Caption Peter Schofield, UK Sales Manager of Hunters of Chester and Richard Laley who farms on the North York Moors near Scarborough.

Livestock farmers must pay more attention to their fertiliser policy if they want to maximise the output from their grassland says leading seed company, Hunters of Chester.

Peter Schofield, UK Sales Manager claims that more than 90 per cent of poor crop performance can be attributed to one single factor - a lack of potash, and warns livestock farmers are staring a problem in the face and avoiding it.

“Not enough consideration is taken when farmers purchase fertilisers,” says Mr Schofield. “In my experience an imbalance in soil fertility is causing a problem in many grass swards, particularly those for silage.”

Hunters of Chester, which recently announced a re-launch of the company, was established in 1883 and specialises in providing quality grass seed to farmers across England and Wales.

Mr Schofield, who has more than three decades of experience in the industry continued: “For over thirty years farmers have been sold fertiliser with a equal quantities of phosphate (P) and potash (K) - but they must ask themselves why.

“Is it still appropriate today,” asks Mr Schofield, “when most conserved forages take off in excess 30 units of potash for each tonne of dry matter harvested and around eight units of phosphate.