Break crop between grass

[Jonny_2]

Evening, going to reseed 2 more fields next spring after how well lambs have done on reseed this year. Don’t want to chance going from grass into grass again though due to leather jackets so want a break crop for summer or ideally till following spring.

Next two fields are both 25+ year leys overseeded a bit ago. Going to put Tyfon in one but don’t want to rely on brassicas for both due to flea beetle.

Land is very heavy so beet won’t work. Thought about whole-cropping barley however been warned about rats so thinking of westwerwolds or forage rye however will it give a good enough break to reduce risk of leather jackets. Also has anyone sown vetch at the same time? Ideal world I would like a big cut of hay to fill an empty Dutch barn!

Thanks in advance

 

[neilo]

Evening, going to reseed 2 more fields next spring after how well lambs have done on reseed this year. Don’t want to chance going from grass into grass again though due to leather jackets so want a break crop for summer or ideally till following spring.

Next two fields are both 25+ year leys overseeded a bit ago. Going to put Tyfon in one but don’t want to rely on brassicas for both due to flea beetle.

Land is very heavy so beet won’t work. Thought about whole-cropping barley however been warned about rats so thinking of westwerwolds or forage rye however will it give a good enough break to reduce risk of leather jackets. Also has anyone sown vetch at the same time? Ideal world I would like a big cut of hay to fill an empty Dutch barn!

Thanks in advance

My first option would be brassicas (a newer rape/kale hybrid, rather than Typhon though), then keep an eye on it and use insecticide if necessary.
Second option, and one that intend trying in a similar scenario next year, is to spray out then DD with a mix of rape/kale hybrid and Westerwold/IRG. Then spray out and DD a long term ley in a year after, giving two chances to clean the weed species out.
If grubs cause a problem then at least it’s not taken along term ley out.

 

[Frank-the-Wool]

Depends on how desperate you are to fill the barn.
If you are just looking for next winter fodder then I would plant Kale as the new varieties give plenty of good feed. You do not say where you are as climate and geography could influence what you plant. As Neilo says the new hybrid brassica varieties are very good and you could use it to feed off late summer if you are finishing lambs and then put into grass in the Autumn. Always prefer to plant grass in the Autumn, Spring sowing can be a gamble in dry areas.
Westerwold/IRG does not make good hay unless the weather is perfect but is good for Haylage/Silage.

 

[neilo]

Depends on how desperate you are to fill the barn.
If you are just looking for next winter fodder then I would plant Kale as the new varieties give plenty of good feed. You do not say where you are as climate and geography could influence what you plant. As Neilo says the new hybrid brassica varieties are very good and you could use it to feed off late summer if you are finishing lambs and then put into grass in the Autumn. Always prefer to plant grass in the Autumn, Spring sowing can be a gamble in dry areas.
Westerwold/IRG does not make good hay unless the weather is perfect but is good for Haylage/Silage.

I'm planning on the Westerwold mix being a lamb finishing crop (it won't run to head in it's year of planting IIRC), then a bite over winter (it grows at low temps), then a Spring bite when we're short, before taking it out again. If you have a use for silage/hay, there would be an opportunity for a big crop before taking it out.

DD'ed some after Winter Barley last year and had a fantastic crop, as above, which finished a lot more lambs than brassicas would. Repeated the same this summer and disappointed (weather scuppered it), but hopefully get a good bite in the Spring.

 

[Hampton]

I would go with maize if you can use it as it doesn't seem to get the pest problems, and also loosens the ground up ready for later crops.

 

[ajcc]

Typhon in April graze July and immediately do same again to feed in winter. As long as you have sprayer and weekly inspection walk insects not insurmountable. Single kale crop again has good output but needs bit more input and agronomy.