We have the ryegrass problem as well, it got bad before we were able to get on top of it.
I would echo every piece of advice already given.
A lot of spring cropping allowing stale seedbeds to be used, was probably the most effective method for us at a field level, our worst field is now about to go into its 5th year of spring cropping. As the others have said don't be afraid to spray off an area of badly infested growing crop.
In about June the rye grass is particularly easy to spot against the background crop, which makes hand rouging easier (but sadly no less boring!). I do the fert spreading and I've had to self discipline myself to stop at the end of a run and walk back to rogue any odd single plants that i see when I'm doing the last N dose.
Keep an eye on the field edges and around telegraph poles etc it likes to grow there and can be disguised against margins or hedges. Some times there will be a late flush just before harvest, this years wet summer was a good example, growing in the tramlines, so knapsack spraying the tramline was necessary. Do everything to nobble it while its relatively small and definitely while green.
We also found that we had, and still have to be, anal about machine hygiene as well, particularly, but not only the combine.
Also for the last few years we haven't home saved any seed either as an extra precaution.
We are managing it, but i certainly wouldn't say we have cured it.
Good luck.
James
I would echo every piece of advice already given.
A lot of spring cropping allowing stale seedbeds to be used, was probably the most effective method for us at a field level, our worst field is now about to go into its 5th year of spring cropping. As the others have said don't be afraid to spray off an area of badly infested growing crop.
In about June the rye grass is particularly easy to spot against the background crop, which makes hand rouging easier (but sadly no less boring!). I do the fert spreading and I've had to self discipline myself to stop at the end of a run and walk back to rogue any odd single plants that i see when I'm doing the last N dose.
Keep an eye on the field edges and around telegraph poles etc it likes to grow there and can be disguised against margins or hedges. Some times there will be a late flush just before harvest, this years wet summer was a good example, growing in the tramlines, so knapsack spraying the tramline was necessary. Do everything to nobble it while its relatively small and definitely while green.
We also found that we had, and still have to be, anal about machine hygiene as well, particularly, but not only the combine.
Also for the last few years we haven't home saved any seed either as an extra precaution.
We are managing it, but i certainly wouldn't say we have cured it.
Good luck.
James