Jolly
Member
- Location
- West Midlands
Done about 13 ha of strip tilled maize into a 'cover' of wheat volunteers and weeds after a laid crop last harvest the last day or so. In general I wish we had sprayed off in winter but things like that get forgotten about being a dairy farm, plus I don't really know if we had the opportunity before it turned wet anyway.
On the bits with clay, the cover had binded the soil together causing the front leg to slice through rather than burst and create tilth. Then the coulter didn't have much to work with and skated out on top, not placing the seed particularly well in places. But then in the same run, another strip might be fine, it simply depended on how much root mass there was in that spot.
Conversely, perhaps if it had been left bare, then the more awkward spots wouldn't have dried sufficiently. I hear people cultivating are still finding the soil to be too wet at depth. The soil is definitely cooler under the 'cover'. Sprayed off five days before drilling.
Anyway, I think most of this will be okay with a bit of luck, especially with a good soaking this weekend, just about 5 acres of iffy bits. I hope so anyway, to save the jokes of the harvesting crew. We have about 85 acres going in behind the plough so if this fails it won't be a gigantic failure, although an expensive one given the price of maize seed.
DAP down the front leg. Clearance through the drill was no problem.
Bugger all wrong with that ! Is this and your grass / barley experiment bound for whole crop, or for combining ?View attachment 678662
Barley drilled into a permanant pasture field on the 10th of may and sprayed off 4 days later. Excuse the crap stuck to the camera lens
Yes for wholecrop. Its not looking so good now though i think the slots are drying up because i didnt roll it. It looked pretty good and i assumed the grass would keep moisture in so thought id chance it. Seems it was a mistake. Its still coming in places though especially were the field is north facing. Havent given up on the idea though even though this isnt a total success so far. Will try some oats next year and roll it, maybe twice to check the grass some more, and it should come better. It might still come well thoufh a lot can happen between now and augustBugger all wrong with that ! Is this and your grass / barley experiment bound for whole crop, or for combining ?
It might be ok of it rained but it might push the grass on as well and then that smothers the barley so im not sure its doing a light drizzle now and theres more promised by the end of the week so we will soon find out! It might not be too late hut the barley is looking quite stressed a roll might knock it back further? I dont know really. Im not overly worried its 3 acres of leftover seed in half a silage field so if it comes it comes if not then its not the end of the world. Nothing ventured nothing gainedSurely a thump of rain and she’d come right . Is it too late for a light roll ?
Only did 45 today the ewes got rained on should finish that lot friday and then theres 160odd to struggle through thst arent ready yet next week. Then the rams inbetween when im feeling brave one day shouldnt take all week or at least i hope not. Got some spraying to do before i go as well. I might need to test the lights on the tractorI’m putting in kale for the first time this year, but into a field that was efa last year . Either spring reseed to grass, or spring barley undersown .
Very interesting idea though. And even if the cattle/ sheep tear up the grass below, shouldn’t take much to repair, or sow with something else !
But enough chat about crops, you’d better get those fffing ewes finished so your pals can drag you north to get you fitted for your kilt at the highland show !
I’m only going to be there on the Thursday, so will miss the carnage !. Enjoy and good luck !
I'm loving the Norfolk steep slope. That'd make a cricket pitch round hereGame strip into standing maize stalks from last year, across a steep slope. He wants to keep the rabbits off it.
The floor in my kitchen is steeper...I'm loving the Norfolk steep slope. That'd make a cricket pitch round here
Looking good bud I’m gonna send you down a tin of 3 in 1 oil so you can oil your seat