Chopping Spring Barley Straw pre OSR

[Will7]

I am new to Spring Barley this year and last week cut my first field. The grain was ready but the straw was not, which was made worse by some rank green secondary tillers. The straw chop out the back of a lexion 580+ was terrible (the blades were turned 100 acres ago). I appreciate the straw was not fit but am I better to bale it? Some will get pre harvest roundup to try and take the green out, but some is too far gone. I have never baled anything in 9 years here and would rather not, but the mat of barley straw is a concern for the imminent osr crop

Thanks

 

[Cow1]

I don't know about your area or individual circumstances but good spring barley straw is more valuable than other straw. However it sounds like you won't be able to bale straight behind the combine because of the green. I would say if the weather came good bale for the sake of the next crop but if you want to press on and snatch bits with the weather as it is now then you may have to continue chopping.

 

[SilliamWhale]

I'd bale it.

 

[Northdowns Martin]

How are you going to establish the OSR? May not be an option if barley has brackled but cut as high as possible

 

[Boysground]

Bale it, chopped straw makes a perfect environment for slugs. Having said that im not convinced we will be able to remove the straw in time to plant osr here as it keeps raining. I may turn the chopper on.

BG

 

[JNG]

Bale it!