Case Study
Sumo GLS puts grassland on equal footing with arable at Sherwood Farm
Farm Profile
Customer:
Mark Oldroyd
Location:
Sherwood Farm, Oxfordshire
About:
1,800 acres of combinable crops and 1,000 acres of forage, split evenly between grass and maize
The Challenge
For Oxfordshire farm manager Mark Oldroyd, the pressure of running a high-output dairy enterprise on challenging soils meant something had to change – and that change began with a new mindset around grassland.
“We treat grassland more like an arable crop now – and the results have been dramatic.”
Sherwood Farm, near Wallingford, sits on low-lying Oxford clay and river alluvial soils close to the Thames. With over 650 cows housed all year round and a similar number of followers, intense trafficking from stock and machinery was putting grassland under pressure.
“The system was starting to take its toll on our soils,” says Mark. “The ground was tight, yields were inconsistent, and the leys just weren’t lasting.”
With all cows on a TMR ration and strip grazing through the growing season, alongside two to three cuts of silage, the farm grows 1,800 acres of combinable crops and 1,000 acres of forage, split evenly between grass and maize.
But while arable land was regularly sub-soiled to maintain structure, grassland was being neglected.
“We realised we were overlooking one of the most vital parts of our system.”
Our Solution
The solution lay in rethinking how grassland was managed. Mark sought a way to improve soil structure, encourage root development, and boost grass productivity without relying solely on reseeding. After researching subsoiling options suitable for grassland, he identified the Sumo GLS as the right tool for the job. Its ability to lift and aerate compacted ground without disturbing the sward meant it could be used flexibly and effectively across the farm’s forage areas. The machine promised to bring the same care and performance to grassland that was already standard practice in the arable rotation.
Enter the GLS
After researching options, Mark decided to try a Sumo GLS – and it immediately proved its worth.
“Anyone serious about growing good-quality grass needs to try a GLS,” he says. “Farmers don’t realise how poor their grass is until they use one.”
The GLS has become a key part of the farm’s machinery fleet. Sherwood Farm now runs a five-leg GLS with auto-reset leg protection.
“It’s now one of the most important machines on the farm. It’s simple, well-built, reliable – and British, which is a big plus for us.”
Healthier leys, better utilisation
Using the GLS on tight ground post-strip grazing quickly showed results.
“The grass came back visibly healthier. It had a lawn-like appearance and the cows grazed it more evenly. We knew we had to build the GLS into our machine replacement policy.”
The machine has helped rejuvenate tired leys, allowing ryegrass to dominate once again and reducing clover overgrowth.
“We’re now seeing more consistent yields throughout the five-year lifespan of a ley – and possibly even beyond.”
Reseeding rethink
Rather than watching yields drop off year-on-year and being forced into expensive reseeds, Mark now takes a prevention-over-cure approach.
“With the GLS and maybe a bit of over-seeding, we’re extending the life of the sward. That’s a massive cost saving.”
Machine Specifications
Key benefits include:
Results
Since introducing the GLS, Sherwood Farm has seen a clear uplift in grassland performance. The soil is more open and better structured, leading to improved drainage and less poaching. Sward quality has increased noticeably, with stronger ryegrass growth and reduced weed and clover competition. Silage yields are more consistent, grazing is more efficient, and the longevity of leys has improved significantly. Overall, the GLS has enabled a more productive and sustainable forage system, reducing input costs and enhancing feed self-sufficiency for the dairy herd.
Flexible, farm-wide use
The GLS isn’t just for grassland. The farm uses it across maize and arable land as well, whenever soil conditions call for it, and the benefits are wide-reaching.
“We’re now able to go straight into stubble after the combine, loosen, mix and consolidate all in one pass. It’s halved our stubble-to-planting time and saved a fortune in diesel and man hours.
We’ve gone from 1.25t/ha to 3.55t/ha in oilseed rape and we’re achieving that consistently.”“We’re not tied to a rotational schedule. If a field needs it and the conditions are right, we get in and get it done.”
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