Plan and manage grass and forage crops for livestock grazing and conservation

This standard covers the need to plan and manage grass and forage crops for livestock grazing and conservation. Forage management is a key area in determining the profitability of livestock enterprises.

It includes a variety of forage, grazing, and conservation systems used on livestock farms, such as the management of extended grazing systems, grass budgeting, and grazing management.

When carrying out this work, consideration must be given to the impact on the environment. Efforts should be made to preserve and improve habitats and biodiversity, and to respond to and mitigate the effects of climate change.

This standard is suitable for farmers, farm managers, enterprise unit managers, stockpersons, farm advisers, crofters, and smallholders.

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1. Calculate grass and forage crop requirements for the livestock in your production system
2. Produce a plan for grass and forage crops, matching the chosen livestock production system
3. Seek specialist advice where required
4. Plan and manage a grazing and conservation plan that meets the requirements of the livestock in your production system
5. Plan and manage the establishment of a range of grass and forage crops that will provide livestock with the nutrition they need and that benefits biodiversity and soil health
6. Identify the condition of the soil, in accordance with grass and forage crop production requirements and carbon sequestration
7. Manage the condition of the soil, in accordance with the grass and forage crop requirements
8. Identify where the application of soil nutrients would be beneficial
9. Where required, plan and manage a programme for the supply of nutrients for the grass and forage crops, taking into account requirements for crop growth, production needs, and the different methods of supplying nutrients
10. Use grass budgeting techniques, including measuring grass covers, and take action as required
11. Identify and confirm the availability of resources required to implement the grass and forage crops plan
12. Communicate the grass and forage crops plan to those involved with its implementation
13. Manage the implementation of the grass and forage crops plan
14. Confirm that the quantity and quality of the grass and forage crops meet the requirements to support livestock grazing and conservation
15. Manage grazing and conservation plans for the benefit of habitats, species, and control of identified weeds, pests, and diseases, and monitor the outcomes
16. Establish measures to maintain required levels of hygiene and bio-security and confirm that they’ve been implemented
17. Confirm that working methods promote health and safety and are consistent with relevant legislation, codes of practice, and business requirements
18. Monitor the outcomes of the grass and forage crops plan and compare the outcomes to relevant industry benchmarks
19. Confirm that records are maintained and stored as required by relevant legislation, codes of practice, quality assurance requirements, and business policies

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1. The methods of calculating annual grass and forage requirements for the livestock in your production system
2. How to produce a plan for grass and forage requirements that matches the chosen livestock production system
3. The sources of information and specialist advice
4. The different methods of examining soil structure and the factors that can affect the structure
5. How different soils will determine grass and forage crop plans
6. The methods of improving soil structure for grass and forage crops
7. Soil sampling techniques and how to use soil analysis results in planning nutrient requirements
8. The nutrient requirements for different grass and forage crops
9. The types of soil nutrients, different application methods, and when they should be applied
10. The relevant environmental legislation requirements for the provision of soil nutrients
11. The potential yields, costs, and nutritional and environmental benefits of a range of grass and forage crops
12. The advantages and disadvantages of the different types of grass and forage crops
13. The different methods of establishing and managing a range of grass and forage crops
14. The functions of grass budgeting, taking into account factors that affect grass availability, growth rates, quality, and intakes of new livestock during the grazing season
15. How to measure and interpret grass and forage crop cover throughout the grazing season
16. The possible pest, weed, and disease problems and how to manage these
17. The methods of monitoring livestock performance from conserved forages and grazed grass and forage, including using the relevant records and comparative data
18. The actions to take to improve long- and short-term livestock performance from grazed grass and forage
19. The benefits of the correct use of livestock manures in reducing input costs
20. How to determine the human, financial, material, and capital resources necessary to achieve the grass and forage crops plan
21. The methods of communicating the grass and forage crops plans to those involved in their implementation
22. The methods of maintaining hygiene and bio-security and the reasons why this is important
23. Your responsibilities under the relevant environmental, health and safety, codes of practice, and business requirements
24. The requirements for reporting and recording and the length of time for which records should be retained

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4

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2027

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Current

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Original

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Lantra

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LANAgM4

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Agricultural Technical Advisor, Farm Manager, Farmer

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1211

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grass; field; graze; animal; livestock; nutrients; soil; farm; forage

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