This new, fully updated and revised edition of Improved Grassland Management covers all aspects of grassland management and is of particular relevance to the UK and the Republic of Ireland, although the principles discussed apply to all temperate grassland zones. Almost twenty years ago, when the original edition of this book was written by John Frame, issues such as efficiency in the use of nutrients in manures, grassland biodiversity and greenhouse gas emissions from ruminant production were either nascent, or of no relevance to mainstream grassland farming. The intervening two decades have seen the introduction of water and, latterly, air quality directives by the EU, cross compliance, the single farm payment, and an ever increasing need for grassland farmers to be conscious of the economics of their business. The present edition, which has been thoroughly revised by Scott Laidlaw, covers the full scope of modern grassland management. Topics covered include: ? Breeding and evaluation of new varieties of grass to meet current needs ? New technology in establishing swards ? Legislative constraints, background science and practice in determining forage quality and the utilisation of forage either for grazing or silage ? Feed budgeting, grassland biodiversity, grassland and climate change, and transferring knowledge and technology ? Wide ranging list of sources and references, which provides the reader with further detailed information AUTHOR: Scott Laidlaw is a Principal Scientific Officer in the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute of Northern Ireland. He is Project Leader in the Grassland Agronomy Section of the Applied Plant Science Division, having been involved in grassland research in the Northern Ireland public service since 19722. He co-operated with the late John Frame in writing papers, mainly on forage legumes, and a book Temprature Forage Legumes. SELLING POINTS: ? Essential reading for all those involved in modern grassland management including grassland farmers, agricultural consultants and advisory officers, as well as agricultural, land use and biology students ? Gives comprehensive coverage of the full scope of modern grassland management ? Written in a reader friendly advisory style, it can be read and understood without an in-depth technical or scientific background ? New, fully updated and revised edition twenty years after the original edition was written by the late John Frame ILLUSTRATIONS: 61 colour photographs *
