Watching Grass Grow At Kingston Maurward College

Online, June 29, 2010 (Newswire.com) - Watching grass grow is on the timetable at Kingston Maurward College as part of a national initiative to help local farmers improve their grassland management and business profitability.

The Dorchester land-based campus is one of ten agricultural colleges across England taking part in GrassWatch, which is being spearheaded by beef and sheep industry levy board EBLEX.

Grass growth and quality is being monitored every fortnight in three different fields at each college, with the results posted on the Farmers Weekly interactive website.

It's hoped that beef, sheep and dairy producers will be able to use the data from the college farm closest to them to plan their grazing and become more aware of what grass can do if managed correctly.

It will also produce data about timing, yield and quality of growth during the grazing season, as well as supplement current grassland management teaching.

"This is an excellent example of working with industry to ensure tomorrow's farmers acquire the skills they need to succeed in a competitive business," said Tim Stephens, head of agriculture, countryside and food at the college.

"But this scheme also gives today's farmers the valuable information they need at their fingertips to improve their productivity."

EBLEX has given the college a rising plate meter to help students in their measurements.

An autumn reseed, a high sugar ryegrass/clover ley and a water meadow at the college are the fields being used for the project.

Exclusion cages have also been set up in each field so measurements can be taken for growth rate, digestibility and grass cover.

Samples are also sent to a lab to analyse grass digestibility.

The scheme - the first of its kind - started in March and is due to end this October.

The nearest colleges taking part are in Cornwall and Sussex.