Blackgrass for idiots

[Oliveau]

Its a long time since I did any arable farming or crop spraying, so please excuse my ignorance.

It has become quite apparent here in France that my neighbour - a good tidy farmer - is getting a BG problem. He doesn't plough but on our argilo calcaire land [chalky clay is the nearest translation, but there's no sign of chalk], he does 2-3 passes with a Kemken Karat followed by a power harrow/drill combination.
I also read on the forum of BG problems in the UK. Back in the day when I was a whippersnapper late 70's we had the isoproturons etc to keep on top of BG.
So what's the UK situation these days - I'd like to have a sensible conversation with my neighbour.

 

[Badshot]

Uk situation is either under control, or out of control.
Both situations will be spending vast sums of money to try to control resistant blackgrass.

 

[Lincsman]

Its a long time since I did any arable farming or crop spraying, so please excuse my ignorance.

It has become quite apparent here in France that my neighbour - a good tidy farmer - is getting a BG problem. He doesn't plough but on our argilo calcaire land [chalky clay is the nearest translation, but there's no sign of chalk], he does 2-3 passes with a Kemken Karat followed by a power harrow/drill combination.
I also read on the forum of BG problems in the UK. Back in the day when I was a whippersnapper late 70's we had the isoproturons etc to keep on top of BG.
So what's the UK situation these days - I'd like to have a sensible conversation with my neighbour.

Late drill and spring crops will help massively, carry on and eventually... soon.. he wont have a crop to harvest.

 

[Oliveau]

The problem on our soil is that if you delay drilling in the autumn and it rains your fecked as the land won’t carry a tractor.

 

[Badshot]

The problem on our soil is that if you delay drilling in the autumn and it rains your fecked as the land won’t carry a tractor.

Much like the UK.

 

[Nick.]

Up until 5/6 years ago I didn’t know what BG was.
Then the odd plant started showing up.
I didn’t think too much of it.
But after a farm walk at a member off of here’s farm (he was getting on top of it) I decided zero tolerance was the way to go.

Glyphosate is your friend.
I had to spray some fair patches off in fields. But it seems to be paying off stopping the seed return.
I always carry a 2 litre garden sprayer in the tractor. Any odd little patch or plant when I’m spraying or fert spreading now get glyphosate.

 

[Phil P]

On appeared on us a couple of years ago and we have we can generally rogue it in a day or two, got bad patch this year though which has called for drastic measures!

 

[nxy]

A lot of the tank mixes and products used pre and post emergence of cereals in the UK would not be legal here on any land let alone drained where the permitted list is even shorter. That and 20m buffer zones of permanent grass next to ditches for some products is making life very difficult for heavy land farmers in France.

 

[Oliveau]

A lot of the tank mixes and products used pre and post emergence of cereals in the UK would not be legal here on any land let alone drained where the permitted list is even shorter. That and 20m buffer zones of permanent grass next to ditches for some products is making life very difficult for heavy land farmers in France.

Yes, it’s the headlands where I have noticed a more severe BG invasion.
BTW, what’s BG called in French?

 

[JeremyD]

Yes, it’s the headlands where I have noticed a more severe BG invasion.
BTW, what’s BG called in French?

Noir Herbe Rodney?

 

[nxy]

Yes, it’s the headlands where I have noticed a more severe BG invasion.
BTW, what’s BG called in French?

Vulpin

 

[Wombat]

On appeared on us a couple of years ago and we have we can generally rogue it in a day or two, got bad patch this year though which has called for drastic measures!
View attachment 1040252

Wouldn’t call that drastic we do patches like that ever year as it’s cheaper than dealing with it any other way, just make sure and round up it off or it will have heads on it by next weekend again

 

[Two Tone]

Its a long time since I did any arable farming or crop spraying, so please excuse my ignorance.

It has become quite apparent here in France that my neighbour - a good tidy farmer - is getting a BG problem. He doesn't plough but on our argilo calcaire land [chalky clay is the nearest translation, but there's no sign of chalk], he does 2-3 passes with a Kemken Karat followed by a power harrow/drill combination.
I also read on the forum of BG problems in the UK. Back in the day when I was a whippersnapper late 70's we had the isoproturons etc to keep on top of BG.
So what's the UK situation these days - I'd like to have a sensible conversation with my neighbour.

It’s easy to farm other peoples land from several hundred miles away.
But, I’d suggest that your neighbour’s problem starts with the several passes of the Lemken Karat.
This mixes the BG seed through the soil profile, disturbs it and encourages it to grow.

Best to bury it properly, at least 2” below daylight or Direct drill it, disturbing as little of it as possible, so it stays asleep.

 

[Phil P]

Wouldn’t call that drastic we do patches like that ever year as it’s cheaper than dealing with it any other way, just make sure and round up it off or it will have heads on it by next weekend again

Got the my old man going with the nap sack as soon as it drys up! Got a bit in the bottom of a couple of tramlines that need spring off as well so keep him busy for an hour or two .

 

[Lincsman]

The problem on our soil is that if you delay drilling in the autumn and it rains your fecked as the land won’t carry a tractor.

You have to change cultivation's to suit late drilling, rough and dried out is best.

 

[snarling bee]

The options for me are more ploughing, or more spring cropping. Both cost money. Ploughing is more a time and timing thing, rather than diesel or wearing parts. And 3 passes with an 8m double press to knock it down. But the results are impressive.
Spot the ploughed 36m in the field. I should really spray of the offending patches.

 

[tr250]

The options for me are more ploughing, or more spring cropping. Both cost money. Ploughing is more a time and timing thing, rather than diesel or wearing parts. And 3 passes with an 8m double press to knock it down. But the results are impressive.
Spot the ploughed 36m in the field. I should really spray of the offending patches.
View attachment 1040702View attachment 1040703

When was it last ploughed?

 

[alomy75]

Its a long time since I did any arable farming or crop spraying, so please excuse my ignorance.

It has become quite apparent here in France that my neighbour - a good tidy farmer - is getting a BG problem. He doesn't plough but on our argilo calcaire land [chalky clay is the nearest translation, but there's no sign of chalk], he does 2-3 passes with a Kemken Karat followed by a power harrow/drill combination.
I also read on the forum of BG problems in the UK. Back in the day when I was a whippersnapper late 70's we had the isoproturons etc to keep on top of BG.
So what's the UK situation these days - I'd like to have a sensible conversation with my neighbour.

Bgrass control with no chems…
Karat/combi possibly the worst choice of cults. Contractor(?) DD into stubble after glyphosate(assume you still have it available for stubble use?) or if there’s a budget buy a drill capable of going direct. Different crops. Bgrass loves being stuck in a rut. Late spring cropping (linseed etc) avoids the spring germinating bgrass. Einbock weeder and or inter row hoe. Weed wiper. Find someone with one of those zurn top collect or head collect things (trailed combine header that chops the heads off and collects them).

 

[CPF]

This idea as been pioneered by a Australian farmer over a few years and been installed on quite a few combines over here
I see claas / John Deere are starting put them on European combines now.
The 2 videos I have posted are worth watching.

 

[CPF]