AB15 2 year legume fallow

teslacoils

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lincolnshire
Well, something has taken the lot. Ground like pudding now after this wet. Not sure on the next step. The grass has come ok. I'm thinking I'll have to get the insecticide out, and broadcast the clovers in late in the month. Might delay destroying this year's crop incase I have to go bowing and scraping to NE for a derogation.
 

teslacoils

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lincolnshire
That's an established clover plant on the grass field nearby. I think the error was putting the new ab15 on the field next to the old - if you go through it there are weevils everywhere. Bloody amazing. Only time I've seen worse was when those diamond backed moths stripped a cover crop to stumps in a weekend - 2016.
 

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teslacoils

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lincolnshire
That's no way to talk about your child!!;):ROFLMAO:

The regrowth where I topped round the edges is very impressive. But the ground under is like a crop of beans so there is a fair bit of bare soil. It's chocked full of nature - perhaps why the adjoining fields have had all their clover and legumes shredded by pests.

14 August is late for cutting. 7th September is too late. Still, should have some feed value, and sunny week should mean very little need to fluff it about.
 

Fat hen

Member
Ground is pretty wet under the red clover - clay loams, dense cover no air to it. Gonna get rid for silage this weekend, or itll be too late. Should be a lot of bales £££ ...by the looks of it anyway. Then let the land dry out.
 
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DRC

Member
The regrowth where I topped round the edges is very impressive. But the ground under is like a crop of beans so there is a fair bit of bare soil. It's chocked full of nature - perhaps why the adjoining fields have had all their clover and legumes shredded by pests.

14 August is late for cutting. 7th September is too late. Still, should have some feed value, and sunny week should mean very little need to fluff it about.
Shame in a way that you are destroying a nice habitat after two yrs, full of nature, and are having to spray insecticide on the new bit that is replacing it.
im not sure these options are that well thought out, but we’ve all got to go with the flow and do what pays he bills.
 

teslacoils

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lincolnshire
Shame in a way that you are destroying a nice habitat after two yrs, full of nature, and are having to spray insecticide on the new bit that is replacing it.
im not sure these options are that well thought out, but we’ve all got to go with the flow and do what pays he bills.

Managed well, I see no reason why this option couldn't stay in place for 5 years without reseeding. But I expect the powers are trying to show the value of fertility building on arable only rotations. For example, there really is no reason why this option couldn't be cut and baled both years. I'm expecting great things from the wheat, as the land hasn't been spring linseed and spring oats ahead of the ab15. But.....do I dare direct drill the wheat with a neighbour's DTS?
 

Fat hen

Member
Not really. We'd had rain a couple of days before but was dry enough to soak in. Mower barely made a mark. But omg slugs and bean weevils everywhere.
You're lucky we've had 2.5inch in the last 2 wks, nevr dries out under the canopy. Slugs oh dear go that to look forward to! Why dont you pellet it ? take out a few thousand!
 

Fat hen

Member
Shame in a way that you are destroying a nice habitat after two yrs, full of nature, and are having to spray insecticide on the new bit that is replacing it.
im not sure these options are that well thought out, but we’ve all got to go with the flow and do what pays he bills.
TBF it pays well, the insects love it and good for soil no doubt about that. I got it from a senior NE adviser that you can keep it in the same place for 5yrs. Establishing it twice. So thats what we did. Got a year of WW then back into AB15 for another 5 yrs...
 

Hindsight

Member
Location
Lincolnshire
TBF it pays well, the insects love it and good for soil no doubt about that. I got it from a senior NE adviser that you can keep it in the same place for 5yrs. Establishing it twice. So thats what we did. Got a year of WW then back into AB15 for another 5 yrs...

Hi, how did that work - just having a one year break for winter wheat between sowing AB15.
 

Fat hen

Member
Hi, how did that work - just having a one year break for winter wheat between sowing AB15.
Also took 1yr WW break in year 3.
The point I am trying to make is that the rules are ambiguous and open to interpretation. Need to get it from the NE in writing
 

Hindsight

Member
Location
Lincolnshire
Also took 1yr WW break in year 3.
The point I am trying to make is that the rules are ambiguous and open to interpretation. Need to get it from the NE in writing

Hi, no I appreciate a one year break is fine. Same that now NE accept, albeit reluctantly AB15 can be left in same place. I wasn't very clear with my question. The point I made a hash of asking is that in year one you would have had an area of AB15, lets say for example 10 hectares. That has to stay in the same place for two years. The you chose to have a one year of wheat in that field. Then cam back after one wheat crop with AB15. But how could you do that on a farm scale as you would have no AB15 eligible in that scheme as it has to be on a two year cycle. ? After a two year wheat break, yes, I can understand?! I must be thick.
 

teslacoils

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lincolnshire
You're lucky we've had 2.5inch in the last 2 wks, nevr dries out under the canopy. Slugs oh dear go that to look forward to! Why dont you pellet it ? take out a few thousand!

I can't pellet it now, because the mown crop is drying out. But it will be done. None in year 1. But year two was veeerrrry wet.
 

Fat hen

Member
Any plans for the Carbon tests etc? Is it too early to benefit from that? Knowing this shitshow of a Govt it could be a long way off. Hope I'm wrong!
 

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quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

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