Ben Taylor-Davies black grass talk

[Andrew K]

Ours is more like average 2 leaves with some at 1 and some at 3 leaves. Some looks very sick and others look quite happy.

We have similar here, already had Crystal/DFF and Avadex less than 48 hrs after drilling. Follows a spring crop [ Borage]

 

[Feldspar]

That’s fine i just wondered whether you thought it was the best approach?

I think grassing down under AB8 option would also work (although returning to cropping at the end perhaps problematic), but unless that went over the whole farm it would still leave the remainder in a normal cropping rotation. I am not so enthusiastic about shorter terms leys such as 2 year AB15 because you can't cut freely.

 

[Andrew K]

I think grassing down under AB8 option would also work (although returning to cropping at the end perhaps problematic), but unless that went over the whole farm it would still leave the remainder in a normal cropping rotation. I am not so enthusiastic about shorter terms leys such as 2 year AB15 because you can't cut freely.

Trouble is, cutting seems to just encourage some very low to the ground lateral tillers, out of reach of a blade.
We need DEFRA to realise that we need to spray way before July on EFA fallow if weeds are to be better controlled.

 

[jack6480]

Trouble is, cutting seems to just encourage some very low to the ground lateral tillers, out of reach of a blade.
We need DEFRA to realise that we need to spray way before July on EFA fallow if weeds are to be better controlled.

But will it not compete with it and build a better structured soil which blackgrass supposedly doesn’t like??? Then it’s a good base for direct drilling osr into and then spray off, shut the gate and see what it looks like in the spring

 

[fudge]

Are you allowed to broadcast anything onto fallow as a cover crop? I wonder if something like oats would draw the bg up and make it an easier target for the mower? Then spray off July.

 

[Brisel]

Are you allowed to broadcast anything onto fallow as a cover crop? I wonder if something like oats would draw the bg up and make it an easier target for the mower? Then spray off July.

That's good thinking. EFA fallow? If so, you'd have to sow the oats before 1st January as it could be classed as a "crop"

 

[Andrew K]

Are you allowed to broadcast anything onto fallow as a cover crop? I wonder if something like oats would draw the bg up and make it an easier target for the mower? Then spray off July.

Dont think planting Oats would give you the same EFA points as pure fallow though?

 

[Feldspar]

Are you allowed to broadcast anything onto fallow as a cover crop? I wonder if something like oats would draw the bg up and make it an easier target for the mower? Then spray off July.

In the old ELS scheme you could put a cover crop in on 10%. Under Mid Tier you can't do this at all. The only way you can ensure some green cover is to allow some to come back of the combine. If there's some tilth, you can rake it in. Then, if there is black-grass, then you spray off on 15 May.

 

[Brisel]

Dont think planting Oats would give you the same EFA points as pure fallow though?

Why not? As long as it is managed as an EFA Fallow between 1st Jan & 30th June I don't see it making any difference.

 

[fudge]

In the old ELS scheme you could put a cover crop in on 10%. Under Mid Tier you can't do this at all. The only way you can ensure some green cover is to allow some to come back of the combine. If there's some tilth, you can rake it in. Then, if there is black-grass, then you spray off on 15 May.

I see. I knew there must have been a reason for my non application. In truth I got half way through reading the application pack and lost the will to live.

 

[Andrew K]

Why not? As long as it is managed as an EFA Fallow between 1st Jan & 30th June I don't see it making any difference.

Something the Agronomist said.Will look into it, as I would prefer to have something desirable growing on mine!