Lots of barley and osr cut around us over the last 2 weeks and now some wheat as well. Think I must be missing something though as lots of stubbles have been ripped up or ploughed. Diesel is £1.10/litre and wearing metal prices doubled yet lots of people are out there carrying on as normal. Ploughing alone must be in the region of £35/hour just in fuel costs without thinking about labour, metal and machinery replacement costs. Asked one chap about the ploughing and his reply was ‘needs to look tidy doesn’t it’.
Are they mad ?
- Thread starter mountfarm
- Start date
ollie989898
Member
What are cereal or OSR prices today? Maybe people have forward sold a bit or want to get stuff done whilst conditions are good for them? More days tilled helps in the grass weed battle maybe?
- Location
- Perthshire (It's a big place!)
I've given up worrying about other people
Still adds up though doesnt it ? Even at current grain prices it still 50% up on 12 months ago,what is the alternative,we are farmers and its inbuilt to carry on.Im not saying carry on regardless,but doing nothing isnt an option.
- Location
- the brecks norfolk
And????? If I had enough moisture that's exactly what I'd be doing, why wouldn't you want to make the most of an extra months growth??????
Its probably true. A bit like drilling rape now, its so dry its not like its going to rot in the ground, nor are the slugs going to have it. It'll just grow when the conditions are right (and no compaction to speak of!).
- Location
- Lincolnshire
Wouldn't get the plough in. Subsoiler would shred tyres. My plan is, subject to staying dry, is twice over with discs and press to 2", roll tight, leave until late August when I'll drill osr or leave it until late September, spray off, drill wheat and barley.
- Location
- Lincolnshire
Oh, little bit of mole ploughing on some grassland.
The problem is that you can get death by germination. Get 15mm of rain so it germinates, then no more rain and it dies. It’s happend to me before.
And there is literally zero moisture in this area. Of course if there was I would be drilling covers and rape flat out.
- Location
- Berkshire
I would think my drill would bounce across the surface atm !!
I’m waiting for some rain before drilling Rape ( or cover crops ) this reminds me of 03 and the patchy early drilled crops, mid September drilled rape crops were far better
I’m waiting for some rain before drilling Rape ( or cover crops ) this reminds me of 03 and the patchy early drilled crops, mid September drilled rape crops were far better
- Location
- Lincolnshire
Ah I remember the days of Excel being planted in mid September and growing 7ft tall. Sigh.
- Location
- Berkshire
I have worse memories of cutting it with a standard header
- Location
- Lincolnshire
So does my brother! But it was doing 5t/ha which made it tollerable.
At current values, the margin over input cost is still high. Is now the time to risk output by doing less? Are we just finding a more expensive way of growing crops while they are still worth more?
You are right to question the sustainability of intensive cultivations though
Chae1
Member
- Location
- Aberdeenshire
Putting in stubble turnips and forage rape tomorrow after winter barley.
- Location
- Lincolnshire
Given the state of the cracks, just make some tilth if you need it (I do); roll it to get the crap to grow; and leave it be.
Now historically this has bitten me on the arse with ploughed and pummeled land giving more yield but worse bg control. BUT I know where I went wrong and will be better this time. (I'll bale the damned straw aka filth).
Now historically this has bitten me on the arse with ploughed and pummeled land giving more yield but worse bg control. BUT I know where I went wrong and will be better this time. (I'll bale the damned straw aka filth).