Clover: Ireland’s homegrown answer to rising fertiliser costs – RTE Interview

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Imported fertiliser is getting more expensive and harder to source. Clover is a homegrown answer.

This morning our Grass and Forage Development Manager, Dr Patrick Cashman, joined RTE’s David McCullagh Show to talk about the new clover varieties we are bringing to Irish farms and how they can reduce our reliance on imported chemical fertiliser.

Developed in partnership with @teagasc  through our Pasture Innovations programme, these varieties fix nitrogen naturally in the sward. The result is healthier animals, stronger grass growth and a more sustainable, lower-cost system.

With instability in the Middle East pushing fertiliser prices up and tightening supply, that matters for farm margins, for food prices and for Ireland’s food security. A simple, proven solution is already growing in our fields.

Listen back here: 👇

https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/clips/22622247/

No.1 Recommended Grass & Clover Varieties for 2026

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Banbridge, Clodagh and Dungloe

The Pasture Profit Index (PPI) for 2026 has now been released, confirming the top-performing grass and clover varieties for Irish farming systems.

For 2026, Banbridge, Clodagh and Dungloe rank as the No.1 recommended grass and clover varieties on the official lists, based on independent, multi-year evaluation under Irish conditions.

These results give farmers confidence that they are choosing genetics proven to deliver higher output, better utilisation and stronger returns at farm level.

Independently tested. Proven on Irish farms.

The Recommended Lists are published by Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, following one of the most rigorous forage evaluation programmes in Europe.

Varieties are assessed through:

  • Trials across six geographic locations

  • Three simulated grazing sites and three silage sites

  • A dedicated cow-grazed evaluation site to assess real grazing behaviour

  • Multiple sowings and four years of harvesting

Only varieties that perform consistently across management systems, seasons and years achieve Recommended List status. This ensures on-farm reliability, not just trial plot performance.

Banbridge

The benchmark grazing variety for 2026 and beyond

Banbridge is a new perennial ryegrass for 2026 and is ranked No.1 on the Pasture Profit Index, with a total PPI value of €268.

It delivers exceptional performance across both grazing and silage systems, making it a highly versatile option for Irish farms. Banbridge was developed at the leading AFBI Grass Breeding programme based in Northern Ireland

Key performance traits:

  • Excellent graze-out, improving conversion of grass into animal output

  • Very strong spring growth, over 40% above the average variety, supporting early magic day

  • Leading Grazing Utilisation Index, reflecting ease of grazing and intake

  • Highest yield under silage management, adding flexibility within the system

  • Consistently high sward quality throughout the season

Banbridge combines output, utilisation and management ease, setting a new standard for grazing performance.

Understanding Grazing Utilisation

Grazing Utilisation is measured differently to standard cutting traits.

Rather than relying solely on harvested yields, dairy cows are allowed to freely graze replicated plots of different varieties within the same paddock. This provides a direct measure of:

  • How readily a variety is grazed

  • How easily it is utilised

  • How much corrective topping is required

Varieties with higher Grazing Utilisation scores are easier to manage, support higher intakes and contribute to improved animal performance. Banbridge leads in this area for 2026.

Clodagh and Dungloe

Next-generation performance in white clover systems

Clodagh and Dungloe represent a step forward in white clover genetics, delivering higher output with improved persistence in grazing systems.

Performance advantages include:

  • Around 10% higher grass and clover production compared to traditional varieties, at no additional cost

  • Reduced chemical nitrogen requirements, supported by stronger natural nitrogen fixation

  • Improved livestock performance, with animals typically 8–10% more productive on clover-rich swards

  • Excellent ground cover, supporting persistence under intensive grazing

Clodagh is the highest-yielding large-leaf white clover, while Dungloe leads among medium-leaf white clovers, offering flexibility across different grazing systems.

Proven breeding, trusted genetics

Clodagh and Dungloe were developed by Pasture Innovations, the forage breeding partnership between Teagasc and Goldcrop. The programme focuses on producing varieties suited to modern Irish grazing systems, with strong emphasis on persistence, utilisation and long-term performance.

Why these varieties matter for 2026

With margins under pressure and greater focus on efficiency, the choice of grass and clover genetics has never been more important.

Banbridge, Clodagh and Dungloe offer:

  • Higher output from home-produced feed

  • Better grazing utilisation and management ease

  • Reduced reliance on chemical nitrogen

  • Proven performance across a wide range of Irish conditions

They are not just top of the lists. They are built for how Irish farms actually operate.

Click here for seed mixtures including Banbridge, Clodagh & Dungloe

Maize and Beet | Technical Seminars | 2024

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We would be delighted if you could join us for Goldcrop’s Maize and Beet Technical Seminar’s 2024, in Cork or Louth. Crops on both sites are looking excellent this year so we hope you can join. If you would like to forward this invite to other colleagues or customers, please feel free to do so.

When and Where?

Co. Cork: Tuesday 24 September @ 10ams

By kind permission of Christy Ring, Great Island, Cobh, Co Cork (sign posted from bridge onto Great Island/Belvelly Castle).

See link to parking here:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/kRKAneQvCr6e9CDz6

Lunch served at final location @ 13.20

Co Louth: Thursday 26 September @ 10:30am

By kind permission of Michael Mc Donnell, Carstown, Co. Louth (sign posted from the R132)

See link to field here:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/7qW9769gasGfZaFu9

Lunch served in the field @ 12:30

What to expect on the day?

✔︎ See real crops on site during the visit

✔︎ Extensive Maize trials with speakers covering covered and uncovered varieties

✔︎ Conventional and CONVISO SMART Beet

✔︎ A number of speakers covering all the latest in fodder crop agronomy

✔︎ This is a must attend event considering the increased interest in locally produced feeds

✔︎ Lunch will be served in the field promptly after both events

Register Your Interest in Atternding 

Please register your interest to attend by contacting your Goldcrop representative or emailing patrick.cashman@goldcrop.ie. If you have any special dietary requirements, please let us know

Look forward to seeing you on the day

Rapid Reseed Results 2023: How Warm Soil and Moisture Are Changing the Game

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Dry weather Spells

In recent years, extended dry spells have slowed new grass seed development. The establishment has been variable as very dry soil can be hard to consolidate evenly, leading to the slower turnaround of reseeds. Some reasons why are as follows:

  • New seeds need a fine firm seedbed to establish quickly.
  • A fine firm seedbed that is well consolidated will hold onto moisture better, providing the conditions for seeds to establish.
  • If the seedbed becomes overly dry, it isn’t easy to achieve good consolidation.
  • A common trend in recent years has been field headlands ready for grazing much earlier than the rest of the field, driven by higher consolidation on headlands.
  • Extended turnaround time adds to the cost of reseeding by extending the non-productive period.

 

Opportunity is not to be missed.

With recent rains, soil moisture is plentiful, driving grass growth, with current reports from Pasturebase Ireland indicating average production of 60 kgs DM/ha/day. On many farms, this should produce surplus production and the potential to take out an underperforming field for reseeding.

Recent reports are the reseeds sown in the past two weeks are establishing very quickly. Good soil moisture means seedbeds are getting consolidated well, allowing seeds to access necessary nutrients and moisture for growth quickly. The guarantee of rapid establishment makes reseeding the Autumn an easy decision. Soil is also warm, and once well sown, a new reseed should provide a few valuable grazing later in the year.

 

Direct Seeding

During periods of higher soil moisture, direct seeding can have several advantages and allow for faster turnaround.

    • Sowing can be conducted as soon as the old sward has been killed and cleaned off.
    • Machinery can travel over the ground within a short dry spell, using the old sward to protect the soil.
    • The old sod protects the soil from sticking to machinery.
    • A minimum number of passes allows the process to be completed quickly, reducing the chances of rain disturbing the reseeding process.
    • Killed off old sward will decay quicker.
    • The high moisture ensures that the seed has good access to nutrients and moisture despite the less fine seedbed produced in the process.
    • Retaining the existing soil structure ensures that more robust grazing conditions are available for post-emergence herbicides and later grazing’s.

 

Overseeding

Overseeding swards during periods of good soil moisture is also an excellent opportunity. It presents the opportunity to rejuvenate a sward without the disadvantage of a longer unproductive period. Candidate pastures should be predominately sown species. Swards that have a high level of weed grasses are usually a better candidate for a full reseed.

 

Check out the information here 🔗 on the Diamond Overseeding mixture

 

Getting the mixture right

When unsettled weather like this inevitably comes around, it is essential to have varieties that animals want to graze out easily. Easier-to-graze paddocks allow animals to eat more, boosting production while at the same time preserving a high-quality sward for the next grazing. The Pasture Profit Index now has real animal grazing results in the form of the grazing utilisation Index. Varieties are ranked between one star and five stars for their ability to be grazed clean by animals, with five stars being the best. Varieties like AstonEnergy, Glenfield and AstonConqueror have 4 or 5 stars for grazing utilisation, meaning they will graze out better than most. The best results from AstonEnergy are achieved in a quality mixture. In 2023 Diamond Hi-Digestibility from Goldcrop contains all four and 5-star varieties combined with leading spring growth traits, making it the perfect grazing mix.

 

More information is available here:

https://goldcrop.ie/product/diamond-hi-digestibility/

Gorilla Hybrid Forage Rape | Case Study with Farmer Phil™️

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Fodder rape is an attractive and popular fodder crop for farmers due to its ease of production, the flexibility of its sowing date and its palatability at feeding time.  In recent years fodder shortages have become more of a common occurrence on farms due to dry summers, and additionally, tillage farmers are looking at cover crops that give a good return and that can fit into their rotation. Farmer Phil sowed Goldcrop’s new hybrid forage rape variety Gorilla last August after enquiring about Goldcrops cover crops and explaining that he had a fodder shortage; Gorilla provides the solution with excellent yields, good regrowth potential and improved animal performance.  Gorilla also has good disease resistance compared to other varieties.

Impressive Growth, Yields and Return On Investment

We witnessed tremendous growth that surpassed all our expectations.

  • Farmer Phil broadcasted the seed at 4kg/acre and from the beginning was impressed with Gorilla, seen just 6 days later growing vigorously out of the ground.
  • Pig slurry and protected urea was applied to the crop with a small section only receiving the slurry.
  • An established crop of Gorilla responds well to nitrogen, this was demonstrated by Farmer Phil as the majority of the crop that had received the chemical fertiliser yielded exceptionally well growing 5.7 tonne of dry matter per hectare compared to the slurry only section of the crop that still yielded good for the nutrients it received at 4 tonne of dry matter per hectare.
  • Gorilla is a greyhound crop. If you want it to run a good race you have to feed it well. Applying the fertiliser to a crop like Gorilla pays off due to the resultant extra tonnage produced.

Improved Animal Performance:

An advantage of Gorilla is it’s a really green leafy type of rape with a high leaf-to-stem ratio, therefore has a higher energy content and is a more digestible rape overall as it’s stem isn’t as hard which allows for the crop to be grazed out fully resulting in excellent utilisation. Animals grazing Gorilla can have better digestive health as the palatable stem adds more fibre into the diet.

 

“Never had cattle that heavy coming out of the shed”

  • Gorilla’s high crude protein content of 18-20% is far superior to silage, therefore including it in the diet of growing young stock like Farmer Phil will lead to increased daily gains.
  • Winter silage, wholecrops and beet are typically low in crude protein, which limit the crude protein in the animals diet over winter. Protein is essential for frame development of young animals.
  • Gorilla also very palatable, leading to good dry matter intakes, as a result Farmer Phil’s wealings when weighed  had put on over double the amount in average daily gains in comparison to last year’s wealings.  

 

  • At turn out to grass, his wealings were on average 34kg heavier than last year. Additionally, for the first time ever, Farmer Phil had six spring-born bulls that were on target for under 16 months bull beef again emphasising Gorilla’s feed value.

Valuable Additional Fodder

“Only for it (Gorilla) we would have been out of silage probably in the first week of January”,

“The saving grace for our fodder situation”

  • Farmer Phil was very grateful that he chose to put in Gorilla as it reduced his demand for silage greatly. From October his yearling cattle were on a diet of 20% forage rape and 80% silage, increasing the amount of gorilla in the diet at the beginning of spring to get through the remainder of the crop.
  • The Stewart’s plan to grow Gorilla Hybrid rape again this year to continue the excellent animal performance. To minimise the build up of clubroot, they will be moving to different ground and Zero grazing the crop to keep it in the diet.

 

For more information on Growing Gorilla Hybrid Forage Rape, Click here >>>

 

Article by Sean Howard, Goldcrop Ltd.

 

Pasture Innovations | Teagasc and Goldcrop Launch Long-Term Grass and Clover Genetic Improvement Program

Teagasc and Goldcrop have signed a long-term grass and clover genetic improvement agreement today, 4 July, at the Teagasc Moorepark Dairy Open Day. The new breeding and commercialisation collaboration will be called Pasture Innovations. The new agreement signed today is for a 15-year term with extension options. This follows from the very successful 10-year agreement previously in place between the two organisations. Pasture Innovations allows Goldcrop to have the sole marketing and propagation worldwide rights to all forage material bred from the Teagasc Oak Park grass and clover breeding programme.

Speaking at the signing, Professor Frank O’Mara, Teagasc Director, said, “This is a crucial vote of confidence and commitment by Goldcrop in the very successful Teagasc breeding programme at Oak Park. It gives the programme more scope to progress in the years ahead, to continue to produce grasses, clovers and herbs for Irish grassland farmers.”

The Oak Park breeding programme has been the breeding source of outstanding Perennial Ryegrass and Clover varieties in the past three decades. The new agreement with Goldcrop is another positive step for the programme. Breeding improved varieties of grasses, legumes and herbs, specifically for Irish conditions and management, ensures the competitiveness of Pasture systems into the future.

Teagasc has its own Pasture Breeding unit, with the senior grass breeder Dr. Patrick Conaghan leading the team. The breeding programme is part of the Grassland Science Department led by Professor Michael O’Donovan. The new collaboration will assist in supporting and resourcing the breeding programme. The breeding team make crosses and conducts evaluations with a specific emphasis on the sub-indices of the Irish Pasture Profit Index for grasses and a similar focus for White Clover, Red Clover and Herbs. This allows for an emphasis on breeding for grazing and new varieties that address the challenges facing Irish farmers. In the past months, the Oak Park programme has delivered two outstanding clover varieties achieving recommendations on the UK NIAB list, Clodagh (White Clover) and Fearga (Red Clover); both have achieved outstanding performance rankings for several traits in the list.

 

At the launch, John Murphy, Managing Director of Goldcrop, said, “Goldcrop prides itself in supporting the entire Agri-food sector by bringing advanced genetic material that meets the challenges facing Irish farmers. The long-term, extensive collaboration, Pasture Innovations, paves the way to drive a better next generation of improved Pasture varieties”.

Goldcrop is Ireland’s largest seed wholesaler, supporting over 80 jobs across its three locations in Carrigtwohill, Killavullen and Dunleer.  Goldcrop will act as a catalyst within the long-term collaboration to improve genetic gain. Seed Production and commercialisation are also the responsibility of Goldcrop. To date, from the collaboration Goldcrop have in the market, or close to commercial release, the following varieties: OakPark, Glenfield, Chatsworth, GlenRock, GlenEagle, Bandon, Clonakilty, Clodagh, Hollywood and Fearga across Ireland and the UK. It is good news for Irish grassland farmers to have a National grass breeding programme directly supported by an Irish-owned company Goldcrop, committed to supporting Irish grassland farmers.

More information is available at www.pastureinnovations.ie

Gorilla Hybrid Fodder Rape

 

Fodder Rape is a popular forage crop with many livestock farmers due to its ease of production, the flexibility of its sowing date and its palatability at feeding time.

It can produce a large bulk of fodder in a short period.

Gorilla when sown in May can produce a first crop in August to cover a shortage of summer grass, then has good regrowth to achieve a second crop in November/December. Alternatively, GORILLA can be strip grazed as required, with good regrowth potential.
Gorilla is a hybrid variety with potential for high yields and very good regrowth, it is a darker green leafy type with medium hight and good standing ability, it has a higher than average dry matter content leading to good intakes and due to its leaf to stem ratio also has a high energy content.

Gorilla can be sown from May to early September in the south of the country and from May to mid-August in northern counties. It is very important to produce a fine firm seed bed in good conditions and when using a broadcasting method, sowing rates should be at 9-11kgs/ha or 3.6 to 4.5kgs per acre if a direct drilling method is used seeding rates should be at 6kgs/ha or 2.8kgs per acre.

Ideally a soil test will be available to help guide lime & fertiliser requirements, soil PH should be between 6.0 & 7.0 NPK will depend on soil index and will typically need N, 90-125kg/ha (72 – 100 units/acre) P, 20 – 30 kgs/ha (16 – 24 units per acre) & K, 50 – 60 kgs/ha (40 – 48 units/acre) usually 4 X 50kgs of 18-6-12 per acre.

The crop establishes quickly and normally there is no need for weed control, it should be monitored regularly for pest such as Flea Beetles, Slugs, leatherjackets, and pigeons.

Rape is extremely useful as a feed for fattening lambs and lactating ewes and very good performance can be achieved with good grazing conditions. It is also widely used to supplement cattle and cows, but care is needed as there is a much greater risk of digestive disorders than with sheep. These problems can be prevented by taking the following precautions: Introduce Rape gradually, restrict intakes, always feed hay or silage as a roughage source. Supplement with phosphorus and iodine. Ensure all diets are properly balanced.

Multi-Species Sward and Red Clover Silage Measures 2023

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The Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine have announced the opening of the 2023 Multi-Species Sward and Red Clover Silage measures as part the Government’s commitment to facilitating Irish farmers further improve the sustainability of Irish agriculture. Funding for these measures has been increased to €2.5m to allow for greater support in establishing these swards.

Key changes to measures from last year’s pilot scheme.

⒈Payments will be made directly to the approved farmer on a per hectare basis.

⒉The payment rate has been increased to a potential €300/Ha, this will reduce if applications exceed the available combined budget for both measures.

⒊To receive payment under either measure an applicant must indicate the correct crop type on their 2023 BISS application.

Some of the key points on how these programmes operate.

✔︎ The application portal will close on the 29th May, 2023

✔︎ To be eligible under these Measures, the swards must be sown by 15th July and established by 30th September 2023

✔︎ At the claim stage, applicants must indicate the area sown as multi-species/red clover and upload their supporting documentation online i.e. invoices and seed labels.

✔︎ In order to receive payment under the Red Clover Silage Measure for the parcel(s) where they are sowing the red clover silage mixture, an applicant must indicate the crop type as Red Clover on their 2023 BISS application,

✔︎ Under the Measures, swards are not permitted to be sown on Commonage land, Natura 2000 sites, NHA designated land, Environmentally Sensitive Permanent Grassland or within archaeological monument buffer zones.

✔︎ Only seed purchased after the application is lodged on Agfood.ie and before the final date for sowing the crop, 15th July 2023, is eligible under these Measures.

Prospective applicants should read the Terms and Conditions published at

gov.ie – 2023 Multi Species Sward Measure (www.gov.ie)

gov.ie – Red Clover Silage Measure (www.gov.ie)

Goldcrop have two mixtures that meet the criteria ⤵

 

Click For Full Product Details

 

Diamond Multispecies – MSS MEASURE 2023

PERENNIAL RYEGRASS - ASTONENERGY (T)3.30KGS
PERENNIAL RYEGRASS - OAKPARK3.30KGS
TIMOTHY0.70KGS
RED CLOVER - MILVUS1.50KGS
WHITE CLOVER - CRUSADER1.50KGS
PLANTAIN - TUATARA
PLANTAIN - CAPTAIN1.00KGS
CHICORY - COMMANDER0.70KGS
12.00KGS PACK

Full Product details can be found here >>>

 

Click For Full Product Details

 

Diamond Red Clover Silage

MOIRA3.50KGS
TOLLYMORE (T)4.00KGS
CLODAGH - WHITE CLOVER0.5
KGS
RED CLOVER - FEARGA1.50KGS
RED CLOVER-COATED SPURT1.00KGS
RED CLOVER - MILVUS1.50KGS

Full Product details can be found here >>>