Barenbrug – a specialist in grass seed breeding and production for the agricultural industry – is working with the Fermanagh Grassland Club to judge its annual silage competition. Every year, farmers from across Fermanagh take part in the contest, comparing the quantity and quality of the silage they’ve produced during the previous twelve months.
David Linton, Barenbrug’s Regional Manager in Northern Ireland, is helping to choose the winners of the 2014/15 competition. As part of his role, David recently visited six finalists to find out about their work. Previous winner Ivan Henderson accompanied him.
David Linton said: “It was great to get around the finalists’ farms to see how well their crops of grass are managed and how their silage is utilised. The standard is high and the farmers in Fermanagh must be commended for making excellent silage in what was, at times, a difficult year. The weather in 2014 played havoc with cutting dates and opportunities to wilt grass. Yet Fermanagh farmers seemed to make the most of the good weather available with some great results.”
“Variations in the quality of the silage seem to reflect whether grass was cut before or after Balmoral Show week. The weather worsened shortly after the event and stayed unsettled for quite a few days. Grass continued to grow but at the same time it matured leaving farmers with a massive bulk of grass but with a poorer than usual quality.”
Eighteen members of the Fermanagh Grassland Club entered this year’s competition. Prize winners will be revealed at the group’s annual dinner in mid February.
