Drilling now

Deere 6430

Member
Has anyone direct drilled anything at this time of the year? Got two bits of ground that are dry enough, or will be in two days definitely, and wondered if anyone has ever put winter wheat in now direct?

I’m keen on an experiment with it so mild.
 

Wombat

Member
BASIS
Location
East yorks
I hope to put some in in another week or so when a bit has dried out, won't be direct drilled but it's been done before after fodder beet and been fine.
 

Hereward

Member
Location
Peterborough
Most DD say go early in the autumn or late in the spring, so this might suggest it may struggle, but perhaps the weather will play ball. I would think with a very high seedrate you'd have enough germinate, survive and grow to warrant combining.
 

robbie

Member
BASIS
Not dd I know but I intend to drill up all the beet land we've lifted, asap.

My thoughts are that all the pits and ditches are still dry and land drains still aren't running, law of averages says we've got a lot of rain to have at some point and sods law says it'll be right when we want to get on in March.

Conditions are ace and may not be this good at all later in the spring.
 

bluepower

Member
Livestock Farmer
Conditions are more important than calendar date. I suggest 450-500 seeds/m2 as it will be slow to grow and the rooks will pull some up.
I ploughed 10 acres that was rape and turnip the sheep had finished today. It ploughed up really good and just crumbled apart. Hoping to combi-drill it with winter oats in the next few days as I have the seed in the shed. It was always my intention to drill with winter oats which can be succesfully planted until mid-March but conditions are so good at the moment.As you say conditions are more important than calendar but I think I will need to get the gasgun out! I have another 20 acres I was hoping to do the same with in another couple of weeks if it is still okay. It would be nice to get that done before we start lambing as it means no spring oats this year and the millers prefer Mascani to anything else. Last time I drilled winter oats in Jan they yielded well but with shorter straw than Oct drilled oats. I will tell you in August whether it was the right decision! Last year spring oats did not get drilled until late April and were a disaster.
 

Flat 10

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Fen Edge
I would not no till now
My guess is that you would be incredibly reliant on the weather continuing to be mild and dry until the crop had established which will be quite some time at this time of year, but why not try some? You haven't much to lose, except time and the seed cost...........
 
Im fairly convinced delaying drilling for blackgrass in the spring is completely pointless. Get the crop thick and away.
Not in my experience
March planted spring crops always have bg since fusillade failed in 1991
Avadex treated spring barley planted in April is often bg free
Spring beans later planted with glyphosate 2 weeks or later after drilling
Can give bg a head ache
Bg struggles with low n crops
 

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