CloverCheck, prepared jointly by AFBI and the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE), provides actual and predicted information on growth and clover content of grass-white clover swards.
Growth and clover content of grass/white clover swards up to 5 October and predictions to 19 October
Current and predicted growth and clover content on plots laid down on existing grass-white clover swards throughout the Province
Organic dairy (4 farms)
| 05 October (current) |
33 |
36 |
| 19 October (Predicted) |
20 |
21 |
Conventional beef/sheep (3 farms)
| 05 October (current) |
28 |
31 |
| 19 October (Predicted) |
20 |
13 |
Growth continues to decline as autumn progresses (see graph). At this time of year clover growth is more adversely affected than that of grass by lower temperatures, hence clover content declines. As temperatures are expected to be around normal for the second and third weeks in October growth and clover content will continue to fall. Growth is similar to that for this time of year last year. The lower clover content than last autumn is mainly due to the inclusion this year of plots on three conventional beef farms which have lower average clover contents than the organic farms.
This is the last regular bulletin of the season. However a round-up article for the growing season will be published in early November.
