AFBI’s New Grassland Insights Series Opens with Focus on Getting More from Grass This Season
Date published:
AFBI will launch its new Grassland Insights – From Soil to Sward webinar series on Wednesday 11 March at 8pm, beginning with a session dedicated to helping farmers achieve more consistent grassland performance during what is proving to be another challenging season.
Dr Steven Morrison, Head of Sustainable Livestock Systems Research at AFBI, who will chair the opening webinar, encourages farmers to join the discussion at a time when unpredictable weather and saturated ground conditions are creating headaches across the sector.
“Our first webinar asks the question: how can grassland deliver for you? With challenging weather and torrential rain causing real challenges on farms now, this session dives into both the issues and the opportunities ahead. We’ll be sharing short, sharp insights that connect the science with the day‑to‑day realities on the ground and offering early‑season tips farmers can put into practice straight away and some longer-term options.”
AFBI grassland specialist David Patterson will explore why grass growth has become increasingly variable across Northern Ireland and what farmers can do to manage that unpredictability more effectively.
“We’ll explore matching the right sward to the right field can transform grass performance at whole‑farm level,” says David.
Conail Keown, Senior Dairy Advisor at CAFRE will outline which grassland strategies are currently working on dairy farms across Northern Ireland, particularly in managing early‑season variability. He will highlight the practical steps farmers can take now to make the most of early growth and to build resilience for the months ahead.
“This season is already proving difficult, but there are still clear opportunities for farmers to make timely grazing decisions,” Conail notes. “We’ll look at how small adjustments in early spring can stabilise performance later in the year and share examples of what’s working on the ground right now.”
Offering a practical industry perspective, Andrew Clarke of the Foyle Food Group will outline how grass variability is managed within the company’s farming operations. He will discuss the importance of planning while retaining the flexibility to adjust to changing weather patterns, alongside examples of positive grassland decisions being made on beef farms across Northern Ireland.
Contributions during the hour-long event will also come CAFRE’s Eileen McCloskey and UFU’s Trevor Somerville.
The series continues 18 March with a dedicated session on soil health, before concluding on 25 March at 7pm with a focus on longer‑term investment, reseeding and fertiliser strategies.
The Grassland Insights: From Soil to Sward webinar series runs on March 11 and 18 from 8–9 pm and March 25 from 7-8pm. All sessions are free to attend, and farmers can REGISTER NOW
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.