Break Cropping in a mixed farm

[charlie94]

Just taken some extra land on, landlord doesn't want maize or spuds as a break crop for the 3rd year. We've been selling( to a neighbour) and feeding maize to our beefers. So maize works for the business as feed and a cash crop.

What other options could we go for?
Don't fancy oats or osr
It's on light ground

West Lancashire, so can't grow some of these fancy options
Ideally something not late, would always pick early maturing maize so end of September.

Would you plumb for a 12 month grass crop? Arable silage with peas and put turnips in the winter previous to graze with sheep?
Ideally something we can sell but think options are limited

Opinions please

 

[David.]

Peas, if it's clean ground?
Grass/clover if you can utilise it?
W.barley into turnips gets you into sp.barley followed by wheat.

 

[Grass And Grain]

SFI CNUM3 legume fallow or SFI flower and nectar type options.

 

[davidroberts30]

Fodder beet?

 

[gone up the hill]

Peas, if it's clean ground?
Grass/clover if you can utilise it?
W.barley into turnips gets you into sp.barley followed by wheat.

Well spring barley is not a break crop as its a white straw!

 

[David.]

Well spring barley is not a break crop as its a white straw!

No, but following turnips, spring barley with a wheat works okay here.

 

[Boysground]

I usually say wheat is my break crop

Can you move more maize into your home rotation and have grass on the new land. Perhaps 2 year italian ley with clover and get some SFI. Great for BG control. If your feeling adventurous lucerne, I guess you would easily find a market. But a 3 year crop, almost zero input cost once it’s established.

Bg

 

[Chae1]

Grass/clover

 

[Devil's advocate]

Fodder beet?

If the landlord does not like potatoes or maize, he won't be keen on fodder beet.

 

[Zan]

Peas

 

[Flat 10]

Why dismiss oats in a livestock area? Ready markets for grain and straw? Wild oats?

 

[Will Blackburn]

It’s not really overrun with livestock.

 

[Spud]

Just taken some extra land on, landlord doesn't want maize or spuds as a break crop for the 3rd year. We've been selling( to a neighbour) and feeding maize to our beefers. So maize works for the business as feed and a cash crop.

What other options could we go for?
Don't fancy oats or osr
It's on light ground

West Lancashire, so can't grow some of these fancy options
Ideally something not late, would always pick early maturing maize so end of September.

Would you plumb for a 12 month grass crop? Arable silage with peas and put turnips in the winter previous to graze with sheep?
Ideally something we can sell but think options are limited

Opinions please

Fodder beet as already mentioned was my first thought.
Beans maybe a better option - roll them and feed as protein for your cattle?
Dont dismiss spring oats - particularly after beet

 

[john63]

I'd be tempted to give beans a try. Not sure what they're like on light land though.

 

[Werzle]

Is it too late to spray off a grass field and drill stubble turnips as a break crop ready for a grass reseed next spring? Be another fortnight before planting if sprayed shortly.

 

[Spud]

Can you not spray it & direct drill the turnips the next day? No need to wait for it to brown over

 

[Werzle]

Can you not spray it & direct drill the turnips the next day? No need to wait for it to brown over

Tbh i didnt realise that was possible. Not sure if i should direct drill when my main aim is to clear pests out of the ground ready for a reseed next spring, would some cultivation do a better job for me

 

[HarryB97]

A decent red clover and ryegrass ley for 3 years is hard to beat as a good break crop. Add a few herbs and another legume and claim it as a herbal ley as well!

 

[Spud]

Tbh i didnt realise that was possible. Not sure if i should direct drill when my main aim is to clear pests out of the ground ready for a reseed next spring, would some cultivation do a better job for me

That depends on how much land you have / how quick you need it back to grass? On bodied land I'd go beans wheat back to grass

 

[Werzle]

That depends on how much land you have / how quick you need it back to grass? On bodied land I'd go beans wheat back to grass

Not enough ! All grass here , worse thing i did was plough up pp thinking newer leys would perform better. Grass after grass is never great and i only stirred up weeds and pests so i was hoping a winter break crop and back into grass next spring.