Diversity in the field: How a dairy farm handles drought

When drought hit hard, dairy farmer Martin Ryan and his wife Aine turned to a more diverse approach, introducing a mix of grasses, herbs, and legumes.

On their 110ha farm in Cashel, Co. Tipperary, multi-species swards transformed dry, underperforming fields into resilient pastures. The result? Healthier soils, better grazing and reduced nitrogen use, an approach that earned Martin the title of Grassland Manager of the Year at the 2024 National Dairy Awards.

Farm facts

• 140 spring-calving crossbred cows
• All grassland, plus 25 acres of the hybrid brassica Redstart grazed by first calvers and youngstock
• Supplying Dairygold Co-op
• 10-week spring calving window
• 100% sexed dairy semen, followed by beef straws (Hereford and Angus)
• Dairy herd based at Nodstown Farm, with satellite units for silage and heifers
• Youngstock also grazing on a hill farm 27km away

Tackling drought with diverse swards

The journey began on Gaile Farm, a leased 36ha block with light, drought-prone limestone soils. “Gaile farm is extremely dry. In 2018, we were really struggling,” Martin recalls.

In response, he reseeded in April 2019 with a mix of 12kg perennial ryegrass, 1kg plantain, and 1kg white clover.

After spraying the old sward with glyphosate, the field was power-harrowed twice before drilling.

Encouraged by the results, he has refined the mix to include:

• Aber High Sugar Grass
• DoubleRoot hybrid clover
• Puna II perennial chicory
• Tonic plantain

To improve weed control, Martin trialled sowing after break crops like Redstart and integrating with arable silage. The arable silage is cut by August, letting the clover and herbs flourish with full light, often allowing two grazings before year-end.

Lessons from the field

Now, he manages the weeds in year one, followed by full reseeding in year two, avoiding herbicide carryover.

In 2024, 10% of the main grazing platform (9ha) and another 3ha at Gaile Farm are under multi-species swards. Using break crops like Redstart have helped suppress weeds and improved establishment.

Martin also continues to trial undersowing techniques with arable silage crops. Peas and barley are drilled deeper than the herb mix and harvested mid-summer. “We graze it about four weeks later and try to get two grazings before year-end,” he explains.

Advice for sowing multi-species

• Choose free-draining fields for best results.
• Include plenty of perennial ryegrass for spring growth.
• Extend grazing rotation length to 25 days.
• Avoid poaching in wet conditions.

For more advice on establishing multi-species, visit our guide.

Balancing persistence and productivity

Managing diverse swards is a learning curve. “We get two good years out of chicory, but by year three, it fades,” Martin admits. Their original 2019 reseed now contains mostly ryegrass and clover.

To support longevity, Martin:

• Extends the grazing rotation to 25 days
• Monitors growth patterns closely
  • Chicory and clover perform best in warmer months
  • Plantain is more cold-tolerant and starts early in spring
  • Ryegrass and plantain provide a structural base

Slurry is applied only to low-index fields, and paddocks are limited to one cut annually to preserve P and K levels.

“If soil fertility isn’t right from the start, you’re fighting a losing battle,” Martin stresses.

Reducing inputs, building resilience

Multi-species swards have helped cut nitrogen use significantly. “In 2023, our grassland averaged 140kg N/ha, but multi-species paddocks received just 20 to 50kg N/ha applied as a combination of artificial nitrogen and slurry,” he reports.

By 2024, foliar nitrogen has been introduced to improve uptake efficiency and lower atmospheric losses. These changes support Martin’s broader goal of more sustainable farming, a topic he’s deepening through an agricultural science and sustainability degree at the Technological University of Shannon (TUS).

Adapting to climate and labour challenges

With increasingly variable weather, the Ryan’s have adjusted their calving and grazing schedules. Calving now begins in early February, allowing cows direct access to grass and enabling a second grazing round by early April. “If the season goes well, we can graze into mid-November,” Martin notes.

Looking ahead: Building on success

Martin plans to expand his use of multi-species. While some heavier, wetter areas may not be suitable, the aim is to gradually expand their use where conditions allow.

While maintaining herb persistence is a challenge, the system is helping the Ryans balance production with sustainability, delivering benefits for soil health, labour and resilience.

Thinking about making the switch to multi-species?

Contact our grassland experts to explore how our Climate Smart Thrive range of multi-species mixture can support more resilient and sustainable grassland management.