What’s the biggest long-term investment you can make on your...

What’s the biggest long-term investment you can make on your dairy farm? Short of buying the farm itself, it’s likely to be your grass...

Just before winter begins is the time to think about your grazing...

Just before winter begins is the time to think about your grazing management for the next 12 months. Your fields are your farm's lifeblood – protecting them now means less work and healthier pastures come spring.

Do you know exactly what lies beneath your feet, in each field of...

Do you know exactly what lies beneath your feet, in each field of your farm? Autumn is a good time to think about doing some soil sampling and using the results to prepare management plans accordingly.

Don’t go into winter without conducting a fodder budget...

Don’t go into winter without conducting a fodder budget, Barenbrug has advised, following the challenging weather events that have played havoc with silage reserves across the country.

It’s important to treat indexing not as a one-off task, but as...

It’s important to treat indexing not as a one-off task, but as something you should do regularly through the year. What it does is to provide you with a data-driven decision-support system that will help you identify not just which of your fields needs attention, but also with what priority

What does ‘production’ mean for YOUR farm? According to Janet...

What does ‘production’ mean for YOUR farm? According to Janet Montgomery, Agriculture Product Manager at Barenbrug UK, defining this crucial concept is the first step in building a successful grass strategy.

An in-depth look at the longstanding breeding partnership between...

An in-depth look at the longstanding breeding partnership between Barenbrug and the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute in Northern Ireland

There has been a clear trend in recent years of increased...

There has been a clear trend in recent years of increased overseeding of Poa annua-dominated greens with bentgrass in the UK and Ireland

Maximising ‘daughter tillers’ gives grassland managers the best...

Maximising ‘daughter tillers’ gives grassland managers the best route to a resilient sward this summer, advises grass-seed experts Barenbrug UK – and will also provide the ideal sward in which to establish clover later in the season.

Climate change, and its possible effects on British farming...

Climate change, and its possible effects on British farming, remains one of the big unknowns. We're unable to predict with certainty how the climate will change or the impact it might have on how we farm. But we do know agriculture must pursue a lower carbon future.

There’s no reason why you can’t be a conventional farmer who...

There’s no reason why you can’t be a conventional farmer who thinks like an organic farmer

‘Your Future Grass’ is how Barenbrug UK describes its...

‘Your Future Grass’ is how Barenbrug UK describes its participation at this year’s Sustainable Grass & Muck event, to be held at Aberystwyth University Farm, Trawsgoed on Thursday 30^th May 2024.

After the wettest 18 months ever recorded in England, Barenbrug’s...

After the wettest 18 months ever recorded in England, Barenbrug’s grass experts urge growers to ‘go softly’ as first cuts approach.

Flooding has been an all-too-common sight on golf courses...

Flooding has been an all-too-common sight on golf courses throughout the country. But what does flooding mean for your turf? How long can grass stay submerged for and what is the best course of action if you need to overseed?

What exactly IS in a bag of seed? It’s a good question, says...

What exactly IS in a bag of seed? It’s a good question, says Janet Montgomery, Agriculture Product Manager, because Barenbrug invests tremendous effort in ensuring that every one of our grass-seed mixtures is fit for its purpose.

Growers who signed up for herbal leys as one of the 23 options...

Growers who signed up for herbal leys as one of the 23 options from the 2023 Sustainable Farming Initiative programme should seek competent advice on the suitability of mixtures being sold as ‘SAM3 compatible’, Barenbrug UK says, as seed decisions loom.

A wet autumn and winter has left soils waterlogged and put many...

A wet autumn and winter has left soils waterlogged and put many fields under water for prolonged periods. What’s needed to get grass back into shape for the year ahead?

November 2023 saw the launch of the latest in Barenbrug’s long...

November 2023 saw the launch of the latest in Barenbrug’s long line of market-leading slender creeping red fescue cultivars – Barnoustie. 

This year will see the launch to the market of two new elite...

This year will see the launch to the market of two new elite varieties of slender creeping red fescue from the Barenbrug European breeding programme. After 30 years of Barcrown as the market leading variety, a new generation is taking over.

Barenbrug UK has bolstered its agricultural team with the...

Barenbrug UK has bolstered its agricultural team with the appointment of Donna Mearns as Regional Sales Manager for Scotland.

UK grass and forage breeder Barenbrug has announced that...

UK grass and forage breeder Barenbrug has announced that perennial ryegrass varieties Killylea and Tollymore will be available in their Bar Forage mixture range from Spring 2024.

There should be no mystery in the value of well-managed grassland...

There should be no mystery in the value of well-managed grassland. But keeping it performing at its optimum level demands some big decisions from time to time, says Janet Montgomery, Barenbrug UK’s agriculture product manager.

Grass-breeding specialist Barenbrug is coming back to UK Dairy...

Grass-breeding specialist Barenbrug is coming back to UK Dairy Day 2023 with its popular Grass Clinic.

In March 2022, Turf Business teamed up with Leicester City FC’s...

In March 2022, Turf Business teamed up with Leicester City FC’s Head of Sports Turf and Grounds to deliver a new initiative known as TurfForce.

Brand new to the range of Barenbrug resources is our ‘Disease...

Brand new to the range of Barenbrug resources is our ‘Disease Factfiles’

Time to ease up on a tight crop rotation? Why not take a couple...

Time to ease up on a tight crop rotation? Why not take a couple of fields out, give them a break?

“Don’t just accept what your seed merchant has to sell – first...

“Don’t just accept what your seed merchant has to sell – first talk about your needs.”

Livestock farmers must pay close attention to their grass and...

Livestock farmers must pay close attention to their grass and pasture utilisation for the rest of the year, following the Met Office’s confirmation that the month of June 2023 was the hottest on record.

A seed specialist in the Scottish market for more than 30 years...

A seed specialist in the Scottish market for more than 30 years, the family-owned Watson Group, comprising Watson Seed, Seed Logistics and GroGreen, is well-known in the industry with a reputation for integrity, quality, trust and customer service – values that align strongly with those of Barenbrug UK.

The UK’s most prolific grass-breeding programme has set its...

The UK’s most prolific grass-breeding programme has set its sights on developing new varieties for the 2040s and beyond, following a renewed agreement between Barenbrug UK and Northern Ireland’s Agri-Food and BioSciences Institute (AFBI).

Barry O'Brien, Heads Grounds Person for Burnley FC, discusses his...

Barry O'Brien, Heads Grounds Person for Burnley FC, discusses his experience collaborating with Barenbrug to find grass seed solutions. With a mission to help improve Burnleys playing surfaces, Barry discusses how Barenbrug grass seed can help with colour presentation, disease tolerance, recovery and wear tolerance.

One of 12 voting member seats on the herbage committee...

One of 12 voting member seats on the herbage committee, responsible for the Recommended Grass & Clover Lists (RGCL) for England and Wales, has been awarded to Barenbrug's Mhairi Dawson
 

Reduced reliance on bought-in feed and improved input use-efficien...

Reduced reliance on bought-in feed and improved input use-efficiency will be valuable strategies to maintain ruminant production margins over the coming months, suggests Barenbrug UK, citing three compelling reasons for farmers to consider a reseed this autumn.

A more holistic approach to pasture management – specifically...

A more holistic approach to pasture management – specifically, species composition and soil health – can pay dividends for flock health, grazing utilisation and overall enterprise economics.

Livestock farmers who rightly postponed clover overseeding in...

Livestock farmers who rightly postponed clover overseeding in drought-stricken pastures have been advised to act cautiously if still planning to go ahead, despite recent rainfall and mild temperatures appearing to provide favourable opportunity.

2022 - another glorious summer, but another full of challenges...

2022 - another glorious summer, but another full of challenges for turf managers.  The combination of heat and drought, particularly in England, has resulted in loss of grass cover on many golf courses, only four years after the decimation of 2018. 

Grass breeding specialist Barenbrug UK will be hosting the first...

Grass breeding specialist Barenbrug UK will be hosting the first ever Grass Clinic at UK Dairy Day, encouraging farmers to be more ambitious about getting more from their grass by visiting the drop in clinic.

If you have livestock, what would you say is your farm’s most...

If you have livestock, what would you say is your farm’s most productive asset? You may say it’s your dairy cows, or your breeding ewes. We believe it’s your grassland; at least, it should be. Grass remains the most cost-effective livestock feed. It is the primary source of quality, nutrient-rich forage which, when managed well, will increase farm biodiversity and soil health while maximising farm productivity, resilience and sustainability. With the potential to reduce inputs, both in fertiliser and brought in feed, and produce a high-quality feed, this translates into increased grass yield and more litres of milk and animal weight from more nutritious forage, while supporting animal health and maintaining overall farm productivity.

A £2.2 million investment in automated packaging facilities will...

A £2.2 million investment in automated packaging facilities will see one of the UK’s largest growers and processors of grass seed increase efficiency, quality control and staff safety.

Pressure on golf clubs to deliver courses which can meet the...

Pressure on golf clubs to deliver courses which can meet the often‑conflicting demands placed on the is leading some course managers to use ultrafine‑leaf ryegrasses. Luke Hunt, product manager for Barenbrug, the UK’s leading grass seed breeder and grower, explains why.

Find out more about the NEW 22/23 Recommended Grass and Clover...

Find out more about the NEW 22/23 Recommended Grass and Clover Lists for England and Wales and the Barenbrug ranking within it.

A new initiative which sets-out to offer grassroots clubs an...

A new initiative which sets-out to offer grassroots clubs an opportuntiy to see leading turf service companies help in renovate a pitch has kicked off this year with the help of Turf Business & Leicester City FC. Supported by the generosity of eight sponsors; Barenbrug, Total Amenity Solutions, Hewitts Sportsturf, Mansfield Sand, Nutrigrow, Harrod Sport, Leicester City Sports Turf Academy and AMS Robotics, Highfield Rangers is undergoing a full pitch renovation.

Growers may be keener than ever this year to keep valuable...

Growers may be keener than ever this year to keep valuable nitrates in the soil by under-sowing maize with a grass or legume-rich cover crop, but caution is needed to receive the full benefit of the practice, advises grass breeder Barenbrug UK.

The healthiest soil of all is found beneath the surface of a...

The healthiest soil of all is found beneath the surface of a permanent pasture

Collier Turf Care and Barenbrug UK mark 30 years, find out more

Collier Turf Care and Barenbrug UK mark 30 years, find out more

The return of the GMA’s annual awareness week will take place 28...

The return of the GMA’s annual awareness week will take place 28 February - 6 March 2022

Luke Hunt, Barenbrug UK's Product Manager says, "In the course of...

Luke Hunt, Barenbrug UK's Product Manager says, "In the course of my work visiting golf courses around the UK, I find myself getting asked a regular question – “is it OK to use perennial ryegrass on a golf green”? The answer, as with many things related to greenkeeping and turf care, is not a straight yes or no! As a breeder of fine-leaf ryegrasses, we can shed some light on the subject and try to give some clarity to the question."

Barenbrug UK announced its hook-up with Northern Ireland’s Agri-Fo...

Barenbrug UK announced its hook-up with Northern Ireland’s Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) in 1991, with the objective of providing a steady flow of new varieties to meet the evolving demands of the UK’s grassland and livestock industries.

Plenty more to celebrate at the Kilrea Young Farmers’ Club’s 75th...

Plenty more to celebrate at the Kilrea Young Farmers’ Club’s 75th anniversary celebrations after agricultural and amenity seed producer Barenbrug UK announced it will continue as the club’s primary sponsor.

2022 sees the launch of four NEW exciting varieties into the...

2022 sees the launch of four NEW exciting varieties into the Agriculture range of grass and clover mixes.

Ipswich Town Football Club has been using Barenbrug seed...

Ipswich Town Football Club has been using Barenbrug seed varieties for five years. The stadium pitch is difficult to manage, admits Grounds Manager Ben Connell, with a 1970s construction base in the shade of the 30,000 seater stands.

Turf Business TV interviews David Greenshields at SALTEX....

Turf Business TV interviews David Greenshields at SALTEX....

Turf Matters interviews David Greenshields at SALTEX...

Turf Matters interviews David Greenshields at SALTEX...

As Winter takes hold, day length and light intensity reduces as...

As Winter takes hold, day length and light intensity reduces as does air and soil temperature, resulting in a steady reduction in grass growth rates. Find out more about managing your winter grassland and planning for next season.

A new, top of the table set of grass seeds has been launched onto...

A new, top of the table set of grass seeds has been launched onto the winter sports market by Barenbrug, the leading grass seed breeder and grower, at the SALTEX show in Birmingham 3 November 2021.

Two of the UK’s biggest names in grass seed and sports turf have...

Two of the UK’s biggest names in grass seed and sports turf have announced a new distribution partnership.

Any farmer wanting to keep their grassland performing at an...

Any farmer wanting to keep their grassland performing at an optimum level needs to know how to judge when it’s time to reseed? A new ‘Grassland Index’, developed by grass breeder Barenbrug, promises to help the decision-making process.

What might just be the most expensive 20kg bag of grass seed ever...

What might just be the most expensive 20kg bag of grass seed ever sold in the UK was purchased by a Suffolk company director recently during an auction at the T20 charity cricket match between Bury St Edmunds Cricket Club and the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) England Legends team.

A highlight at Saltex will be the launch by Barenbrug of its new...

A highlight at Saltex will be the launch by Barenbrug of its new product range for the professional sports market, the latest result of years of investment in their own grass breeding, research, trials and production. 

Why measure your grass and herbal leys?

Why measure your grass and herbal leys?

Following your autumn re-seed, managing grass and herbal leys for...

Following your autumn re-seed, managing grass and herbal leys for maximum productivity, winter grazing and spring production is key. Find out more in this month's BarTech

Pondering the return of livestock into an arable rotation...

Pondering the return of livestock into an arable rotation? Whether faced with problem weeds, as a move towards improving soil health, or part of a regenerative agricultural strategy, it’s a move many farmers are considering.

Soaring fed prices are prompting increased interest from farmers...

Soaring fed prices are prompting increased interest from farmers in homegrown, with multispecies swards, forage brassica and other crop such as maize and lucerne taking the top spots. Plan ahead now for your autumn reseeding and post cereal crop harvests, not just for livestock feed but soil health, better harvest performance and improved soil drainage. 

Support for The Green Light Trust continues. Barenbrug have...

Support for The Green Light Trust continues. Barenbrug have helped towards the cost of renovating and opening a new education facility in memory of Suffolk naturalist, Grenville Clarke (BEM), at The Green Light Trust in Lawshall near Bury St. Edmunds.

Soaring nitrogen prices are prompting increased interest from...

Soaring nitrogen prices are prompting increased interest from livestock producers in ‘alternative’ sources such as white clover, reports Barenbrug UK. With UK-produced ammonium nitrate nudging £297/tonne in AHDB’s fertiliser price series, clover’s in-built nitrogen-fixing ability has encouraged farmers to consider including the legume in late-summer overseeds, or autumn reseeds.

Almost 80% of Scotland’s agricultural area is grassland. It...

Almost 80% of Scotland’s agricultural area is grassland. It really is our most important crop; however it is sadly the most over-looked, and rarely thought of as a crop.

The playing experience at the Old Course has to be second to none...

The playing experience at the Old Course has to be second to none. Whether you’re an Open Champion, an R&A member, a yearly ticket holder, or one of our many domestic or overseas visitors, it should be the experience of a lifetime.

As a key member of the The Farmers Weekly Transition Partner...

As a key member of the The Farmers Weekly Transition Partner Network, Barenbrug UK is part of a selected, UK-wide community of farmers, industry stakeholders and influencers working together to secure a sustainable future for your farm business.

At Barenbrug, we’ve one simple goal: to help all farmers make the...

At Barenbrug, we’ve one simple goal: to help all farmers make the most of grass, forage & herbal leys – and that applies across the board, whether you’re producing milk, raising livestock or growing essential crops.

Brassica crops are a useful tool for reseeding, they are not a...

Brassica crops are a useful tool for reseeding, they are not a host crop for leatherjackets making them particularly beneficial between permanent grass leys where high burdens of the pest can be found. As well as helping combat pest issues, brassicas help to reduce weed and disease burdens, create better soil conditions and cleaner seedbeds for establishing new swards of grass.

A long-established practice of organic systems, the herbal ley...

A long-established practice of organic systems, the herbal ley – a complex seed mixture of grass, legumes and herbs – is now becoming increasingly popular in conventional circles, says agronomist and grass expert for Barenbrug UK, Roger Bacon.

Better harvest performance and improved soil drainage are just...

Better harvest performance and improved soil drainage are just two of the benefits promised from a new, crop-specific green cover option for under-sowing maize, developed by grass and soil sustainability experts Barenbrug UK.

Using grass to diversify the arable rotation brings not just weed...

Using grass to diversify the arable rotation brings not just weed control benefits and potential for new income streams, but soil health improvements too.

At Barenbrug we’ve been fortunate in being able to continue our...

At Barenbrug we’ve been fortunate in being able to continue our extensive product development and breeding programme in the UK and across Europe right through the pandemic period

Buoyant soya prices, carbon reduction efforts and concerns about...

Buoyant soya prices, carbon reduction efforts and concerns about nitrogen management have caused interest in protein-rich forage, such as red clover, to surge, reports agricultural grass experts Barenbrug UK.

The AFBI-Barenbrug partnership now has nineteen ryegrass...

The AFBI-Barenbrug partnership now has nineteen ryegrass varieties listed on the 2020/2021 Recommended Grass and Clover Lists (RGCL), with varieties such as Gracehill (a late heading tetraploid ryegrass) being one of the newest additions

Dedicated top-class renovation plan for Aberdeen Football Club...

Dedicated top-class renovation plan for Aberdeen Football Club...

The Royal Barenbrug Group announces that it has finalised terms...

The Royal Barenbrug Group announces that it has finalised terms for the purchase of Simplot’s Jacklin^® Seed business...

The health, safety and wellbeing of employees and customers has...

The health, safety and wellbeing of employees and customers has always been at the heart of what we do, but never has it been in such stark relief as against the backdrop of Covid-19...

This rare jewel of a links course has been born and created in a...

This rare jewel of a links course has been born and created in a staggeringly short time-frame, and the golfing world awaits.

Grass breeders spend their working lives looking for incremental i...

Grass breeders spend their working lives looking for incremental improvements to existing species

and varieties.

Barenbrug are delighted to announce the additions of four new...

Barenbrug are delighted to announce the additions of four new varieties to the latest edition of the SRUC Grass and Clover Varieties for Scotland List 2020/2021

Barenbrug are delighted to announce the additions of three new...

Barenbrug are delighted to announce the additions of three new varieties to the latest edition of the Recommended Grass and Clover Lists for England and Wales...

A long and wet winter has many pitches looking worn and tired...

A long and wet winter has many pitches looking worn and tired. With the window for renovation now upon us we thought that, whilst you may not be able to do it yet, a quick reminder of the principles of overseeding may be useful...

The advantages of reseeding

The advantages of reseeding

Top industry specialists working together on innovative practices

Top industry specialists working together on innovative practices

The importance of soil

The importance of soil

Reflecting on the RUAS Winter Fair 2019

Reflecting on the RUAS Winter Fair 2019

Sustainability the key for Barenbrug at BTME 2020

Sustainability the key for Barenbrug at BTME 2020

This year, the Barenbrug team are launching 2 new grass varieties...

This year, the Barenbrug team are launching 2 new grass varieties at the RUAS Winter Fair.

Agriscot 2019 was another very successful event for us at...

Agriscot 2019 was another very successful event for us at Barenbrug UK.

This year the team at Barenbrug UK are launching two fantastic...

This year the team at Barenbrug UK are launching two fantastic new varieties at Agriscot.

Brand-new perennial ryegrass from Barenbrug’s European turf...

Brand-new perennial ryegrass from Barenbrug’s European turf breeding programme

Can I still sow grass seed now? Yes!

Can I still sow grass seed now? Yes!

Heidi’s Half Marathon raises funds for the Green Light Trust

Heidi’s Half Marathon raises funds for the Green Light Trust

ELITE SPORT selected for pitch renovations - Elland Road

ELITE SPORT selected for pitch renovations - Elland Road

Reasons not to dismiss an autumn reseed...

Reasons not to dismiss an autumn reseed...