GeorgeK
Member
- Location
- Leicestershire
OSR in my bird cover been in 3 weeks and taking a hammering. Also dispels the myth planting it with a companion crop confuses the beetles, they seem to find it just fine
OSR 2021
- Thread starter Farmer Ben
- Start date
- Location
- the brecks norfolk
When mixing in a conventional crop sprayer how do you stop it foaming up????? Is it the age old method adopted for glyphosate and out a cup full of diesel in the tank first??????
Farmer Ben
Member
If you search flea beetle on the internet it generally comes up with gardeners issues. Explains organic liquid soap or talcum powder. I’ve seen a product called Castile soap. Organic liquid soap made from olive oil. Not sure if it’s worth a try if the beetle battle begins. Insecticides don’t seem to work and clearly the case is they remove the beneficial insects.
- Location
- S. Staffs
Out judging OSR crops yesterday, the winning crops would be exceptional in any year imo but after last year’s disasters it’s amazing how they have survived the dreaded beetle.
Just what has made the difference as there are plenty of beetle stories on this thread?
Just what has made the difference as there are plenty of beetle stories on this thread?
- Location
- Berkshire
I’ve tried Buckwheat, Barley and Mustard in Clearfield as companions
Zero success with any of them !!
Long stubble and DD is the best approach I’ve had
GeorgeK
Member
- Location
- Leicestershire
For some reason healthier plants are less susceptible or attractive to beetles, perhaps they have tougher skin but for whatever reason beetles flock to the weak plants. Where our plants sat waterlogged over winter they were full of larvae, the best soil with the strongest plants had hardly any.
I put some winter OSR in bird cover drilled April/May that got hit by beetles and didn't flower that year. They over wintered and next year started flowering at over 12 months old and had zero larvae in them. I can only assume the plants were too old and tough for the beetles.
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- Location
- S E Glos
Beetles prefer young tender plants and move away if plants get too big. That's thought to be the reason the 'volunteer trap' approach doesn't often work.
I see you are having some trees planted for you at cirencester, are they going to provide a deck chair for you to watch all your successors carrying on the good work. Enjoy your retirement , hopefully one of your replacements can carry on with your sense of humour,
SilliamWhale
Member
What's your slug control strategy at planting? I get a lot of small slugs on them straight away and looking to improve
Why wouldn't the soap hurt beneficials?
Bogweevil
Member
Good question, I expect commercial greenhouse growers use a barrow sprayer - these don't cause much foaming.
For a broadacre crop I would consider a suitable surfactant based adjuvant instead of washing up liquid, which would presumably be formulated to avoid foaming and will be approved for the crop in question.
Bogweevil
Member
It will harm any beneficial it touches but will leave no residues, and some beneficials, larger predatory beetles say, may be less susceptible than little flea beetles. I have no idea if it will work.
Farmer Ben
Member
I know this practice has been used on the continent I’d really like to know more about it but limited research. I’m sure like all farmers we don’t want to harm anything away from the target. The research from John Innes is really interesting regarding the parasitic wasps. I really wouldn’t want to harm the population.
- Location
- S E Glos
They're a gift from Somerset members, cider apple trees. Hmm, let me think, cider or deckchair? Cider or deckchair?.........
Ivorbiggun
Member
- Location
- Norfolk
Turn off the agitation while filling the sprayer, then turn it on at no more than 50%, turn it off again when you get to 500 litres left in the tank.
- Location
- Berkshire
Slugs seem to be less of an issue, I normally spread Ferric mini pellets as we roll, very rare to follow up now
I think it’s essential to apply at drilling as waiting to see damage and applying leads to issues
Breakthru
Member
- Location
- Scottish Borders
I passed a comment about CSFB in a Leatherjacket thread. I have had a number of successful users of Greenland who have asked for my "prescription" to try out. I will bring it to this thread as there are about 5 "all" about Leatherjackets.
We have anecdotal evidence that Breakthru creates soil conditions that like slugs CSFB don't like. They come in have a nibble and move on as there is nowhere to hide in the soil.
If you are chopping straw (not feeding or bedding due to content of metals such as copper sulphate) especially where Direct Drilling apply 0.7kg /ha Bthru along with the glyphosate in the evening when slugs are active. Due to Citric acid content etc you will see an instant effect on any slugs grazing foliage or ears. It requires water conditioner (as does glyphosate) and a sticker so it doesn't wash off as is very soluble. This will deny a later hatch of slugs and the CSFB anywhere to hide. I would then apply a follow up of 1.0 kg/ha along with your pre-em agchems. If you have any backward areas or excessive grazing then a follow up of 0.5ltr/ha Greenland which should give 7 days cover to let it get away.
At end of Sept?? at egg laying time if CSFB are found in the crop apply 1.0ltr/ha of Greenland and that should take out the migrating nematodes.
If unfortunately you get a second egg laying later, in your conditions, same again.
Conditioner approx 20-80p/acre
Breakthru £55/ 5kg
Sticker 80p/ha
Greenland at present £20/ltr.
This is a bit belt and braces but with OSR at present prices should be worth a trial area. Have already sold all this seasons stock of Greenland and have re-ordered. Due to INFLATION of everything I see and touch some prices indicative, courier for instance +30% in 2 months.
The days of just in time are long gone gents and ladies.
H/Brake shoes for a sprinter 5 weeks! as an example.
We have anecdotal evidence that Breakthru creates soil conditions that like slugs CSFB don't like. They come in have a nibble and move on as there is nowhere to hide in the soil.
If you are chopping straw (not feeding or bedding due to content of metals such as copper sulphate) especially where Direct Drilling apply 0.7kg /ha Bthru along with the glyphosate in the evening when slugs are active. Due to Citric acid content etc you will see an instant effect on any slugs grazing foliage or ears. It requires water conditioner (as does glyphosate) and a sticker so it doesn't wash off as is very soluble. This will deny a later hatch of slugs and the CSFB anywhere to hide. I would then apply a follow up of 1.0 kg/ha along with your pre-em agchems. If you have any backward areas or excessive grazing then a follow up of 0.5ltr/ha Greenland which should give 7 days cover to let it get away.
At end of Sept?? at egg laying time if CSFB are found in the crop apply 1.0ltr/ha of Greenland and that should take out the migrating nematodes.
If unfortunately you get a second egg laying later, in your conditions, same again.
Conditioner approx 20-80p/acre
Breakthru £55/ 5kg
Sticker 80p/ha
Greenland at present £20/ltr.
This is a bit belt and braces but with OSR at present prices should be worth a trial area. Have already sold all this seasons stock of Greenland and have re-ordered. Due to INFLATION of everything I see and touch some prices indicative, courier for instance +30% in 2 months.
The days of just in time are long gone gents and ladies.
H/Brake shoes for a sprinter 5 weeks! as an example.
- Location
- N.Yorkshire
Sown one field of ours 28th july and never sprayed an insecticide on it, a bit of feeding in autumn but no apparent damage in spring. Worse was the crops sown end of august for larve. Sown a field in early sept and not effected. It never got too forward, didnt put any autumn N on.