HOW TO SCORE

Walk the field and assess grass content.

 

An INDEX 2 field will have less than 40% sown, productive species with less than 10% clover (if sown), coupled with more than 40% weed content or gaps.

 

The sward will be very open.

 

There is some ryegrass left in the field, but it is of very poor quality.

 

This could be because of a number of factors including poor weather or lack of density in the existing sward.

 

WHAT THIS MEANS

A field at INDEX 2 needs to be looked at immediately. If something is not done with this field very soon it will be a complete write-off.

 

WHAT TO DO

We do still have a couple of options available to fix an INDEX 2 field.

 

1) Burn off the existing sward and completely reseed

2) Use the less expensive options and overseed.

 

When considering overseeding, we suggest using national recommended lists and consider varieties on sward density, palatability and yield.

 

Overseeding this sward could easily turn it from an INDEX 2 to an INDEX 3 or 4 and we could get three to four extra years production from the field without having to do a complete reseed.