FORFAR FARMER Drew Wilson has won the 2016 Yara Grass Prix.

Mr Wilson, and his wife, Margaret, from Greenhead Farm, broke all previous records, with both the protein and energy across two of their grass cuts calculated to have a value of £2295 per ha, compared to standard concentrate feeds.

Yield over the first two silage cuts was 62 tonne per ha, at a dry matter average of 33%, equivalent to 21 tonne of DM per ha. Nutritionally, there was a protein yield of 3385 kg per ha, and ME averaging 10.4 MJ/kg, giving an overall cumulative energy yield of 218,699 MJ per ha.

Previously, the Forfar couple have taken part in the Yara Grass Prix, and came sixth in 2015, with a yield of 13.4 T DM.

The Wilsons' secrets of success? Routine soil testing, to identify nutrient requirements; regularly re-seeding, always into a soil of pH 6.2 to 6.3; keet the drainage right, monitor compaction, and graze hard with sheep before getting them off early so the sward can increase cover again to protect it going into the winter.

Drew also changed the priority of his fertilizer nutrient spend, to focus on sulphur and to achieve the optimum nitrogen application in his second cut. He spent an additional £30 per ha over 2015, but managed to achieve an extra 7.6 T DM per ha over the two cuts.