Cheap Wheat

[Richard III]

JB Diago after spring beans, drilled with a Sim-Tec Tsem.
£12/ha on herbicide.
£37/ha on fungicide.
140 kg/ha of N.

The field is a light self compacting sand, four years into No Till and no sign of needing any loosening yet.

 

[JNG]

What herbicide? Must be a clean field. Looks good, where do you rate yield potential?

 

[Richard III]

The field isn't particularly clean usualy, no grass weeds germinated, so I didn't use any grass weed control. It is black grass free though.

Herbicides were 15g of generic tribenuron methyl and 0.5l of generic fluroxypyr.

The field is too light to hit high yields, a normal yield would be 8 to 9 t/ha, I can't see why it won't do about the same this year. The crop is good and clean, it's down to the weather now.

 

[JNG]

The field isn't particularly clean usualy, no grass weeds germinated, so I didn't use any grass weed control. It is black grass free though.

Herbicides were 15g of generic tribenuron methyl and 0.5l of generic fluroxypyr.

The field is too light to hit high yields, a normal yield would be 8 to 9 t/ha, I can't see why it won't do about the same this year. The crop is good and clean, it's down to the weather now.[/quote

Sorry another question, Are you finding a trend of less grass weeds germinating since starting with this drill or is this an isolated case? I would have imagined the sim tech is still relatively high disturbance? In no till one thing I am very curious about is its effect on field weed levels, less germination etc v's conventinal tillage. We also have no blackgrass here something which I am eternially gratefull for but if not controlled meadow grass and wild Oats will be a problem, Brome can be an issue also.

 

[Richard III]

I also use a Moore when conditions are suitable, but have never got away without grass weed control behind it. No grass weeds on the field in the picture last autumn was probably due to the unusual weather conditions. My other three fields of wheat after beans also needed no grass weed control, but two fields of wheat after rape did.

I've probably not seen much difference on wild oats yet, but that could change over time. Brome control is harder, and I work to stop any patches spreading, kerb in rape gives me a good clean start. I think meadow grasses are less of a problem overall and very little will germinate in a field that is working well, but it is the opposite where there are soil structure or drainage problems. Generally what I find is there are less weeds to spray, but still enough to need to get the sprayer out. The difference is the weeds are all shallow germinating, so kill quite easily.

P.S.

You might remember I gave you a lift from the Hotel to the last Kinsey lecture at Harpenden, the day after TFF was born.

 

[JNG]

I also use a Moore when conditions are suitable, but have never got away without grass weed control behind it. No grass weeds on the field in the picture last autumn was probably due to the unusual weather conditions. My other three fields of wheat after beans also needed no grass weed control, but two fields of wheat after rape did.

I've probably not seen much difference on wild oats yet, but that could change over time. Brome control is harder, and I work to stop any patches spreading, kerb in rape gives me a good clean start. I think meadow grasses are less of a problem overall and very little will germinate in a field that is working well, but it is the opposite where there are soil structure or drainage problems. Generally what I find is there are less weeds to spray, but still enough to need to get the sprayer out. The difference is the weeds are all shallow germinating, so kill quite easily.

P.S.

You might remember I gave you a lift from the Hotel to the last Kinsey lecture at Harpenden, the day after TFF was born.

Ah Yes I remember, thanks for the lift, would have been late otherwise, you are correct re meadow grass, we have a few area of it on the farm that we struggle with and usually the best approach is to dung the areas well and its is easier controlled, they are usually areas of poor crop growth also so that goes with what you say about areas of poor structure or poor soil maybe. since we started min tilling 10+ years ago I have been saying we should be getting less Oats because of not bringing up new seeds to germinate, but still there, was hoping if we end up moving to lower disturbance could I realise this aim. Said the same with stones but even tho soil not tilled bellow 4inch since we seem to bring up as many as ever. We drilled 300ac spring crops and it was 7 days with 2 men picking up after the Claydon (its important to add that to the extra cost over a disc drill). We have lots of stones in Ireland! Brome for me is a rotational issue as well as being ruthless if a patch appears.

 

[Richard III]

Ah Yes I remember, thanks for the lift, would have been late otherwise, you are correct re meadow grass, we have a few area of it on the farm that we struggle with and usually the best approach is to dung the areas well and its is easier controlled, they are usually areas of poor crop growth also so that goes with what you say about areas of poor structure or poor soil maybe. since we started min tilling 10+ years ago I have been saying we should be getting less Oats because of not bringing up new seeds to germinate, but still there, was hoping if we end up moving to lower disturbance could I realise this aim. Said the same with stones but even tho soil not tilled bellow 4inch since we seem to bring up as many as ever. We drilled 300ac spring crops and it was 7 days with 2 men picking up after the Claydon (its important to add that to the extra cost over a disc drill). We have lots of stones in Ireland! Brome for me is a rotational issue as well as being ruthless if a patch appears.

I have one field away from the main farm that is full of sandstone, ploughing it is almost impossible. My solution used to be to walk around with a large sledge hammer before and after drilling. The problem is almost gone now, both drills work without a problem, a quick pass with cambridge rolls and job done. Walking over the land no longer gives no hint of what lies beneath.

 

[htj]

See you put in tramlines with the sprayer, at angles to the drilling. Exactly the same as me. I'm running a 3m Aitchison box drill. Do you just run through the crop, or do you use some sort of cultivator, or grubber to mark them? Or even spray roundup?
Looks great!

 

[Richard III]

See you put in tramlines with the sprayer, at angles to the drilling. Exactly the same as me. I'm running a 3m Aitchison box drill. Do you just run through the crop, or do you use some sort of cultivator, or grubber to mark them? Or even spray roundup?
Looks great!

The tramlines stay in the same place each year by GPS, and then either the combining or the drilling is done at an angle. No tramlines or bout markers to worry about makes drilling much easier. I then just run the sprayer over the crop, it helps keep the tramlines in good condition and green grains don't seem to be a problem. I had just been through with the final ear wash spray when taking the picture, 5 minutes earlier the tramline had been full of wheat, it stands back up after each pass until the final ear spray.