A significant result

[SilliamWhale]

Harvested the second of our no till, wide row wheats last night. I was disappointed with the yield as it's our "best" field. We got 11.7t/ha compared to 12t on the "second best".

However, there were many variables between the two, drilling date different by almost a month, different variety, fields not adjacent (although quite close), different cropping history etc etc.

Glad I had the slightly more scientific test as reported in OP, otherwise I would be worrying about the row spacing. As it is, I'm now thinking about whether we are drilling too early. What is is NIAB TAG say is optimum, October 7th?

I don't think your row spacing is an issue. Equally you can't expect to get drilling date optimum each year, just a spread of dates seems prudent

 

[Will Blackburn]

Harvested the second of our no till, wide row wheats last night. I was disappointed with the yield as it's our "best" field. We got 11.7t/ha compared to 12t on the "second best".

However, there were many variables between the two, drilling date different by almost a month, different variety, fields not adjacent (although quite close), different cropping history etc etc.

Glad I had the slightly more scientific test as reported in OP, otherwise I would be worrying about the row spacing. As it is, I'm now thinking about whether we are drilling too early. What is is NIAB TAG say is optimum, October 7th?

It is good to be open minded and have time to digest yield results, but to spend a nano second trying to reconcile a 2% yield difference.

 

[The Ruminant]

@dontknowanything Apologies if you've already mentioned this but how did the very early-drilled wheat grazed by sheep compare to the other wheats?

When we saw it during a farm walk last autumn it didn't look much further ahead above-ground than the later drilled stuff (due to a cold August and September post-drilling if I remember correctly). However, when we dug up a few plants I remember seeing a much better root structure on the early drilled stuff.

Did this have any affect on yields? Also, did the sheep grazing add anything to the overall gross margin of the field compared to the rest?

And the acid test - would you repeat the exercise?

 

[dontknowanything]

@dontknowanything Apologies if you've already mentioned this but how did the very early-drilled wheat grazed by sheep compare to the other wheats?

When we saw it during a farm walk last autumn it didn't look much further ahead above-ground than the later drilled stuff (due to a cold August and September post-drilling if I remember correctly). However, when we dug up a few plants I remember seeing a much better root structure on the early drilled stuff.

Did this have any affect on yields? Also, did the sheep grazing add anything to the overall gross margin of the field compared to the rest?

And the acid test - would you repeat the exercise?

I'd love to tell you, but you've convinced me not to share good ideas with competitors!

 

[The Ruminant]

I'd love to tell you, but you've convinced me not to share good ideas with competitors!

So it's a good idea is it...... or are you double bluffing us and it was an actual disaster.....

 

[RushesToo]

So it's a good idea is it...... or are you double bluffing us and it was an actual disaster.....

Come on you two @B&B Pig Man could be starting a new empire on grazing sheep shipped in from the back of beyond to eat your cover crops away and top off your early drilled winter crops - and it could pay you, B&B and the sheep fanatics that are fed up with low lamb prices

 

[dontknowanything]

http://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/what-would-happen-if.22448/page-8

 

[The Ruminant]

http://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/what-would-happen-if.22448/page-8

You've linked to a thread that still hasn't given the answer..:..

.......are you York in disguise??

 

[BSH]

I think the link is to a post that says he is busy and will contribute more when harvest is out of the way!