Grass seeds

som farmer

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
somerset
this last 3 yrs, with very little rain, has forced more reseeding, leys have tended to be 'thin', despite xdrilling, so we have upped our seed rate to 16/18 kg/acre. The problem, is very clearly moisture, a bit of wet, gives instant response !
Forage rape, this year, in places took 8 weeks to germinate, same time as the weeds. Grass seed, as a per kg, in a mix, is roughly £5, so those extra kg, cost very little, but could be very cheap. Also, been seeing, some articles, suggesting newer grasses germination, in field conditions, is lower. Some seed comes 'coated' with npk, or similar, meaning a lower amount of seed/kg, plus, the actual size/weight seed, whether correct, or not, a £10/15 acre spent on seed/acre, could well be worthwhile ! We have sown mixes containing plantain, chicory and vetches, for the first time, this autumn, in varying amounts, in different fields, as a trial, plantains, have gone mental, huge growth compared to the rest, vetches are good, as is chicory, but the plantains beat everything. No doubt, having decided to farm, for dryer summers, next year will be wet !
 

super4

Member
Location
Dorset
The leys I have planted this autumn have been very much slower coming through. The wet/dry does it no good. As a ryegrass seed grower the harvested crop has been much slower growing for germination testing in the lab this year as well.
 

Bury the Trash

Member
Mixed Farmer
the beauty of broadcasting seed is that the plants will tiller / spread out later on in their life if a bit thin at the start but like said above the gaps give clover a better chance to get established. if clover is what is wanted.
if youre going to buy more seed a bit of Italian or westerwolf's :sneaky: added would be not a bad idea ,to grow a bit quicker in not quite perfect conditions and add a bit of cover for the more delicate seedings /young as they come

but by far cheapest way to get that cover this time of year in though would be to scoop up some barley or oats from the store and broadcast them on thinly ...(y)

a drill will always leave gaps (n) because its an unnatural thing to do.
 

Bury the Trash

Member
Mixed Farmer
oh btw, hopefully because of delay/later sowing weeds will have been worked out and because of this and no windblowing of weed seed in winter time generally later sowing is cleaner anyway ive always found, only the seeds you now put on should be there is the theory ..:cool:

bit of 20 10 10 😏 in the spring ....and bobs yer bino fannies ....well....:oops:
 

Derrick Hughes

Member
Location
Ceredigion
You are drawing your own conclusions then.

Even this far north at the end of September I rarely sow at full recommended rate and it does fine with weeds rarely being an issue so late in the season.
With you being so far south I don't see much issue.
The chart by Germinal Seeds clearly states as temperatures fall so does germination- I dont advise customers to put more seed on apart from when sowing late
In my own situation I trying out all sorts of things to see what gives me the best results - one of those is uping seed rates
 

Derrick Hughes

Member
Location
Ceredigion
i yes and do remember to consult the 'chart' [emoji1787][emoji23]


adios amigos [emoji1783][emoji57]
I found the chart as a man selling seed would be Trumped on for advising to put moreseed on even though he does it on his own farm with great results
I am so please with my direct drillings so far when many said it could not be done - ok only the first year but my system has given me 100% success rate so far
The war on acid attack has worked
 

Derrick Hughes

Member
Location
Ceredigion
And this is how not to do it
Not mine thank God
20201015_111843.jpg
 

neilo

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Montgomeryshire
You are drawing your own conclusions then.

Even this far north at the end of September I rarely sow at full recommended rate and it does fine with weeds rarely being an issue so late in the season.
With you being so far south I don't see much issue.

I seem to remember sow at far lower seed rates to us, and seem to get by ok. On the other hand, the grass is always more densely established, more quickly, where you get any overlaps on the headland.
 

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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“

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