Diquat would dessicate the peasOnly Glypho I use is for pre harvest on the Pea's and pre drilling on the spring crops, but with another pass with the power harrow a week before drilling I think I could survive without it, might even try it this year to see. I'd really only need it on the Pea's pre harvest then.
Worse in what respect?
Plough well, plough slow. Deep one year, then progressively shallower in subsequent years. No need to plough every year either, IMO.
Diquat is in the firing line too
Because some more able and well capitalised farmers would convert thus putting organic into oversupply and a horrendous price crash. Increased livestock in the lowlands would push out the hill boys as they cannot benefit from an integrated system with arable production. There is no such thing as an isolated event like this there will be unintended victims, small contractors who rely on the hay trade would also feel the pinch from a large increase in free grass.
Yes I remember going over a field umpteen times trying to cultivate out weeds. How much diesel, steel and rubber can to throw at something and call it a green way of doing things?
Any one can notill without glyphosate but the trick is, @Clive points out making money. If you think cover crops will work long term think again, all you will do is shift the weed spectrum in a few years. The profitability will fall out of any crop that helps as we have seen with barley
