AHL2 wild bird food drilling dates.

[Green oak]

Land is still quite cold and wet and have quite abit of slug activity. Can I delay this or have I got to drill this in the next week. March 1st agreement date. And also a point which has been made to me by a member of the public. Last month that I’m going to kill all the ground nesting birds if I drill in may. Whats one too do.

 

[Hampton]

It’s not may?

 

[Green oak]

It’s not may?

Felt like January at 6am this morning.

 

[chipchap]

You have 12 months from the start of your agreement to plant it.

 

[Andy26]

AHL2 going on today,

AHL2 you can use your own discretion as to sowing date to best achieve the aims.
I would think needs to be in well before June ends to meets aims.
I've been waiting to get a stale seedbed.

 

[onthehoof]

AHL2 going on today,

AHL2 you can use your own discretion as to sowing date to best achieve the aims.
I would think needs to be in well before June ends to meets aims.
I've been waiting to get a stale seedbed.

I’ve been waiting for seed and land to dry out, seed now here but rain yesterday and today has made it too wet agai - 11th June and land still too wet!

 

[yellow belly]

Land does dry out quickly this time of year
My best bird mixed establishment has been with early June planting
Less slug pressure dry soil
Direct drill or plough in early April then drill
Cultivating now can dry soil out too much

this applies to heavy land in the northern half of England

 

[nick...]

I’m assuming it’s the same as ab9.drilled mine last week and now just poking through.id get it in.if land drys out when summer arrives you may lack moisture and if on heavy land you may end up with lots of big clods and lack of germination
nick...

 

[alomy75]

Mine going in next couple of weeks. Long as it goes in June I think it will be fine. Never had any success drilling earlier

 

[Grass And Grain]

Drilled mine 2 weeks back. Germinated well. Flea beetle have taken all the brassicas, slugs everything else that the flood water didn't get. (Slugs my fault, outlying field and couldn't be bothered to take quad bike down there).

Anyone suggestions for plant species which are resilient to pests?

Edit. Some I drilled 3 weeks earlier is sort of doing OK. Flea beetle took most but not all brassicas from field, but headland to the mark is absolutely fine.

Oats and phacelia seem to be fairing best.

Ours is actually AB9, but will be using unharvested cereals option in future. More reliable.

 

[BenAdamsAgri]

Planting ours now, often do it this time of year

 

[farmerm]

Last time I tried to drill AB9 this late it didn't rain for weeks and none of up came up....

 

[Scotter]

There is some flexibility due to wet weather in the link below.

Wet weather: temporary support for farmers in 2024

Read about temporary adjustments to agri-environment scheme options and actions in 2024 due to wet weather.

www.gov.uk

 

[T Hectares]

Drilled our AB9’s over the last week, normally do it in the late May / early June window, drill earlier and they are just a weedy mess

I’ve been planting AB9’s for the last 8 years and prior to that the HT equiv since 2010 with no bother

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

Sowed mine over the last 3 days after applying slug pellets last week. It's covered in crows now.

 

[Vader]

Land does dry out quickly this time of year
My best bird mixed establishment has been with early June planting
Less slug pressure dry soil
Direct drill or plough in early April then drill
Cultivating now can dry soil out too much

this applies to heavy land in the northern half of England

Our heavy outcrop land still to wet to do anything with.
Top few inch dried like concrete. Under that its still very wet

 

[spin cycle]

enda June or risk fat hen swamping.....went into dust last year but came very well

up the fodder radish if worried cos that takes some stopping IME

 

[Green oak]

There is some flexibility due to wet weather in the link below.

Wet weather: temporary support for farmers in 2024

Read about temporary adjustments to agri-environment scheme options and actions in 2024 due to wet weather.

www.gov.uk

Perfect thank you. Should rightly be the cut off date in my opinion.

 

[Clive]

Land is still quite cold and wet and have quite abit of slug activity. Can I delay this or have I got to drill this in the next week. March 1st agreement date. And also a point which has been made to me by a member of the public. Last month that I’m going to kill all the ground nesting birds if I drill in may. Whats one too do.

the day after winter barley harvest so a month away yet

 

[warksfarmer]

Next week or the week after here