sponsored by Germinal, Nufarm Edited by: Sara Gregson. [email protected] a milking contract or share farming and Yara will run this year. Details are Advertising: Contact the BGS office at arrangement. I am hoping this provides a being finalised on a protocol to enable the [email protected] or tel: 01270 616464 Printed by: Lion FPG Ltd, Wolverhampton, West Midlands pathway for an enthusiastic young person competition to take place in a safe manner. Mailing by: Mail International, Burgess Hill, West Sussex to enter our industry because, despite the The details of the judging process will be Please note: The opinions expressed in this publication current challenges, it is a very rewarding communicated as soon as they are confirmed. are those of the authors or contributors and are profession, which has given me a lot of We are delighted that Hugh McClymont, Farm not necessarily endorsed by the editor or BGS. No responsibility is accepted for statements in articles or satisfaction over the years. Manager at SRUC’s Crichton Royal Farm will be advertisements, or actions taken by readers as a result. Head Judge this year. Front cover photo credit: David Stewart, Argyll 2 | Grass & Forage Manager | Spring 2021 gfm144.indd 2 26/01/2021 13:35 BGS News gfm144.indd 3 26/01/2021 13:35 Talking to… Sarah Byford In the third of our ‘Talking to’ series, Grass and Forage Manager editor Sara Gregson talks to influential BGS member Sarah Byford. Sarah received an MBE for her voluntary services to grassland societies and rural communities in June 2016. Q: What is your involvement with grassland and ruminant livestock? My involvement has been lifelong, initially on my family dairy farm and subsequently at the two Colleges I attended. I studied dairy farming at Sparsholt College and worked with the College’s two dairy herds, and at Usk College where I studied and ended up teaching animal husbandry for more than 30 years. I was involved with the management Sarah Byford at the BGS Summer Meeting based in Edinburgh in 2009. of the College farm, primarily the dairy herd, but also the beef cattle and sheep flock, and of the Organising Committee to take on the soil and nutrient management, retaining consequently the grassland, which made such role of Secretary again. The meeting was very existing environmentally-friendly features, a vital contribution to the production from all successful, and the pleasure of showing off while exploiting new environmental schemes three enterprises. the very best farms in South Wales was both will be there for the taking. Through my work as Secretary of enjoyable and rewarding. Monmouthshire Grassland Society for almost In 2008 I was privileged and extremely Q: What would you encourage 50 years, I have been exposed first hand humbled to be elected President of the grassland managers to do today to to the excellent management of the very British Grassland Society – the first female make the world a better place? best grassland farmers in the county. My in the post. I thoroughly enjoyed my time on involvement with the Federation of Welsh Council and was fortunate to be involved with Grassland Societies has extended this the various initiatives developed by BGS, in I would encourage grassland managers to experience across the whole of Wales, visiting particular the grazing mentor scheme inspired recognise and act upon the reality and threats the very best grassland farmers, and listening by Sara Gregson. to the environment posed by climate change, to and learning from high profile speakers at During my time as a BGS member I have together with over-intensification, resulting grassland meetings and conferences. enjoyed and benefited from over 30 Summer in pollution of land, waterways and the Meetings, as well as a number of Winter atmosphere. They each have responsibility Meetings and Spring Farm Walks too. Once to farm in a way which will regenerate rather Q: Tell me about your association with the current Covid restrictions are lifted I than degenerate our planet. BGS. What have you derived most from look forward to resuming the comradeship, being a member? knowledge and sharing of experiences that Q: Who would you most like to chat to membership of BGS brings. over dinner (dead or alive)? My association began in 1983, when I attended my very first BGS Summer Meeting, hosted Q: What do you think the most exciting by Devon and Cornwall Grassland Societies. Princess Anne, reputedly the hardest working opportunities are for grassland The following year BGS came to South East Royal with a love of the countryside. I managers today? Wales, the Summer Meeting hosted by Brecon, admire her commitment and common-sense Glamorgan and Monmouthshire Grassland approach to all aspects of her challenging Societies, for which I was the Organising There has never been a greater need for lifestyle.
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