Break crop for heavy clay land with blackgrass?

[JCfarmer]

Osr is getting harder to grow obviously and control black grass, infact osr failed on these fields and has been planted with spring barley.
What to grow on it next, spring beans maybe?(growing some this year after a few years of not)
Grass for 2 years to help with blackgrass control?(not ideal from my point of view)
Winter or Spring Oats and if blackgrass comes in it mow for silage? (we do have cattle)
I know control for grass weeds in oats is none existent, I am growing winter oats for the first time this coming season under contract albeit on clean ground.
Thoughts and experiences please.

 

[teslacoils]

Did your spring barley do the job in regards to BG? If so, more of that.

Beans are yuk. I'm growing 4 years grass for silage, and spring oats for my breaks.

 

[cricketandcrops]

springs beans are OK and look at countryside stewardship option AB15 - two year legume fallow - especially if trying to maximise 1st wheat, as spring barley isn't a true break

 

[teslacoils]

Ab15 is fine but the grass in the mix will set seed before the 15 August date in year two.

 

[Brisel]

I know you shouldn’t let any grasses seed but the OP will be using blackgrass products in crop that should sort ryegrass.

 

[Lincsman]

Whats wrong with Fallow? it loses very little money.

 

[Gong Farmer]

Beans are as good a break on heavy land as rape, plus the black-grass gets no fertiliser N which keeps it poor.
Spring beans would allow an over-winter clean up but they're not as reliable as winter beans for crop output.

 

[Brisel]

Whats wrong with Fallow? it loses very little money.

It doesn’t cover any overheads, though does clean the BG up quickly if managed well.

 

[Steevo]

It doesn’t cover any overheads, though does clean the BG up quickly if managed well.

It does if you use it for your greening.

 

[ollie989898]

If you have cattle can you grow maize or grass instead for a bit?

I would direct drill spring beans in if it was me.

 

[Hindsight]

For those advocating AB15 have you any comments about the change in seed / species requirements for agreements starting in 2021 compared to the previous years - see the link below

AB15: Two year sown legume fallow

Find out about eligibility and requirements for the two year sown legume fallow option.

www.gov.uk

More emphasis on the nectar component. Less grass inclusion. And noticeably doubles the seed costs.

It ain't the old Ryegrass with clover ley mix. Now is a clover/expensive legume with some grass mix. Comments and thoughts welcome from those in the Know.

 

[DrWazzock]

Plus one for spring barley.
Direct drill it late next spring. Be patient. Sort any compaction and leave it slightly rough ready for winter to do its work. Simple, cheap and reasonably reliable.

 

[Hindsight]

It does if you use it for your greening.

But you will be able to meet greening through buffer strips BF15 and hedges BF11 and BF12 unless a very unusual farm. So using fallow for EFA just mean you cannot use glyphosate until July 1st.

 

[ollie989898]

Requirements
You must:

• establish by sowing a seed mix containing a minimum of 6 flower species as soon as possible after harvest and before 15 September, in year 1 and year 3 of your agreement
• cut at least twice during the first 12 months after sowing to stop blackgrass heading. You can only cut between 1 March and 31 October
• keep until 15 August in the second summer after sowing

In the second year after establishment you are allowed to cut between 1 March and 15 May to control blackgrass.

Cripes.

 

[teslacoils]

I'm going to try

For those advocating AB15 have you any comments about the change in seed / species requirements for agreements starting in 2021 compared to the previous years - see the link below

AB15: Two year sown legume fallow

Find out about eligibility and requirements for the two year sown legume fallow option.

www.gov.uk

More emphasis on the nectar component. Less grass inclusion. And noticeably doubles the seed costs.

It ain't the old Ryegrass with clover ley mix. Now is a clover/expensive legume with some grass mix. Comments and thoughts welcome from those in the Know.

That's not dissimilar from what I planted two years ago. 15 percent clover is still 2kg clover per acre which is a lot. I don't find the vetch persistent and don't think it adds a lot of value. Nor does the ryegrass. I'd be just as happy drilling a pure clover / vetch / knapweed / trefoil stand tbh.

 

[ollie989898]

I'm going to try


That's not dissimilar from what I planted two years ago. 15 percent clover is still 2kg clover per acre which is a lot. I don't find the vetch persistent and don't think it adds a lot of value. Nor does the ryegrass. I'd be just as happy drilling a pure clover / vetch / knapweed / trefoil stand tbh.

Drill 5-6kg of red clover then.

 

[teslacoils]

Drill 5-6kg of red clover then.

As a standalone crop? Won't pay.

 

[JCfarmer]

Did your spring barley do the job in regards to BG? If so, more of that.

Beans are yuk. I'm growing 4 years grass for silage, and spring oats for my breaks.

The fields are getting cleaner, spring barley the year before as well but conventionally drilled on 150mm row spacings, this spring drilled with the Claydon. Good job as well with how dry its been, the dry weather and concrete layer on top made the decision for me, no way I would have got a good enough seedbed any other way. Carriered before hand for some tilth, rolled with the carrier after and rolled with cambridge rolls.
Beans drilled with the Claydon looking good,cheap and one of the best ways to establish them.

 

[bobk]

Grass , s'not difficult

 

[HarryB97]

Increase the cattle and put down red clover silage leys for 3-4 years. More muck for your arable, fantastic break crop that also leaves N behind, can rent the autumn aftermath to a sheep farmer, your cattle growth rates will increase and more cattle helps spread risk as well.