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With the grazing season getting underway across the country, Dr David Johnston, Ruminant Nutritionist with Fane Valley Feeds, explains how Fane Valley Feeds’ Top Graze Dairy Nuts are formulated to complement grass and maximise cow performance this spring. David remarked, “Spring grass has a dry matter content between 15 to 20 percent, so cows often…

The Young Farmers’ Clubs of Ulster are delighted to announce Fane Valley as the new sponsor of the Beef and Sheep Stock Judging competitions for 2021. Fane Valley Co-operative Society is a progressive agricultural and food processing business with locations across Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, England and Belgium. The sponsorship between Fane Valley and…

Grassland weeds need to be controlled to ensure the long term productivity of grasslands. Weeds compete with grass for space, light, nutrients and water, limiting the yield in the field. Weeds also have a lower feed value and reduce livestock performance, some weeds are toxic to livestock and can cause health problems and even death….

Last Spring saw a lot of reseeding carried out on farms across the country, with some farmers carrying out a traditional direct reseed and other’s opting for an under-sown Whole-crop, using cereal as the cover crop. Regardless of the method of reseeding, the benefit in terms of response to fertiliser and increased production from the…

The unpredictability and extremities of the UK climate, and challenging soil conditions, are being addressed with a new range of natural, biological crop stimulants from British biotechnology company AminoA Ltd. AminoA contains natural bio-stimulants including essential amino-acids, which are critical for plant growth. Plants normally synthesise amino-acids throughout their growth cycle using them to make proteins,…

Wholecrop produced from cereals are an excellent alternative forage which have excellent nutritional benefits for livestock or anaerobic digestion plants, while also being cost effective to grow. Fane Valley Agronomy and Forage carry a wide range of crops through the Morton’s brand which are suitable for wholecrop silage. Cereal species and variety can have an…

With chemical fertilisers dramatic price increase since last season it is vital to have soil pH at the correct level to ensure every granule and every pound is being used effectively. Soil pH greatly effects the availability of nutrients, at pH 5.5 only 77% of nitrogen, 48% of phosphorus and 77% of potassium will be…

With turnout fast approaching on many farms, it is important to manage store cattle pre-turnout to maximise compensatory growth and to avoid any stalling when animals hit grass.Improving grassland management for beef cattle can significantly increase farm profitability, especially at a time when purchased feed costs are high. Utilising compensatory growth allows costs to be…

Sam Johnston from Fintona runs an 85 Danish Jersey cow herd with a year-round calving system with a herd average of 7600kgs of milk @6.08% BF & 4.25% PR, he explains, “it is vital that my calves get off to a good start in life.” Sam takes great prides in ensuring calf health is a…