- Location
- Lincolnshire
Anyone have any thoughts or unseen issues on me drilling (somehow?) winter OSR off the heap in May to grow a cheap covercrop to plough in say mid august? Has to be cheap as its the only expense I plan this cropping year.
Cheap cover crop
- Thread starter Lincsman
- Start date
glasshouse
Member
- Location
- lothians
I have mustard available cheap
- Location
- Lincolnshire
Mustard and oats.
- Location
- Lincolnshire
Dont think cabbage stem flea beetle will attack it as its the wrong season for them?... if flowers developed pollen beetle would finish them off but thats not a problem as its for cheap green manure.
- Location
- Lincolnshire
That would involve spending money, so thats out.
Cabbage Stem Flea Beetle are fairly active all year, only resting for a few weeks in July-early August and when the larvae haven't hatched in the winter. I've repeatedly lost brassica game covers to flea beetle grazing with a variety of sowing dates from late April to mid June.
- Location
- Lincolnshire
By all means spin on 5kg an acre of rapeseed from the heap and run over it with the rolls to try it.
The thing with the oats would be that 40kg an acre of oats in the fert spreader then rolled would easily grow into something.
Bit of cost / benefit but if the cost needs to be nil then go with the osr.
The thing with the oats would be that 40kg an acre of oats in the fert spreader then rolled would easily grow into something.
Bit of cost / benefit but if the cost needs to be nil then go with the osr.
CORK
Member
- Location
- East Cork, Ireland
Just throwing this in here and not dismissing the benefits that cover crops can bring.
But, could the increase in covercropping be a contributing factor to the increase in Cabbage Flea beetle? ie are the brassicas in these crops another source of food to carry the population over the winter, autumn and spring?
But, could the increase in covercropping be a contributing factor to the increase in Cabbage Flea beetle? ie are the brassicas in these crops another source of food to carry the population over the winter, autumn and spring?
- Location
- North West
Sure it’s been asked before, but whats the rules on fss if it’s not taken through to harvest? Do you still have to pay royalties?
It’s kind of like paying royalties on volunteers after the combine ??
Yes, but I don't see a lot of brassicas grown for cover crops because osr is in most people's rotation. Plenty of fodder brassicas grown in the livestock areas of the wetter west. I don't see the same problems in these with CSFB though, mainly because they are sown earlier while the adults are aestivating (resting) in July/August & younger osr is seen as a more succulent target as migration starts in late August. Why aren't osr volunteers getting more damage in stubbles after harvest?
Edited to add: If cover crops are terminated before the larvae can emerge and pupate, which is very often, surely these are just acting as trap crops that do not allow the population to breed? There's evidence that more area = more eggs laid from the same number of adults but I still think that brassica cover crops aren't to blame.
Last edited:
You have to pay if you sow, not if you harvest. IMO it's one of the things that needs changing as multiple cover crop species from home grown crops are theoretically very expensive if royalty is paid on every component on the list.
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CORK
Member
- Location
- East Cork, Ireland
I guess I’m asking more from an Irish perspective.
Thankfully we don’t have a Flea Beetle problem as such in WOSR here yet (it’s not a common crop).
However, brassicas are the most popular species in cover cropping here because they are vigorous and relatively cheap.
I just don’t want Flea beetle to become a problem here.
All I can suggest is keep lobbying for the reduction in prophylactic insecticide use in brassicas to delay resistance, along with getting Teagasc to encourage Integrated Pest Management. What actives are available to you guys? Seed dressings?
No offence, but since you guys are leading the way in septoria resistance, it's only fair you get something back from us
CORK
Member
- Location
- East Cork, Ireland
All I can suggest is keep lobbying for the reduction in prophylactic insecticide use in brassicas to delay resistance, along with getting Teagasc to encourage Integrated Pest Management. What actives are available to you guys? Seed dressings?
No offence, but since you guys are leading the way in septoria resistance, it's only fair you get something back from us
To be honest, I don’t know anyone here who applies insecticide to either WOSR or fodder brassicas over here. Flea beetle is rare and is sprayed if someone spots it but again it’s rare.
Insecticides are probably applied to veg brassicas but the area would be very small.
We don’t have any insecticidal seed treatments available since the Neonics departed.
On the subject of Septoria, that’s something we can do quite well! The AHDB have set up a wheat trial here to ensure Septoria scores even if you get a dry summer in the UK.
The new Septoria actives coming to the market are a really welcome development for us, especially in the south of the country.
yellow belly
Member
- Location
- south west lincolnshire
Flea beetle did all the brassicas I planted last spring
spring rape mustard and wild bird mixes and game cover crops
spring rape mustard and wild bird mixes and game cover crops
- Location
- Lincolnshire
Are you sure its not cabbage stem weevil damage as flea beetle damage should end in april as they only lay eggs up to Dec, according to my AHDB Book.
Hmm. You could well be right.
Wessex Flea Beetle, Turnip Flea Beetle and Large Striped Flea Beetle match that seasonal profile.
- Location
- Lincolnshire
It’s not really cheap but with a lot of wheat seed still in the shed with diminishing germination potential I am cosidering drilling it beyond end of safe vernalisation date and if it doesn’t head then it’s a cover and we will graze it off. If it does head it’s a bonus but the big question is when will I know if it is or is not going to head? Obviously I won’t be spending on a T0 and will leave N late as poss.
just a thought . Really I am uncharted waters. But leafy wheat could help finish lambs on clean ground and be a good entry for ........er well something.
just a thought . Really I am uncharted waters. But leafy wheat could help finish lambs on clean ground and be a good entry for ........er well something.
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