Companion cropping with grass weeds

[dannewhouse]

Just chatting with agronomist about our options for companion cropping with wheat and barley, beans were his go too for wheat but we then discussed grass weeds so pre Ems would be out of the question? I think I need them tbh it's our only real shot on winter barley. Don't really want to whole crop either or switch to spring.

Traditionally we would plough and combi drill but DD is an option

 

[Midnight plough boy]

Pre ems would be fine with beans - always get vol. beans come through 0.6 liberator + 0.1 DFF. Pendimethalin can be used as pre em on beans so Crystal would be fine.

 

[Hobbit]

I’m companion cropping my wheat with black grass but it ok because the pre ems don’t bother that much either

 

[dannewhouse]

I’m companion cropping my wheat with black grass but it ok because the pre ems don’t bother that much either

I'd click like but it's not funny!
I'm trying various things, grass lays and spring barley

 

[Hobbit]

I'd click like but it's not funny!
I'm trying various things, grass lays and spring barley

Sorry about that, I couldn’t resist. However on a serious note volunteer beans seem to do well here. Because we DD they sit on top of the ground until drilling then they grow even with a robust pre em.

 

[dannewhouse]

Sorry about that, I couldn’t resist. However on a serious note volunteer beans seem to do well here. Because we DD they sit on top of the ground until drilling then they grow even with a robust pre em.

Fert spread them on after plough before drilling for me might still work then?

I'm assuming brassicas like forage rape are out with a pre em same with clover vetch etc

 

[Hobbit]

That could work. Don’t sow them too heavy though. If you venture into the DD pages you will find people that are growing winter oats and bean together.
Brassicas can be more sensitive. I seen clover re-establish its self in first wheats and this is something I’m trying to encourage but I don’t have enough grass in the rotation to do every year. Over sowing in the spring is the next option.

 

[Salopian_Will]

Just chatting with agronomist about our options for companion cropping with wheat and barley, beans were his go too for wheat but we then discussed grass weeds so pre Ems would be out of the question? I think I need them tbh it's our only real shot on winter barley. Don't really want to whole crop either or switch to spring.

Traditionally we would plough and combi drill but DD is an option

Interested in what are you trying to achieve with companion cropping? The thought of beans providing free N is attractive, however, by now I would have sprayed them off with my broadleaf weeds and so the marginal gain is probably minimal. I can see the attraction in having some diversity in rooting etc and to help pollinators though. Are you expecting to take both the wheat and beans to harvest and separate them out?

 

[dannewhouse]

Interested in what are you trying to achieve with companion cropping? The thought of beans providing free N is attractive, however, by now I would have sprayed them off with my broadleaf weeds and so the marginal gain is probably minimal. I can see the attraction in having some diversity in rooting etc and to help pollinators though. Are you expecting to take both the wheat and beans to harvest and separate them out?

SFI arable offer, I can companion crop 20% of my winter cereals to get £40/Ha across them all

 

[BenAdamsAgri]

SFI arable offer, I can companion crop 20% of my winter cereals to get £40/Ha across them all

Would do wheat and beans, PDM pre em, can then spray out beans in spring if needs be

 

[dannewhouse]

Any recommendations for mixing with winter barley and any rough seed rates, would normally be 250kg ha on heavier ground (just the wheat)