Double the 1st cut of luzerne thanks to overseeding

Description

The GAEC de la Grande Saule has firstly tried the overseeding on permanent grassland. However, the too much competition of this grassland cause generally the failure of that technic.

It is on lucerne that the overseeding shows good results : it allows to double the 1st cut production. Since 3 years, the GAEC de la Grande saule overseeds a mix of wheat, pea and vetch in the lucerne during autumn. During the silage, june, the mix allows to increase the productivity, then the lucerne stay productive for the 2nd and 3rd cuts.

Now, the GAEC test more : in the end of life of the lucerne, wheat is seeding in directly (without destruction). The wheat weeding is light on dicotyledones and hard on grasses. It allows to harvest wheat and in september, to cut the rest of lucerne, before seeding a mix crop-pea-vetch . This mix is cut in june, then there is a mix clover and moha , and finally a corn for silage.

Reason for the innovation

  • Forage autonomy
  • Grassland productivity
  • Limit tillage

Farm description

Environment

  • Soils: Clay ; clay and limestone
  • Climate: Semi continental climate
  • Altitude: 300m

Grassland management

  • Grazing: Yes, only for beef cattle
  • Grazing 7 months a year

Structure

  • Annual Work Unit: 5
  • Agricultural area: 480 ha UAA
    • Temporary grassland: 16 ha
    • Permanent grassland: 270 ha
    • Corn silage: 60 ha
  • Breeds: Prim’holstein and Charolaise
  • Stocking rate: 1,53 UGB / ha of forage area

Animal performance

  • Milk production per head: 9 000 L /year

Why it is working

Intensification of grasslands in globality : more fertilisation and use of digestate of methanation

Possibility to have farm’s seeds to limit the cost.

Additional information

Farming system

conventional farming

Domains of innovation

forage mixture

Main types of animal

beef cattle, dairy cattle

Country

France

Product type

Farmer portrait

Language

English, French

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