beardface
Member
- Location
- East Yorkshire
So with fert and chem prices where they are I've been thinking of alternative short term leys as an alternative to spring cropping.
Thinking a 2 year ley sown by latest mid September. FYM after wheats off, cultivate, leave a couple weeks spray off then seed.
Mix would be
Cocksfoot
Meadow fescue or festulolium
White clover (small and medium leaf)
Possibly plantain too
Would let it establish over autumn early winter then light graze in Feb to hold the cocksfoot back a bit. Would move fresh Lambed twin ewes onto it beginning of April then rotational graze hard right through to back end again. Rest it over winter with occasional grazing to hold cocksfoot back a bit then same again following year. Spray off August and in with autumn crop.
Benefits are OM build up from cocksfoot rooting. Bit of N build up from clover. Clean grazing for sheep, with drought risk reduced. Plus potentially a better gross margin and similar weed control to a double spring break.
Thoughts?
Thinking a 2 year ley sown by latest mid September. FYM after wheats off, cultivate, leave a couple weeks spray off then seed.
Mix would be
Cocksfoot
Meadow fescue or festulolium
White clover (small and medium leaf)
Possibly plantain too
Would let it establish over autumn early winter then light graze in Feb to hold the cocksfoot back a bit. Would move fresh Lambed twin ewes onto it beginning of April then rotational graze hard right through to back end again. Rest it over winter with occasional grazing to hold cocksfoot back a bit then same again following year. Spray off August and in with autumn crop.
Benefits are OM build up from cocksfoot rooting. Bit of N build up from clover. Clean grazing for sheep, with drought risk reduced. Plus potentially a better gross margin and similar weed control to a double spring break.
Thoughts?