Are cover crops necessary when grass leys are in rotation?

[Baling Hay]

Being primarily a dairy farmer the crops are second to the grass leys. I was thinking whether cover crops are really needed in such a rotation. Which do you DD arable guys think would be the best option in terms of sustainabilty and profitability:

3 year grass + clover / WW / WW/ WB

3 years grass + clover / WW / w oats/ WW or WB

3 years grass + clover / WW cover crop of legumes + brassicas / Spring oats/ WW or WB

3 years grass + clover / WW/ WW/WW

3 years grass + clover / WB cover crop/ SB / WB This would allow early harvest for us and good straw.

Opinions please.

 

[SilliamWhale]

Not really

 

[BSH]

I wouldn't think you need a cover crop as a soil building tool particularily but if you are going to have a gap between a winter cereal and a spring one then it is possibly worth while on the principle of having something constantly growing in the soil.

 

[Baling Hay]

I wouldn't think you need a cover crop as a soil building tool particularily but if you are going to have a gap between a winter cereal and a spring one then it is possibly worth while on the principle of having something constantly growing in the soil.

Yeah I wasn't really thinking in terms of soil building but rather diversity so as to help prevent pests and diseases.

 

[BSH]

What about 3 year ley then W Oats/ WW/Ccrop?(forage brassica)SBarley U/Sown?

 

[JNG]

Should you stay clear of legumes in your cover crop as its a breal from you 3 year clover ley. I think I read some where of clover and Scleratinia, might be worse in red clover tho (might have been in straight red clover silage leys) just a comment I dont know the details? In a mixed farming scenario you would probably make good use of a forage rape/stubble turnip cover crop, much more financial benefit than most of us can.

 

[SilliamWhale]

Being primarily a dairy farmer the crops are second to the grass leys. I was thinking whether cover crops are really needed in such a rotation. Which do you DD arable guys think would be the best option in terms of sustainabilty and profitability:

3 year grass + clover / WW / WW/ WB

3 years grass + clover / WW / w oats/ WW or WB

3 years grass + clover / WW cover crop of legumes + brassicas / Spring oats/ WW or WB

3 years grass + clover / WW/ WW/WW

3 years grass + clover / WB cover crop/ SB / WB This would allow early harvest for us and good straw.

Opinions please.

If is for home use you may could grow WB(turnips)/SB/SB undersown or something. Only trouble grassweed control in barley more difficult esp coming out of grass.

 

[Baling Hay]

Yeah maybe a WW, WB followed by turnips, SB undersown could be best then. I never though of the legume mix maybe affecting the clover ley, thanks for that.

Are stubble turnips as good at breaking up compaction as fodder radish though? I really liked that idea since I won't be ploughing.

 

[York]

there is one rule of thumb: if you have 6 weeks between a harvested crop and planting the next main used crop not to have a cover crop is a wasted opportunity for catching solar energy. and we are in the "Solar panel" business = catching solar energy with plants.
York-Th.

 

[JD-Kid]

ummm would you need combine able crops ??meaning can grains and straw be brought eazy in the area
whole crop or grazeing crops may give you a better window for getting the next crop in if weather is crap at harvest

 

[Baling Hay]

ummm would you need combine able crops ??meaning can grains and straw be brought eazy in the area
whole crop or grazeing crops may give you a better window for getting the next crop in if weather is crap at harvest

Well basically our land base can carry more stock than what we have buildings for so best to use some to grown some of our own feed rather than growing more silage in the HOPE of maybe selling it.

 

[yellow belly]

if you have drying/ storage and drying grow seed winter wheat then rape then seed winter wheat
and buy feed wheat in as you need it would help cash flow and maximise income if osr is not an option then winter oats (osr straw can be used as a base for straw yards but may not work in cubicles)

my experience with 3 year grass leys is that they produce the highest yealds of wheat of any break but third wheat gets hammered by takeall