AB 9 Winter bird mix

[B'o'B]

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

I bought straights and home mixed last year, will do the same this year.

 

[haggard143]

I bought straights and home mixed last year, will do the same this year.

What straights did you use, anything to avoid if mixing yourself? and if possible % rate sorry to be pia (Esp. for heavy clay)

 

[B'o'B]

What straights did you use, anything to avoid if mixing yourself? and if possible % rate sorry to be pia (Esp. for heavy clay)

Can't help with heavy clay I'm afraid, I'm pretty much on boys land.
This is basically what I put in mine (based around full bags of various sizes):
S.Barley 65%
Millet 3%
Sunflowers 5%
Buckwheat 6%
Quinoa 4%
Linseed 17%

 

[haggard143]

Can't help with heavy clay I'm afraid, I'm pretty much on boys land.
This is basically what I put in mine (based around full bags of various sizes):
S.Barley 65%
Millet 3%
Sunflowers 5%
Buckwheat 6%
Quinoa 4%
Linseed 17%

Many thanks 1st year of 5, growing ab9 never thought about mixing own, bought local merchants ready mixed, thinking about mixing own supplementary winter feed of around 7 tonnes think we'll have plenty rats

 

[Yellow Trousers]

Ah, I’ve got you. Thanks

 

[yellow belly]

When you get inspected having too much of one species will be classed as non compliance
the weedier and the less it looks like a barley crop the better

slugs are the biggest problem on reestablishing existing plots especially on heavy land or in wet weather
even in what appears to be a dry year hares and birds can also be a big pest especially in 1 acre plots

 

[Toplink]

I used a kale mix for my AB9 two years ago and is still a really good habitat with loads of seed heads and feeding birds, does it need to be destroyed and reseeded or do you think I might get a derogation to leave it another year?

 

[Yellow Trousers]

To be honest, for my poxy 0.9240Ha, I'm only going to need 2 x 0.5Ha packs (total cost 112 quid) from my usual merchant.
And the mixture is supposed to be OK for 2 years longevity.
Life's too short for me to dick about, so I'll probably end up buying up them

 

[Surgery]

To be honest, for my poxy 0.9240Ha, I'm only going to need 2 x 0.5Ha packs (total cost 112 quid) from my usual merchant.
And the mixture is supposed to be OK for 2 years longevity.
Life's too short for me to dick about, so I'll probably end up buying up them

Don’t blame you , doing the same

 

[B'o'B]

To be honest, for my poxy 0.9240Ha, I'm only going to need 2 x 0.5Ha packs (total cost 112 quid) from my usual merchant.
And the mixture is supposed to be OK for 2 years longevity.
Life's too short for me to dick about, so I'll probably end up buying up them

That looks a good price for a 2 year mix and even if you got it 25% cheaper DIY you’ll not have saved very much for all the extra hassle.

 

[Phil P]

I’ve got 5ha this year, will be out first time growing it. Got a 2 year seed mix from @Great In Grass and thought it was very reasonably priced. To be fair the time I would have spent buggering about mixing my own it wasn’t worth the hassle! Got some sunflowers to mix in as well to make it look pretty . Thanks again @Great In Grass excellent service I’m looking forward to getting it down and seeing what it looks like when it’s up.

 

[haggard143]

Anyone put any in yet?, wait for rain or before rain , not before may?

 

[nick...]

Anyone put any in yet?, wait for rain or before rain , not before may?

Don’t do it before early or mid May here.already to drill and seed should turn up today.bit of moisture in soil but could do with some more and some warm weather to warm soil
Nick...

 

[haggard143]

Don’t do it before early or mid May here.already to drill and seed should turn up today.bit of moisture in soil but could do with some more and some warm weather to warm soil
Nick...

many thanks, itching to put it in, 1st year growing, seedbeds done rolled down but pretty dry, afraid once start raining it won't stop

 

[farmerm]

Oh ffs, what a cock! One for the what I fkd up today thread...! Stupid bloody scheme! How does one commit land aside in Autumn for AB9 when one doesn't know if the application will be accepted until 3 months after one needs to drill a crop of winter cereals? I have some other options that will be established post harvest but I completely fudging forgot or perhaps just overlooked that AB9 on my new agreement needs to go in now! Rather than rip up established cereal crops, and try to establish something into concrete and dust, is it possible to just not claim any of the approved AB9 area for this year when I do the form this week? What to do?

 

[farenheit]

Oh ffs, what a cock! One for the what I fkd up today thread...! Stupid bloody scheme! How does one commit land aside in Autumn for AB9 when one doesn't know if the application will be accepted until 3 months after one needs to drill a crop of winter cereals? I have some other options that will be established post harvest but I completely fudging forgot or perhaps just overlooked that AB9 on my new agreement needs to go in now! Rather than rip up established cereal crops, and try to establish something into concrete and dust, is it possible to just not claim any of the approved AB9 area for this year when I do the form this week? What to do?

My understanding is that in year 1 you can just not claim. But worth checking. And don’t worry, lots of people find themselves in exactly the same situation.

 

[Dman2]

Anyone put any in yet?, wait for rain or before rain , not before may?

Today at work

Out and about in thunderbird 4 - disinfecting chook houses.

thefarmingforum.co.uk

 

[steveR]

Anyone put any in yet?, wait for rain or before rain , not before may?

Twitching, but drill and seed still firmly in teh shed...

Wondering if it is worth buggering the stale seedbed by discing to get a bit of tilth to get the Aitchison tines in??

It would mean hanging on another fortnight after any rain, to get a greening again though!

 

[AJ123]

I use kings campaign mix, made to go a bit further by diluting with FSS spring barley & linseed.
I actually quite enjoy it, rest of farm is contracted out so it’s the one bit I still do myself. It’s also definitely working with more little birds seen around it, and I spin extra food on the areas in the cold injan/ feb/ mar. Which I claim for as well.
Makes the contractors life easier as I’ve straightened all the field edges up with it, so lots of fiddly areas all over the place.

 

[FG.]

I use kings campaign mix, made to go a bit further by diluting with FSS spring barley & linseed.
I actually quite enjoy it, rest of farm is contracted out so it’s the one bit I still do myself. It’s also definitely working with more little birds seen around it, and I spin extra food on the areas in the cold injan/ feb/ mar. Which I claim for as well.

Is that AB12 your referring to?