Henry Walsh: Excessive chemical fertiliser reduction is undermining our entire grass-based dairy system
Serious fall-off in grass growth will result in more imported concentrates in cows’ diet
'There has been a significant fall-off in annual grass grown on the farm, of at least a tonne'. Photo: Hany Marzouk
I believe the excessive reduction in chemical nitrogen usage on Irish farms over the last three years is undermining the very fabric of grass-based milk production.
This fertiliser reduction is the cause, I am convinced, of a serious fall-off in grass growth which will result in more expensive imported concentrates replacing grass in the diet of our milking cows.
