{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"The Beef Edge","title":"John Maher’s grass management tips at this critical time","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":1297,"description":"Grass10 Manager, John Maher, is on this week’s Beef Edge to discuss grass management on the farm at this critical stage of the year. \n \nJohn gives an update on farms at the moment with some farms having had the best spring in years while other farms are looking for rain. Rain was very localised earlier this week and with not much rain forecast, it will be challenging on some farms.\n \nJohn says that balancing quality is key at the moment to ensure good animal performance and avoid stem in the sward building up for the season ahead.\n \nRemoving surpluses will be important to ensure quality while making top quality silage for next winter. Some farmers depending on stocking rate and allowances may be tempted to stop applying N and John discusses various options with utilising slurry and including sulphur in fertiliser is essential.\n \nThe length of time stock spend in a paddock this time of year can also have a big impact on grass growth and quality. The target to maintain is three days per paddock.\n \nFirst cut silage will be harvested on farms in the coming weeks and John outlines the nutrient requirements for second cut on farms where needed.\n \nFor more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:\nhttps://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge\n \nProduced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com ","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/sOijP5GJfyC4Db55cdiuLC4kRsO9WtUllrT_cRU3JSQ/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9zaG93/LzEwOTA0LzE1OTAw/NzI0MzAtYXJ0d29y/ay5qcGc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}