AHL2 - Winter Bird Food

[Great In Grass]

i’m going with @Farmdeals alh1 mix - it’s cheapest i can find unless i start blending my own which doesn’t save a lot - i also want the seed labels and receipts as evidence

I've messaged you.

 

[Adeptandy]

not until summer apparently ! sane for all
the new OFC anounced options

Thanks, was going around in circles trying to find it 🫣

 

[Jimmy the bull]

Any suggestions on what companion crop to sow that will die back in winter , that will allow IPM3 payment with AHL2 ? And does it need to be under sown or is there anything that could be broadcast of the back of the DD and tickled in.

 

[Chris W]

So what are the fastest maturing species to plant to produce seed, Iv been recommended fodder radish and white mustard as the fastest, millet been a close second. Anybody got any experience of growing these?

Note; White Mustard, Brown Mustard and Black Mustard are all different species not just different varieties

I have spoken to a few seed suppliers, some are fairly negative about the potential (one aggressively so). Any seed mix supplied would come with a disclaimer saying its unlikely to meet option aims.

My understanding is, assuming an early august drilling date;

The mustards should make seed most years

Fodder Radish should make seed most years

Buckwheat would make seed as long as there isn’t an early frost.

My plan for number 6 was to broadcast phacila with the slug pelleter at T3 or Nufol timing

 

[Hindsight]

I can’t find the DD payment option, is it still to go on, had heard it may not be until the summer
Does that mean this years payment rates will be pre increase

No point being Angry - saw you emoji to Clive's post. BPS is still being paid out - and it will not be until 2025 financial year Defra has the money. And judging by the stacking and options I see talked about in these threads I do wonder if there will be enough. But that is not my worry.

 

[Mixedupfarmer]

Note; White Mustard, Brown Mustard and Black Mustard are all different species not just different varieties

I have spoken to a few seed suppliers, some are fairly negative about the potential (one aggressively so). Any seed mix supplied would come with a disclaimer saying its unlikely to meet option aims.

My understanding is, assuming an early august drilling date;

The mustards should make seed most years

Fodder Radish should make seed most years

Buckwheat would make seed as long as there isn’t an early frost.

My plan for number 6 was to broadcast phacila with the slug pelleter at T3 or Nufol timing

would utopia seed in time, it is very fast growing?

 

[Adeptandy]

No point being Angry - saw you emoji to Clive's post. BPS is still being paid out - and it will not be until 2025 financial year Defra has the money. And judging by the stacking and options I see talked about in these threads I do wonder if there will be enough. But that is not my worry.

It’s the typical, we’re going to do this promises from Government that have a future start date that look good now but invariably either don’t happen or get watered down that I find annoying. Hence the emoji.
I’d just come from a meeting where a few farmers had successfully applied for grants at a cost to there business, all approved, 2 years later the £ still hadn’t arrived.

 

[farmerm]

Note; White Mustard, Brown Mustard and Black Mustard are all different species not just different varieties

I have spoken to a few seed suppliers, some are fairly negative about the potential (one aggressively so). Any seed mix supplied would come with a disclaimer saying its unlikely to meet option aims.

My understanding is, assuming an early august drilling date;

The mustards should make seed most years

Fodder Radish should make seed most years

Buckwheat would make seed as long as there isn’t an early frost.

My plan for number 6 was to broadcast phacila with the slug pelleter at T3 or Nufol timing

Rules say you have to sow 6, doesnt say how many must seed does it? Reasonable to think at least 1 will seed but If none seed stick place some feeders out and fill with "a supply of small seeds", would not be ideal but box ticked... Not that I am committing to August AHL2 myself at this point, I have plenty of undrilled parcels for a 2 year spring mix...

I have just had a though, what is stopping anyone doing AHL2, AHL2 (ideally retained 2 year mix) AHL1, rinse and repeat?

Rotation in which you drill 1/3 of the farm with AHL2 in spring, 1/3 in which you destroy the 2year old AHL2 and drill with AHL1and 1/3 just left to do its 2nd year AH2 thing.... £859+£45+853+759/ha payments less 1x£65 AHL1 seed, £140 for AHL2 seed during the 3 years, 2 passes with a min till drill, maybe 1 pass with the sprayer and a smidge of fert for getting the AHL2 going. Rent out grain store, frees up machinery capital and all the arable work is done in a short window in a month in spring. 11 months free for other employment or idle fun. Next year might have an option to claim the DD payment too...

Year 1 agreement you apply for 1/3 the farm AHL2 +IPM4
Year 2 agreement you apply for 1/3 the farm AHL2
Year 3 agreement you apply for 1/3 the farm AHL1

How else does one clear £400-500/ha/year for only a matter of minutes work /ha/year with low risk.

Working is for mugs

 

[Mixedupfarmer]

Rules say you have to sow 6, doesnt say how many must seed does it? Reasonable to think at least 1 will seed but If none seed stick place some feeders out and fill with "a supply of small seeds", would not be ideal but box ticked... Not that I am committing to August AHL2 myself at this point, I have plenty of undrilled parcels for a 2 year spring mix...

I have just had a though, what is stopping anyone doing AHL2, AHL2 (ideally retained 2 year mix) AHL1, rinse and repeat?

Rotation in which you drill 1/3 of the farm with AHL2 in spring, 1/3 in which you destroy the 2year old AHL2 and drill with AHL1and 1/3 just left to do its 2nd year AH2 thing.... £859+£45+853+759/ha payments less 1x£65 AHL1 seed, £140 for AHL2 seed during the 3 years, 2 passes with a min till drill, maybe 1 pass with the sprayer and a smidge of fert for getting the AHL2 going. Rent out grain store, frees up machinery capital and all the arable work is done in a short window in a month in spring. 11 months free for other employment or idle fun. Next year might have an option to claim the DD payment too...

Year 1 agreement you apply for 1/3 the farm AHL2 +IPM4
Year 2 agreement you apply for 1/3 the farm AHL2
Year 3 agreement you apply for 1/3 the farm AHL1

How else does one clear £400-500/ha/year for only a matter of minutes work /ha/year with low risk.

Working is for mugs

Why not just AHL2 + IPM4 every year, sow 2 year mix. if clean, leave it, if not, glyphosate and re-drill, + DD when available, + all the other plans, hedge management, £1K bonus for first 50ha?

 

[farmerm]

Why not just AHL2 + IPM4 every year, sow 2 year mix. if clean, leave it, if not, glyphosate and re-drill, + DD when available, + all the other plans, hedge management, £1K bonus for first 50ha?

I’m not greedy . Agronomically it could be a future disaster, massive seed bank of wildoats and cleavers, black grass might get a footing but it’s all bird seed…

 

[Chris W]

Rules say you have to sow 6, doesnt say how many must seed does it? Reasonable to think at least 1 will seed but If none seed stick place some feeders out and fill with "a supply of small seeds", would not be ideal but box ticked... Not that I am committing to August AHL2 myself at this point, I have plenty of undrilled parcels for a 2 year spring mix...

I have just had a though, what is stopping anyone doing AHL2, AHL2 (ideally retained 2 year mix) AHL1, rinse and repeat?

Rotation in which you drill 1/3 of the farm with AHL2 in spring, 1/3 in which you destroy the 2year old AHL2 and drill with AHL1and 1/3 just left to do its 2nd year AH2 thing.... £859+£45+853+759/ha payments less 1x£65 AHL1 seed, £140 for AHL2 seed during the 3 years, 2 passes with a min till drill, maybe 1 pass with the sprayer and a smidge of fert for getting the AHL2 going. Rent out grain store, frees up machinery capital and all the arable work is done in a short window in a month in spring. 11 months free for other employment or idle fun. Next year might have an option to claim the DD payment too...

Year 1 agreement you apply for 1/3 the farm AHL2 +IPM4
Year 2 agreement you apply for 1/3 the farm AHL2
Year 3 agreement you apply for 1/3 the farm AHL1

How else does one clear £400-500/ha/year for only a matter of minutes work /ha/year with low risk.

Working is for mugs

Should you get an inspection you’ve got to be fairly sure you can justify your actions and their intent. Planting a mix knowing that in most years only 1-2 species will meet the aim is fairly ballsy.

 

[Mixedupfarmer]

I’m not greedy . Agronomically it could be a future disaster, massive seed bank of wildoats and cleavers, black grass might get a footing but it’s all bird seed…

Think it would be OK if re-drilled annually, glyphosate March, and again end May before drilling, could do stale seedbeds and drop the DD.

 

[Chris W]

Why not just AHL2 + IPM4 every year, sow 2 year mix. if clean, leave it, if not, glyphosate and re-drill, + DD when available, + all the other plans, hedge management, £1K bonus for first 50ha?

Once you include the rental equivalent of the land there is very little profit in that plan .. you need to be able to fit 2 options into 1 cropping year to make it worthwhile.

 

[Mixedupfarmer]

Once you include the rental equivalent of the land there is very little profit in that plan .. you need to be able to fit 2 options into 1 cropping year to make it worthwhile.

Yes on good land, maybe not on poor arable land on an owned estate.

 

[Chris W]

Yes on good land, maybe not on poor arable land on an owned estate.

I know every situation is different but imo, whether the land is owned or not is irrelevant,

there will always be someone willing to rent it from you and have a go at doing something with it. Personally that rental value is included in all my cropping costs whether it actually leaves the bank account or not.

 

[Against_the_grain]

Yes opportunity cost always factor in an implied rent here as that is the alternative.

 

[yellow belly]

August planting
Reasonably expected to achieve
if you fail you need to prove that it could have worked
seed companies saying it will not does not help

I have had august planted oats set seed in October and august planted muster flower in October ( this got a mention on here or bff when some one had driven past as osr in flower
Volunteer borage can flower in the autumn so phacelia May do
be prepared for Rpa check up with photos of it working

 

[Luke Cropwalker]

August planting
Reasonably expected to achieve
if you fail you need to prove that it could have worked
seed companies saying it will not does not help

I have had august planted oats set seed in October and august planted muster flower in October ( this got a mention on here or bff when some one had driven past as osr in flower
Volunteer borage can flower in the autumn so phacelia May do
be prepared for Rpa check up with photos of it working

I would be very wary of allowing phacelia to set seed, you will have volunteers for a long time after.

 

[Ed @ Farmdeals]

i’m going with @Farmdeals alh1 mix - it’s cheapest i can find unless i start blending my own which doesn’t save a lot - i also want the seed labels and receipts as evidence

Collective started for the ALH1 /AB1 mix so we can get a few price options back to farmers. Running to the 12th. Let us know what other Collectives you would like us to run for SFI seed.

 

[Zippy768]

Collective started for the ALH1 /AB1 mix so we can get a few price options back to farmers. Running to the 12th. Let us know what other Collectives you would like us to run for SFI seed.

View attachment 1162555

Probably been covered before.
How does farmdeals work exactly. How would I get a price?