What's making ley look sick?

Mac10

Member

Location

SE

• Aug 12, 2018

• #1

This could be embarrassingly simple, but I'm a novice grass grower, so bare with me.

Put a ley down in 2016 that yielded well for first cut then come second cut had developed orange growths on head and stem, which eventually led to the stem dying. Leaves also had blotches. This year the ley is weak but is unaffected.

Put a different ley down last Autumn, different seed, but the same has happened. Strong first cut, strong regrowth but regrowth is suffering as the previous ley did. Affecting ryegrass the most, with some effect on the Timothy in the mix. Neighbours ley the other side of the fence is totally unaffected.

Anyone more learned able to confirm what it is/what action to take?

Cheers

 

Last edited: Aug 12, 2018

kill

Member

Livestock Farmer

Location

South West

• Aug 12, 2018

• #2

A break crop of brassica or corn between leys may well have helped

 

ollie989898

Member

Location

Hanging from a twig, in a deep sleep.

• Aug 12, 2018

• #3

Crown rust. You won't prevent these no matter what rotation you have, they are airborne, likely been encouraged by the recent shift in weather. Different varieties of grass have differing resistance to these diseases hence the reason we use grass mixtures. I am not sure of the science but I believe physiological stress weakens the plant and often outbreaks result. If a lot of the foliage is bad you are best to top it off or graze it off if you can, then feed the grass to encourage fresh and stronger growth.

In seed crops or turf etc fungicides can be used but I doubt they would be worthwhile in a commercial ley.

Basically, keep leys well fed and hope they shrug it off.

 

davidroberts30

Member

Location

pembrokeshire

• Aug 12, 2018

• #4

Rye grass seed heads here have rust on it
All the leaf is clean at the mo

 

Mac10

Member

Location

SE

• Aug 12, 2018

• #5

ollie989898 said:

Crown rust. You won't prevent these no matter what rotation you have, they are airborne, likely been encouraged by the recent shift in weather. Different varieties of grass have differing resistance to these diseases hence the reason we use grass mixtures. I am not sure of the science but I believe physiological stress weakens the plant and often outbreaks result. If a lot of the foliage is bad you are best to top it off or graze it off if you can, then feed the grass to encourage fresh and stronger growth.

In seed crops or turf etc fungicides can be used but I doubt they would be worthwhile in a commercial ley.

Basically, keep leys well fed and hope they shrug it off.

Click to expand...

Thanks for that! I put it down to the increased amount of wet and foggy weather last year, but was a bit surprised to see it after such a long drought this time around.

 

ollie989898

Member

Location

Hanging from a twig, in a deep sleep.

• Aug 12, 2018

• #6

Mac10 said:

Thanks for that! I put it down to the increased amount of wet and foggy weather last year, but was a bit surprised to see it after such a long drought this time around.

Click to expand...

Diseases are just plain weird, the recent drought obviously would have stressed the grass, throw in some rain hitting the very warm ground and you have a lot of humidity about at low level.

 

TelesnaAg

Member

Location

Portland, Victoria - Australia

• Aug 13, 2018

• #7

Can u graze and then give a shot of N? We get this a bit next to coast...

Ant...

 

Boysground

Member

Mixed Farmer

Location

Wiltshire

• Aug 13, 2018

• #8

When i first started farming we had an agronomist who was keen on treating crown rust. Used fungicide for a couple of years but never saw any noticeable difference in production and as the crop was never weighed it was unlikely. We definitely have bad years for it, this year has not been one.

Just note that I used the chemical 25 years ago and there may well be nothing with Grass on the label now, I havnt looked recently.

Bg

 

Deutzdx3

Member

• Aug 13, 2018

• #9

There are a lot of nutrients being washed out with the recent weather. Maybe a ph test to see what to feed the grass to make it health and strong. You can get basic ph tester for cheap to indicate wether it’s acidic or alkaline. No need for agronomist.

 

organicguy

Member

Location

North East of the south west

• Aug 13, 2018

• #10

Crown rust, there are plenty of resistant varieties, you should get a copy of the recommended list. Dont let anyone sell you a ley with low resistance varieties in it. Simples!