To drill or not....and with what....Herbal ley...

I

Timbo1080 said:

Tell me more about your spring crop performance and cover crops...what's the issue?

AD was clean of BG seed, as feedstock didn't come from an appropriate source....it's definitely the reason I won't have FYM anywhere near this place. More concerned about the nature of the bacteria from AD, but given the season was so dry, it didn't concern me too much.

Catch up before would be good, else see you there!

Tim

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I've not grown any CC because our spring crops are usually poor performers and I need them to do more than they have previously done. I think the soil has had a lot of the fertility beaten out of it by having spuds in the rotation when we rented it out, but that was a few years ago and the structure is recovering.

Not too worried by FYM if I know where it's come from. AD has too many unknowns and I've got a soil analysis of some of local stuff and it doesn't bring that much. I'd be wary of AD, would be happier with compost as it's typically garden waste.

Recent rain will be helping you down there!

Brisel said:

I have some Kingsclere herbal ley mix for mob grazing from @Great In Grass slowly making an appearance having been drilled 6th April into dust. What is the view on starter nitrogen for a mix of herbs, legumes and grasses?

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I didn't know there was a kingsclere mix! I treat the spring barley crop the same N wise no matter if it has been undersown or not. I drop the Barley rate down a tad. I think that the Herbal Ley does benefit from a bit of N early on in its time as the clovers don't really get going for a while in terms of N return and Legumes do need a bit of N to get started. We put our leys in in early May and I wasn't too worried about low moisture as so far the leys have been there after harvest not matter what I've done so I'm more relaxed.

Great In Grass said:

If no-one has seen it there was a two page spread on @Tim May in last weeks Farmers Guardian talking about his herbal leys and how he's incorporated them into his farming operation very interesting article.

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Do you have a link o the article?

SimonD said:

Do you have a link o the article?

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I'm not sure if there is one, I'll photo copy and send it to you if I can't find it.

Received with thanks.

If anyone would like the Tim May article please start a Conversation and I'll forward it on.