A simulation model operating with daily weather data to explore silage and haymaking opportunities in climatically different areas of Scotland

McGechan, M.B.; Cooper, G.

doi:10.1016/0308-521x(94)00019-n

Cited by 8 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…The Dairy Forage System Model (DAFOSYM), developed in the USA, emphasized the use of alfalfa and maize crops (Rotz et al, 1989). These comprehensive models provided tools for evaluating and comparing the performance and economics of various technologies and management strategies for dairy farms (McGechan and Cooper, 1995; Rotz et al, 1999b; Rotz et al, 2002). In addition to this public domain software, at least two simulation models are commercially marketed for use in dairy farm planning and evaluation (Dexcel, 2004; Larcombe and McLean, 2004).…”

Section: Simulation Analysis Of Grassland Farming Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Whole‐Farm Perspectives of Nutrient Flows in Grassland Agriculture

et al. 2005

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who plan row crops and livestock around their grassland hectares are grassland farmers" (Barnes, 1995). Before Grassland agriculture is an important industry for livestock produc-World War II, agriculture in the USA was very diverse tion and land management throughout the world. We review the and integrated, agricultural markets were primarily loprinciples of nutrient cycling in grassland agriculture, discuss examples of grassland farming systems research, and demonstrate the usefulness cal, and nutrients were cycled mainly within farms and of whole-farm simulation for integrating economic and environmental among local farms. With the advent of mechanization, components. Comprehensive studies conducted at the Karkendamm chemical fertilizers, improved seeds, and agrichemicals, experimental farm in northern Germany and the De Marke experifarm size increased, agricultural markets became namental farm in the Netherlands have quantified nutrient flows and tional and international in scope, and nutrient cycles developed innovative strategies to reduce nutrient losses in grassland became more fragmented. Animal agriculture became farming systems. This research has focused on improving the utilizaspecialized and concentrated, relying on off-farm sources tion of manure nutrients on the farm by including grain crops in of feeds and fertilizers, which resulted in nutrient accucropping systems with grassland and by incorporating manure hanmulation on farms. dling techniques that reduce nitrogen losses. Although the information generated in experimental farms is not always directly applicable to Similar changes in farm structure occurred in northother climates and soils, it is being transferred to other regions through western Europe during the 1960s and 1970s (de Wit et computer simulation. A whole-farm model calibrated and verified al., 1987). Farms located in regions with good soils were with the experimental farm data is being used to evaluate and refine converted to crops like winter wheat (Triticum aestivum these strategies for commercial farms in other areas. Simulation of L.), oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.), potato (Solanum farms in northern Europe illustrate that on the sandy soils of this tuberosum L.), and sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris L.), whereas region, maize (Zea mays L.) silage can be used along with grasslands farms on poorer sandy soils specialized in milk producto increase farm profitability while maintaining or reducing nutrient tion with permanent grassland as the main crop. These loss to the environment. Use of cover crops, low emission barns,farms also intensified their use of purchased fertilizers covered manure storages, and direct injection of manure into soil and feed concentrates, and farm-scale nutrient budgets greatly reduces N losses from these farms, but their use creates a net cost to the producer. By integrating experimental farm data with became less balanced because of low conversion rates whole-farm simulation, more sustainable grassland production sys-of nutrients in milk and meat production...

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Section: Simulation Analysis Of Grassland Farming Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Whole‐Farm Perspectives of Nutrient Flows in Grassland Agriculture

et al. 2005

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“…Therefore, drying in a low-density swath or tedding is recommended to promote more even and quick drying. Previous studies on drying of grass have concluded that, of all of the weather parameters studied, solar radiation is a more important factor than vapour pressure deficit or wind speed in determining the drying rates (McGechan & Cooper, 1995;Wright, Frost, Patterson, & Kilpatrick, 2001). However, at night, vapour pressure deficit (VPD) is the most important factor in determining the drying rates of crops (Khanchi & Birrell, 2017a).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%