1 year grazing ley instead of fallow

[Corn & Horn]

I have been approached by a friend asking whether I would be interested in having a 1 year grass ley in their arable rotation, instead of their current fallow year. I am interested, however 2 of the biggest costs are seed and establishment, and with them only being spread over 1 year it could prove to be an unviable option, should he want a significant rental figure as well. Is anyone renting arable land for a 1 year fallow? If so what is the going rate? What mix are you using? Its good wheat land, 600 mm annual rainfall. Midlands
Thank you

 

[upnortheast]

You are doing him a favour. providing a break crop which will enhance his next crop.
He should pay you

 

[gone up the hill]

I have been approached by a friend asking whether I would be interested in having a 1 year grass ley in their arable rotation, instead of their current fallow year. I am interested, however 2 of the biggest costs are seed and establishment, and with them only being spread over 1 year it could prove to be an unviable option, should he want a significant rental figure as well. Is anyone renting arable land for a 1 year fallow? If so what is the going rate? What mix are you using? Its good wheat land, 600 mm annual rainfall. Midlands
Thank you

If a one year ley and you have to pay for the seed/ drilling it etc then its only worth a token rent of £10/20 acre at most.

If they supply the above then £80/100 rent.

To make it worthwhile for both sides really needs to be a 3 year ley and one that would put down N like a red clover/ ryegrass mix.

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

For one year you might be better off growing and grazing 2 cover crops, one after harvest and one drilled April may and grazed August September

 

[bovrill]

If you buy basic grass, will he contribute to some clover mixed in, and anything else that will be beneficial to him?
It used to be all the rage round here to chase the combine with Italian ryegrass seed and plenty of fert, get an autumn cut, then a spring cut before going into linseed on the 14th of May for the subsidy! They used to get cracking crops of grass (not so much the linseed!) So I would think that having the rest of the summer to get a couple more cuts would make it worthwhile with the right grass.

 

[jpd]

is the whole idea of fallow to remove no crop
thus regenerating the soil?
this appears to be abreak crop of intensive ryegrass

 

[e3120]

is the whole idea of fallow to remove no crop
thus regenerating the soil?
this appears to be abreak crop of intensive ryegrass

The title does talk of grazing it, which should retain most of the fertility. I would prefer a longer ley, though, to dilute costs and enhance the benefits.

 

[puppet]

Budget on £200/acre to reseed it. If sown previous autumn you will get a summer grazing unless it is back into winter cereal. Spring seeding means a very short season. Might have to spray weeds as well.
Why doesn't he reseed it and you rent it for grazing.

 

[Brisel]

What would a Westerwolds ley mix cost @Great In Grass @Kevtherev ?

 

[glasshouse]

Grow your own grass seed
Buying it is a rip off

 

[glasshouse]

If a one year ley and you have to pay for the seed/ drilling it etc then its only worth a token rent of £10/20 acre at most.

If they supply the above then £80/100 rent.

To make it worthwhile for both sides really needs to be a 3 year ley and one that would put down N like a red clover/ ryegrass mix.

0 rent

 

[AndrewM]

dont forget that ryegrass is a takeall host so you wont be getting a true break from a one year ley.

 

[jpd]

my reseed costs are upwards of €80 an acre for seed alone
a covercrop seed mix of fodder rape plus leafy turnip is €10 an acre
is it not expensive just to sow grass to plough it down?

 

[balerman]

Surely a 2-3 yr red clover ley would be better for all concerned.

 

[ollie989898]

I would drill westerwolds right behind the combine and roll it. Pray for rain. Potentially you may be able to graze it lightly the first winter.

From the following spring on wards feed it and cut cut cut it. Rip up and put into wheat (or OSR, actually) in the autumn.

a 2 or 3 year red (or white?) clover ley might make more sense.

IF the land doesn't hang wet lucerne could be an option.

 

[Pan mixer]

Westerwolds are a bit risky in an arable rotation, they grow so blooming quick that they will produce a viable ear in about 4 weeks or so after the first cuts. Pretty easy to leave a reservoir of Westerwold seeds in the soil to infest the arable rotation.

When I grew a one year westerwold crop it took me 3 years to get rid of the volunteers even in a grazed conventional ley that I put in after. Then I had to grow spring barley to get rid of another flush and now it is in winter wheat and I am hoping that the liberator and avadex have stopped it or else it is back to a grass ley next autumn.

 

[Bogweevil]

WRAG she say: Where possible avoid sowing Italian rye-grass on arable farms due to resistance to all the best herbicides.

Have not heard of any glyphosate resistant populations but any day now

Maybe Granfer was right to use sweeping from the hay barn to reseed leys - he grew some rare thistles and docks but nothing a few thumping good doses of 2,4-D and dicamba wouldn't sort out (eventually).

 

[Corn & Horn]

thanks all, some interesting points. Meeting next week. It certainly makes the economics challenging with only one year to spread any seed and establishment costs over.

 

[haybob]

thanks all, some interesting points. Meeting next week. It certainly makes the economics challenging with only one year to spread any seed and establishment costs over.

Hi just wondering if you made any plans for a one year ley? I am thinking of using my own sheep in my arable rotation. I want a one year grazing ley to fatten lambs, which would double up as a green manure / break crop to go into 1st wheat. Not sure what I want really, but it must be easy to knock up with a set of discks in August . Probably clover if it's safe enough as a straight That vetch looks long stuff to deal with if it gets away too much.