Cheap 1 year legume

Jdunn55

Member
So I've got 50 acres of silage ground that I'm hoping to put into gs4 herbal ley autumn of 2023.
However, I'm looking to plough and reseed it this autumn in 1 year ley, as this will give me the opportunity to level it out this year, spray it next autumn and direct drill the gs4 into what then should be a nice clean seedbed

I only took the ground on this year but there are lots of weeds and the grass is less than brilliant, hence wanting to reseed before next year.

I would like to include a legume to increase the protein content of the silage but also to reduce/replace bagged nitrogen.

I was thinking either westerwolds or Italian ryegrass (depending on price - happy to pay an extra £1-2 for italians instead of westerwolds)
Possibly vetch and crimson clover?
Would the crimson clover last until August next year and survive the winter? Or should I look at a different species?
Don't really want to use red clover as it will be going into a red clover based ley next autumn

Would be hoping to drill this September

Thanks
 

neilo

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Montgomeryshire
I've done a similar mix a few times. Very few Crimson clover plants will make it through a winter IME. I put two fields in last year containing Crimson, Persian and Red clovers, and only the red has made it through what was a very mild winter, as expected.
I'd certainly go for IRG rather than Westerwolds. Last year's mix had Westerwolds and it shot to head after taking a light first cut, before I got lambs into it again, to teh extent that it had set viable seed that it was shedding in August. It was like a carpet of new Westerwolds in the Autumn. That's OK for this field, but not if you are wanting to reseed with decent grass after.

No experience of vetches.
 

JMTHORNLEY

Member
Location
Glossop
I've never used it but looking to in the next year or so but what about Phacelia? I've heard some pretty decent things about it, good N fixing ability, good rooting structure and good for bees ect....
Hairy Vetch will get you through the winter and fix a good amount of N, could you maybe do a cheap arable silage with some vetch and forage rye? Will smoother weeds well and have something you could graze/mow before you DD you final ley and a final chance to spray any weeds out if you round up it priory to mowing.

I've always wanted to try tillage radish on some of my more compacted ground, can be grazed by sheep as well I'm told, I could be wrong?

Don't like the idea of going grass to grass if it's a sh!t old root like some of mine :ROFLMAO:
 

gwi1890

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
North wales
I put westerwolds and vetch in last and IRG and red clover, IRG and red clover was a overseed job tunred out well, Westerwolds shot to head quickly and could barely see the vetches this was sown into a clean seed bed.
 

unlacedgecko

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Fife
I've never used it but looking to in the next year or so but what about Phacelia? I've heard some pretty decent things about it, good N fixing ability, good rooting structure and good for bees ect....
Hairy Vetch will get you through the winter and fix a good amount of N, could you maybe do a cheap arable silage with some vetch and forage rye? Will smoother weeds well and have something you could graze/mow before you DD you final ley and a final chance to spray any weeds out if you round up it priory to mowing.

I've always wanted to try tillage radish on some of my more compacted ground, can be grazed by sheep as well I'm told, I could be wrong?

Don't like the idea of going grass to grass if it's a sh!t old root like some of mine :ROFLMAO:
Phacellia vetch and radish (with some cereal volunteers) is what I've wintered sheep on the last 3 years. They do very well on it.
 

Derrick Hughes

Member
Location
Ceredigion
Be better sowing in the spring , Ryegrass Vetch and Crimson , if you sow Tetraploid Westerwolds it will perform better , it will be away quicker than Italian as well , Italian is around 30p Kg more.Other that that Wholecrop and Legume s next spring
 
Last edited:

BenAdamsAgri

Member
BASE UK Member
Location
Oxfordshire
I've never used it but looking to in the next year or so but what about Phacelia? I've heard some pretty decent things about it, good N fixing ability, good rooting structure and good for bees ect....
Hairy Vetch will get you through the winter and fix a good amount of N, could you maybe do a cheap arable silage with some vetch and forage rye? Will smoother weeds well and have something you could graze/mow before you DD you final ley and a final chance to spray any weeds out if you round up it priory to mowing.

I've always wanted to try tillage radish on some of my more compacted ground, can be grazed by sheep as well I'm told, I could be wrong?

Don't like the idea of going grass to grass if it's a sh!t old root like some of mine :ROFLMAO:
Phacelia doesn't fix N
 

Derrick Hughes

Member
Location
Ceredigion
If I let this Crimson seed will it come again , was overseeded into grass last year, the yellow stuff is turnips and hybrid rape that won't go away
IMG_20220519_080255.jpg
 

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