AFBI launches ‘Grassland Insights - From Soil to Sward’ - a webinar series for farmers
Date published:
Farmers looking to get more from their grassland this growing season can benefit from a new webinar series offering timely, research‑led advice on improving grass utilisation through soil health and grassland management, boosting fertiliser efficiency and supporting animal performance.
The free three‑part series, Grassland Insights: From Soil to Sward, will take place on Wednesday evenings (8-9pm) commencing March 11. It will bring together AFBI researchers, industry specialists, advisers as well as dairy and beef farmers to share their experiences on improving grassland performance and farm profitability.
Key areas covered over the three evenings will include how to maximise the performance of grazing and silage systems and how to enhance soil health to support good agronomy. The third and final webinar will conclude with practical guidance on longer‑term investment decisions in fertiliser use, reseeding and sward resilience. Farmers can expect plenty of practical tips they’ll be able to use on their own farms.
Webinar 1
On Wednesday 11 March the first webinar will explore practical ways to make grassland deliver more consistently across the season. The session will address how to manage growth variability and seasonality through agile grassland management and targeted species mixes. It will also look at reducing grassland costs by using legumes and more diverse swards, and how to adopt a whole-farm approach, making sure each field has the sward best suited to its soil and conditions.
Webinar 2
Soil will be the focus of the second webinar, on March 18, examining how soil analysis, nutrient planning and soil structure underpin productive grassland systems and drive fertiliser efficiency.
Webinar 3
The final session, on March 25, will look at where targeted investment can deliver the greatest return – including, fertiliser strategies, reseeding decisions and building resilient swards for future seasons.
Each webinar will feature contributions from AFBI scientists, alongside speakers from the Ulster Farmers’ Union, CAFRE, AgriSearch, industry partners and farmer panellists who will share real‑world experience.
AFBI’s Professor Elizabeth Magowan has welcomed the upcoming webinar series, saying:
“Grass is our greatest asset and there remains a lot of opportunity to maximise its value on many farms. However, grassland performance depends on understanding the whole system — from soil condition through to grazing management and investment decisions. This timely series brings together research, practical experience and industry insight to help farmers make those decisions with confidence and make a real difference to performance and costs.”
The Grassland Insight: From Soil to Sward webinar series will run on March 11, 18 and 25, from 8–9 pm.
To register visit the webinar page here
Notes to editors:
AFBI is an arms-length body of DAERA delivering research and development, diagnostic and analytical testing, emergency response capability and expert scientific advice for DAERA and other government departments, public bodies and commercial companies in Northern Ireland, and further afield.
AFBI’s Vision is “Scientific excellence delivering impactful and sustainable outcomes for society, economy and the natural environment”.
AFBI’s Purpose is to deliver trusted, independent research, statutory & surveillance science, and expert advice that addresses local and global challenges, informs government policy and industry decision making, and underpins a sustainable agri-food industry and the natural and marine environments.
AFBI’s strategic priorities:
- Leading improvements in the agri-food industry to enhance its sustainability;
- Protecting animal, plant and human health;
- Enhancing the natural and marine environment;
- Delivering quality outcomes and impact;
- Enabling world class science through excellence in people, places & technology.
All enquires to AFBI Press Office afbi.press-office@afbini.gov.uk