65: Making the most of the Recommended Grass and Clover Lists

In this edition of our dairy podcast we look at the latest Recommended Grass and Clover Lists (RGCL) which aims to help farmers make informed decisions about the varieties that perform well for their system.   Siwan Howatson, AHDB Dairy Scientist travelled to the Royal Welsh Grassland event in Pembrokeshire and spoke with NIAB's Ellie Sweatman, Elaine Jewelled from BGS, farmer Joey Malone, Germinal's Helen Mathias and Danny from UCD.   The 2019/2020 edition of the RGCL sees eight new varieties of ryegrass and one red and one white clover alongside existing listings.    Only grasses and clovers that have undergone at least four years of independent testing are included in the lists. Varieties are rigorously tested for factors such as total and seasonal yield, feed quality, disease and persistence before making the RGCL.   In addition to providing information on the varieties, the RGCL also includes a range of technical information for farmers on how they can manage their reseed and maximise the productivity of their grassland.   The 2019/2020 RGCL handbook and the full lists for merchants is now available to download or use the online interactive version for perennial ryegrasses.