How's everyone's grass doing?

SEL

SEL

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I keep seeing posts on the Land Management FB page with people harrowing & muck spreading. My winter field is dry enough (finally) but I haven't got the grass growth yet in the other fields to move them.

South East is usually quicker to get going, but the soil is still cold
 
It's similar here. There's nothing left on the winter paddocks so going to spring ones a couple of weeks early but will substitute with hay as there's not much on those either. Thankfully the true summer paddocks have a decent cover which should keep improving.
 
I've got one winter field resting till next autumn, two that they have access to daytime (for another few days) and one that they eat to the nub (with hay) and will come off in May. Our soil doesn't poach really so I don't do anything except stop poopicking a few weeks before they change fields.

Sacrifice field
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Day fields
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Resting field
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My winter fields are pretty bare and the two summer fields are now pretty bare too thanks to the gazillion number of rabbits and family of muntjac that have been eating them down all winter. Just waiting for the soil to warm up for the grass to get going.
 
I'm quite high up in Scotland, it'll 3-4 weeks before I get significant growth! Have the odd shoot that they forage for but still interested in their hay meantime
 
Ours started growing while the temps were a bit higher but I can't really see anything now. However the sheep are not demanding hay in the mornings, so they must be eating something.
 
Bobthecob15 said:
Nothing much growing in the West Midlands either
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Nor the East Midlands.

I’d normally be starting to fret about getting over onto my summer grazing before it gets too much for my small ones. The field looks much like it did when they came off it in October (albeit a bit less underwater!).
 
Mine came off summer grazing in September so growth on it from then til about November but our grass is growing - one downpour and I imagine I will have too much . Horses went on to summer gracing yesterday… winter fields will be harrowed and muck spread asap…
 
South East, same fields all year round that don't really get muddy - we don't have much left to look at, but nothing is dropping weight or lacking energy on the yard so they must be getting something out there.
 
Moved onto summer field which has been rested since late October grass is good but not masses which is ideal as both can pile on the pounds .
Winter field and hay field have been harrowed and muck spread then harrowed again will be rolled in a few days then left to grow on for cutting haylege/wrapped hay .
Ideal at the moment no need to worry about too much grass and horses are finding plenty supplemented with a little wrapped hay overnight.
 
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Winter paddock and spare paddock are now bare. Going through hay like you wouldn't believe.

Nothing growing in the summer paddock but we managed to give it a good harrowing yesterday before it started raining. Now got a few sunny days on the way, so fingers crossed it triggers some good growth.

Ponies would normally go on to summer grazing end of March/beginning of April, but think it'll be a lot later this year.

Been a cold winter here. Felt closer to a normal winter.
 
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I’ve had to section off a mud patch in my winter field for my EMS pony as he was getting very footy and fat with bright green poo so although it looks bare the grass is growing here. It’s costing a small fortune in hay but a week in and his feet are stone cold again.
 
I have never had bare fields, but this year my winter fields are very bare, and they’re happily eating hay in the field. But they’re dryer than they’ve ever been too. I think it’s a combination of them being a particularly good team of eaters and the fact that it’s been pretty dry since Xmas so they’ve been in the field more and on the hard standing less.

To be fair, it is only mid March. It’s often under snow at this point!
 
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canteron said:
The moss and sycamore seedlings are doing well - grr

I have given the mossy fields a really good harrow, is there anything else I can do? It is poor sandy soil.
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Overseed, add lots of muck, graze less. Sandy soil really needs a good root structure maintained (so you need to leave some top on the sward) or the grass can just be pulled up.
 
94lunagem said:
Nor the East Midlands.

I’d normally be starting to fret about getting over onto my summer grazing before it gets too much for my small ones. The field looks much like it did when they came off it in October (albeit a bit less underwater!).
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That's the same as me - I pulled mine off the summer fields first weekend in Nov when they were just splashing around. They're drier now but no growth.
 
We've had our paddocks and fields rolled tonight, they are fab.

I'm strip grazing Lari as our grass is quite rich but he's got his head down all day eating. 😁
 

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I don’t really have enough to have winter and summer fields.I alternate all year round I don’t actually mind that so much though as I have nothing that needs a lot of grass so I’m quite conscious of switching from bare to spring grass and don’t want to do that anyway. They look tidier this year though, no poached areas or bad areas. It’s all pretty even and neat looking.
 
Well the ground has all dried up nicely so have had summer and winter fields harrowed and rolled today. Winter field is pretty bare, horses still on ad-lib haylage. Summer green but not really growing yet so it will be 4-6 weeks at least before they move.
 
I’m glad you started this thread OP because I was beginning to think I was the only one that couldn’t see grass growing. We did manage to harrow one of the summer paddocks which had to become an emergency winter paddock when everywhere was so wet!!! Anyway we harrowed most of it, got the tractor stuck down one end though. Nothing looks like it’s growing yet although the boys were reluctant to even come in at 5.30 this evening.
 
Growing slowly here but definitely noticeably greening up. I’m hoping it should shoot up end of this week with the predicted temperatures. I have moved them off the main paddocks to let them grow a bit but tbh I don’t want them to grow too much as all are good doers. End of this week they will be back on them though as hopefully should be out 24/7 by then properly 🤞 I brought them back in at night this past week because it’s so cold because I’m soft 😉
 
myheartinahoofbeat said:
I’m glad you started this thread OP because I was beginning to think I was the only one that couldn’t see grass growing. We did manage to harrow one of the summer paddocks which had to become an emergency winter paddock when everywhere was so wet!!! Anyway we harrowed most of it, got the tractor stuck down one end though. Nothing looks like it’s growing yet although the boys were reluctant to even come in at 5.30 this evening.
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We've had the man come round and cut Mum's lawn twice this year it's been growing so much.

That's why I strip grazed. People can criticise others for small paddocks but sometimes it has to be done.
 
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