Direct/Strip-till drilling photo gallery

Jolly

Member
Location
West Midlands
82511026-65DA-42D0-BFB4-E7DBFF1353F9.jpeg Mzuri drilled Spring Wheat first time out about a month after planting
 

E_B

Member
Location
Norfolk
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.

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Establishment hasn't been a disaster. Slowly filling in on the knobbly bits, now we have had some rain. Some took over three weeks to germinate. Slugs have had a go. Even found a hollowed out unchitted seed. Establishment seems to be a bit worse in the thickest of the 'cover'. But these areas will hopefully retain the most moisture through the summer. Hopefully won't require any re-drilling. We shall see how it grows. Glad it looks okay because we still have the rest of our maize to do (majorly late) and it doesn't help that our plough just fell apart...

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E_B

Member
Location
Norfolk
One last update on this year's strip tilled maize. Officially happy with it at this point now, despite being a bit unsure at drilling. The clay bit is still poor although it is slowly filling in. Next year's vague plan is for more acres of heavier land, so it's a little bit disconcerting and haven't ruled out the plough yet, but really keen to do more of our acres this way.

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Game strip into standing maize stalks from last year, across a steep slope. He wants to keep the rabbits off it.

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hendrebc

Member
Livestock Farmer
Bugger all wrong with that !(y) Is this and your grass / barley experiment bound for whole crop, or for combining ?
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 august (y)
 

hendrebc

Member
Livestock Farmer
Surely a thump of rain and she’d come right . Is it too late for a light roll ?
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 :scratchhead: 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 gained (y)
I think the idea had a lot of potential though. Imagine a livestock farm being able to grow its own straw without costly cultivstions or reseeds or losing any grazing while it establishes. Or a kale crop growing above a crop of deferred grazing for outwintered stock and still have spring grazing there straight after. The potential is massive (y)
 

Bill dog

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Scottish Borders
I’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 !:eek:
I’m only going to be there on the Thursday, so will miss the carnage !:rolleyes::D. Enjoy and good luck !:wtf:
 

hendrebc

Member
Livestock Farmer
I’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 !:eek:
I’m only going to be there on the Thursday, so will miss the carnage !:rolleyes::D. Enjoy and good luck !:wtf:
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 (n) 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 tractor :unsure:
Shame your not there would have been good to meet. Might see you at an exlana sale one day ;)
 

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Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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