This pilot project is establishing the potential of using satellite remote sensing to inform grassland management and predict grass yield in Welsh pasture systems. Why might you want to do this? Grass is an essential crop in livestock production. Unfortunately, around half of the grass grown in Wales is not utilised efficiently. Grazed grass is the cheapest and most efficient form of feed on farms and when managed well, inputs and production costs can be reduced, therefore boosting profit margins.

Measuring and monitoring grass growth enables farmers to improve quality and maximise yield. As part of the ongoing Welsh Pasture Project, a number of farms are using a plate meter to measure growth and quantity of available Dry Matter per hectare (DM/ha) across their farm, to monitor growth during the season. There are varying degrees of enthusiasm for this activity as it is labour intensive and very time consuming. There is an opportunity to use satellite data, with Environment Systems developing algorithms that can predict average grass cover (Kg DMA/Ha) with the eventual aim of developing a ‘hands free’ online tool to help farmers estimate average grass cover and reduce the need to go out into the field and collect data.

The project utilised farmers plate meter data collected across nine cross-sector farms, located throughout Wales. To date, we have achieved positive correlations with the satellite radar data. The image (above) shows field parcels with grass cover modelled from satellite imagery, for 15th September 2019. The chart on the left shows how well our grass cover model (orange) matches actual data (blue) over time.
“The technology has the potential to support farmers across Wales to make informed decisions on grass management based on actual grass growth and data. Additionally, this information will be able to provide trends on individual field performance over a number of years therefore allowing farmers to compare against previous years and other fields on the farm. This information could help in deciding which fields to reseed based on performance, therefore avoiding unnecessary reseeding expense,” said Dewi Hughes, Technical Development Manager for Farming Connect.

The Welsh Pasture Project is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government. The Farming Connect Knowledge Transfer Programme and Advisory Service are delivered by Menter a Busnes on behalf of Welsh Government. Environment Systems has been working with Menter a Busnes and IBERS (Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences)at Aberystwyth University. The project featured on the BBC’s S4C programme, Ffermio in July.