Break crops

[Just because]

We plant cover crops in autumn for grazing store lambs on normally stubble turnips/forage rape. This year we planted grass seeds. Grass was planted mid August came extremely well currently have lambs on if we where to plough up end of February for spring barley (so roughly 6 months) would it be classed as a cereal break?? Thanks

 

[Just because]

 

[e3120]

Is that nicely established grass ley not worth more than oversubscribed spring barley? It would not need much N in year 1 as it will grow as quick as you can graze it. See how the markets look in September.

Grass isn't technically a break, but I grow nothing other than it and winter cereals with no problems. Stiff land, with lashings of muck and 4+ year leys, though.

 

[David.]

As good as that looks, I'd have a year out of it, if you can utilise the grass. Or do you need the barley and straw?

 

[JCfarmer]

In my opinion you would be better off utilising the grass for a full year.

 

[DieselRob]

It’s been a while since I bought grass seed so don’t know what cost is involved but have you got your monies worth out of it for 6 months use?

 

[solo]

If it’s take all this may help.

Take-all

cropscience.bayer.co.uk

 

[Brisel]

The take all really gets going in the late spring so the answer is no, I'm afraid. It is a very good cover crop though and will help weed control.

 

[Kevtherev]

Use the grass ley seems a shame to plough that up!

 

[T Hectares]

Only thing I’ll add to the other comments above is that SB after Grass isn’t great normally
Given the cost of Grass seed I’d say leave it for the spring then a good entry into Wheat if that suits your set up

 

[solo]

Looks to have been a good decision going for grass . Stubble turnips would have been very muddy with the weather were having. At least you have options to utilise the grass.

 

[CPF]

I would spread some N on early, any time after the 15th Jan (NVZs date) or little later as long as you get 50 days 2 until per ac per day up take rule,before a cut.
Then go for 1st cut of grass , spray it off then DD SB .

 

[Gong Farmer]

The take all really gets going in the late spring so the answer is no, I'm afraid. It is a very good cover crop though and will help weed control.

This. If you could leave it for a year you would get a useful take-all break, but remove it halfway through and there will be no effect on the disease.

 

[AndrewM]

Would love to see some research on which grass species were the best-》worst for being takeall hosts. Could be useful when designing these sfi mixes

 

[AndrewM]

I always use latitude after only a 1year ryegrass ley as I was told it wasn't considered a break crop

 

[Gong Farmer]

Having looked in more detail at past rotation work I was involved with, one year grass (as herbage seed rather than grazed) had less take-all in second wheat following compared to other breaks, but that may have been because it allowed more in the first wheat, being an incomplete break. In other words, the take-all risk is spread over the following wheat crops rather than a sudden peak in the second.
Spring barley only gets take-all when planted in autumn or very early winter, (later sowing misses the infection peak) but in the OP's case the grass can carry it so this doesn't apply.

 

[Brisel]

Would love to see some research on which grass species were the best-》worst for being takeall hosts. Could be useful when designing these sfi mixes

I have no science here, but multi species herbal ley mixes should be better as the grass % is lower, diluted by the herbs and legumes.

 

[ollie989898]

Pulling up grass leys after not even a single year is going to make you a lot of friends with people selling seed. I'd suggest the stuff is just too expensive to be doing that these days.

 

[DrWazzock]

I thought it was the case that a 2 year minimum ryegrass ley “burnt out” the take all. Seems to work here anyway. Grass for a few years, wheat, barley, back to grass is my new rotation unless we go for something from SFI.

 

[Flat 10]

Having looked in more detail at past rotation work I was involved with, one year grass (as herbage seed rather than grazed) had less take-all in second wheat following compared to other breaks, but that may have been because it allowed more in the first wheat, being an incomplete break. In other words, the take-all risk is spread over the following wheat crops rather than a sudden peak in the second.
Spring barley only gets take-all when planted in autumn or very early winter, (later sowing misses the infection peak) but in the OP's case the grass can carry it so this doesn't apply.

I’m not sure about the spring barley idea. I get big yield increases sown late feb/early march after beet v after cereals. Or are you saying this is down to something else?