- Location
- Ceredigion
Not the two local ones my mates have boughtOnly because your Government went and bought one for everyone!
Row Spacing in Grass
- Thread starter Sheep
- Start date
I just find that on my ground I never get the sward thick enough in the bottom when it's been drilled in the past. I think this is then exaggerated when putting a lot of tetraploids in which don't generally tiller like a diploid would.
I like a bit of ground cover to reduce stones being flicked into the swath (we have a lot of small cotswold brash), carry livestock better and reduce the amount of bare soil on show reducing the weed burden and lowering the ability for the ground to dry out sooner in the summer.
- Location
- Shropshire
That would be my thoughts too. I had a customer on the phone today considering sowing a herbal ley next week.
Too late?
- Location
- Welshpool Powys
Trash clearance I think is the reason
A very close spaced tine drill would block up easier I would think.
(Plus the pigs don’t like being close to each other)
- Location
- Cornwall.
A month too late!
- Location
- Shropshire
That would be my thoughts too
- Location
- Welshpool Powys
Too cold now for any reseeding
Sheep
Member
- Location
- Northern Ireland
I'm looking for a low disturbance DD, so probably not enough tilth to broadcast over the tines. (see pic)
What do you think about broadcasting a dip onto uncultivated land? as in a broadcaster on top of the drill as per @Mc115reed's suggestion.
I've drilled with a rapid directly into stubble before with good success, however havent been able to follow the crop throughout the year to see how it performed. Do you cultivate beforehand or go in direct?
That's my worry too, especially as we have quite a lot of livestock on in a wet time, its nice to have a well structured top couple of inches.
- Location
- Ceredigion
You have to have soil contact whatever you do ,so depends what you mean by uncultivated, if you do a good job of removing growth after you have sprayed ,then if you can get some soil by tine harrowing then in good growing conditions broadcasting will work ,, you can't broadcast behind a disc drill , biggest part of the seed won't fall in the slot and won't grow end of , , I drilled 40 acres Into silage ground last week , I could have broadcast on that easy enough , It had one pass with a tine harrow first set agresivly, only issue now is I will get more weed competition as I have opened the surface up more than if I had drilled straight in.
I get no problems getting a good cover of grass with the disc drill , grass cover depends on verities of grass more than anything else , we are a wettish livestock farm so need a good cover as well ,
You would be better going for a disc drill in your situation if you want low desturbance , just cross drill it if you want it a bit narrower spacing , I can't see you wanting to go to the expense of buying a close spaced disc drill , unless you go out contracting to cover the cost, you can't get a drill to suit all conditions, a Tyne drill has a wider window but won't drill as close if that's important to , sometimes you have to make the condition s suit the drill or just don't drill until conditions are right
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Sheep
Member
- Location
- Northern Ireland
Very clear post - and certainly along the lines I was thinking. I'm finding a lot of weeds chitting (especially docks) whenever I do any sort of deeper cultivation, so I'm keen to avoid that. Some disturbance will be fine, and I agree that whilst a disc drill would be ideal, I think a tine would be very useful for any cereals in this part of the world.
I'm leaning towards 12.5cm spacing on 3 rows
I can always add more if needed.
- Location
- Ceredigion
The one here is a 9.5 disc , I would think a Tyne would be better for cereals and row witdth no important, I was told when we bought the drill that most in Ireland go for the 12.5 and hardly any cross drill on grass , but like I said its about choosing the right grass for the job in hand , if you want strong cover then late diploids and not to much TetraploidVery clear post - and certainly along the lines I was thinking. I'm finding a lot of weeds chitting (especially docks) whenever I do any sort of deeper cultivation, so I'm keen to avoid that. Some disturbance will be fine, and I agree that whilst a disc drill would be ideal, I think a tine would be very useful for any cereals in this part of the world.
I'm leaning towards 12.5cm spacing on 3 rows
I broadcast seed on a very firm seedbed then run over it with chain harrows. You get a stripy effect like it's been drilled, as well as seeding between the rows.
paul&mandy
Member
- Location
- surrey/west sussex
Got a new moore unidrill 32row, grass looks a picture, I think its 9cm row spacing
ollie989898
Member
Stop letting broad leaved weeds drive your decision making. They are nearly an irrelevance. The spray is £10-15 an acre. Compare that to the cost of the seed and the loss of production they can cause. You need to be spraying all new leys. It is that simple.
- Location
- Ceredigion
No point spending on reseeding and letting weeds destroy it that's for sure
Expecting chickweed to be a problem in some I've recently sown , I used Minstrel last time , what you think , no clover in that ley
ollie989898
Member
Minstrel will sort the chickweed and seedling docks (and docks from roots if used stiff enough) but it will not touch all species of weeds. You can broaden it by adding combined 2,4D and MCPA type products, i.e headland polo, pasture master etc. You probably won't need to use full rates of either product. Check products are approved for new leys first as well.
However you establish a new ley will invite weeds into it, that is what they are designed to do. I wouldn't let them put me off using any particular method. It is weed grasses that are a bigger concern because they are a far bigger problem.
- Location
- Ceredigion
Thanks and yes the time I see weeds being hit far to late
It would be worth speaking to our Technical Manager - Stuart Aldworth. email [email protected]
He has helped a number of farmers who have build their own drills.
- Location
- Pembrokeshire
Never sprayed a new ley
Spray off old stuff with roundup
Subsoiler through it
Dynadrive over it
Flat roll with built in seeder on it
Soon as it’s grazeable get cows over it or better still heifers/calves on it
Weeds all grazed of
Me neither, value the clover too much. If much weed appears give it 2 or 3 weeks then mow and bale it. Grows back lovely and clean and saves the cost of the spray.