AB 9 Winter bird mix

[Dman2]

Have some of the above to sow
Can use 90% cereal, so we are using oats seeing as we have some.
What rate are people sowing the oats
And do you mix the other seeds with the oats to sow or sow seperate.

Cheers

 

[B R C]

Good question I have some as well. I have some wheat, barley and oats to mix in. Thinking broadcast the cereals disc, roll, then broadcast the small seeds, roll?
Half Normal rate, to allow other seeds to compete? Hopefully other may have some experience of this...

 

[Brisel]

AB9: Winter bird food

Find out about eligibility and requirements for the winter bird food option.

www.gov.uk

As long as one crop group e.g. cereals does not exceed 90% of the weight, you can be flexible on components.

I have to confess that I've bought off the shelf or bespoke mixtures before and used their recommended seed rates with direct drilling.

Cover crops - Stewardship mixtures - Bright Seeds

Stewardship cover crops are designed to provide a sustained source of food during winter months for targeted game and wild birds. Enhance bird seed mixtures, suitable for HLS and ELS. AB9, AB1, AB15

www.brightseeds.co.uk

 

[B R C]

@Great In Grass can you do a mixture to add to the cereal element?
That mix is sown at 75kgha so about 60-65kg cereal? Probably makes sense as you really don’t want the cereal to smother the rest.
@Brisel did the direct drilling work well with the mix?

 

[Will 1594]

@Great In Grass can you do a mixture to add to the cereal element?
That mix is sown at 75kgha so about 60-65kg cereal? Probably makes sense as you really don’t want the cereal to smother the rest.
@Brisel did the direct drilling work well with the mix?

Spin corn on when you put Fert on , then you want an old box drill on old power Harrow and dribble seed on top and following Harrow covers it and p h mixed corn in , and mix a bag or two sunflowers in , great in grass will get you straights and mix your own , cement mixer or shovel far cheaper than fancy bags
G I g did us a mix so can spray millet out

 

[Great In Grass]

@Great In Grass can you do a mixture to add to the cereal element?
That mix is sown at 75kgha so about 60-65kg cereal? Probably makes sense as you really don’t want the cereal to smother the rest.
@Brisel did the direct drilling work well with the mix?

I can get a mix put together to complement cereals something containg Red And White Millet, Fodder Radish, Linseed, and Mustard?

Drop me a line with your thoughts on a mix and quantity required.

I take it we are taking about a one-year mix?

 

[Brisel]

I can get a mix put together to complement cereals something containg Red And White Millet, Fodder Radish, Linseed, and Mustard?

Drop me a line with your thoughts on a mix and quantity required.

I take it we are taking about a one-year mix?

I might be interested in some of this too. I have the cereals and just need some dicots to qualify. No brassicas or chicory. Linseed, sunflowers and a few Teasels?

 

[carpenter1]

Spin corn on when you put Fert on , then you want an old box drill on old power Harrow and dribble seed on top and following Harrow covers it and p h mixed corn in , and mix a bag or two sunflowers in , great in grass will get you straights and mix your own , cement mixer or shovel far cheaper than fancy bags
G I g did us a mix so can spray millet out

I have some sunflowers to add this year too, so will see how it goes.
Thanks @Great In Grass for sorting it. All arrived on Thursday

 

[carpenter1]

Out of interest when is everyone planning on planting?

 

[B'o'B]

Out of interest when is everyone planning on planting?

Early-mid May.

 

[Two Tone]

Out of interest when is everyone planning on planting?

Never before the 1st May.
I don’t bother with any ferts.
Direct drilling the entire mixture into last year’s AB9, works really well, is cheap and fast.

 

[haggard143]

would sunflower stalks/head be a bugger the following year to get through drill along with trash, 1st year growing ab9 and very interested what everyone does, this year bought ready mixed seed, how do you record home bought/saved seed? generate seed invoice to yourself ?

 

[Two Tone]

would sunflower stalks/head be a bugger the following year to get through drill along with trash, 1st year growing ab9 and very interested what everyone does, this year bought ready mixed seed, how do you record home bought/saved seed? generate seed invoice to yourself ?

It all ploughs over remarkably well without any need to flail it off, if you go down that route.
But I now Direct drill mine and get a much better crop, because I haven’t lost the moisture.

 

[FG.]

I planted an AB9 mix last year, with the AB12.
Has anyone done that?

 

[Grass And Grain]

I planted an AB9 mix last year, with the AB12.
Has anyone done that?

Looks to be about half the cost. What about seed royalties etc? Don't think I'd dare do it. That said, nothing to stop someone throwing some AB12 on the field for feeding the birds. If it happens to grow it's not your fault!

On another point, anyone added clover? Is it allowed? It produces seeds doesn't it. Would it be a goid idea to have white clover in the bottom, or would it get too strong to allow direct drilled reseeding of AB9 to flourish in non-rotational plots.

 

[Sprayer 1]

After reading this thread I feel rather gullible , as i believed my £100 per acre seed was going to last for the five year period, if it is established correctly, but it sounds like it has to be re sown every year. Ab8 and ab9 seed?

 

[B'o'B]

After reading this thread I feel rather gullible , as i believed my £100 per acre seed was going to last for the five year period, if it is established correctly, but it sounds like it has to be re sown every year. Ab8 and ab9 seed?

AB8 seed is down for the full 5 years.
AB9 is re-sown each year (or every 2 years if it’s a 2 year mix with stuff like kale and teasel in it)

 

[Sprayer 1]

Sorry, on further inspection , I have AB1 nector flower mix ,and AB8 flower rich margin.

 

[Yellow Trousers]

Am I missing something here?
I thought we had to drill 6 different crops for AB9 , ergo...

• establish by sowing a seed mix which contains at least 6 seed bearing crops between 15 February and 15 June. Seed mixes may contain a maximum of 3 of the following cereal crops - barley, oats, rye, triticale and wheat

Obviously there's a loophole. Please someone tell me what it is because I'm not that bright. I nearly bought a mix from a merchant today but if I can save a few bob, I'll DIY

 

[Dman2]

We are using cereal for 90% ( home saved)
And buying other from merchant