Controlling slugs by straw harrowing?

Pilatus

Member
Location
cotswolds
Is the above idea purely theoretical, promoted only by straw harrow manufacturers?
I get the impression that it is a VERY theoretical idea?
That said how do you zero tillers “TRY” to control cursed slugs , one of the worst problems with Zero till?
 

jack6480

Member
Location
Staffs
If you get good slot closure I don’t worry about slugs, I think the Harrow just gives a tadge bit of tilt which helps get the slots closed. Rather than it disturbing slugs like they say. I might be wrong
 

Humble Village Farmer

Member
BASE UK Member
Location
Essex
I think they are quite effective at exposing slug eggs from under damp straw etc (as above). Repeated stubble raking is less compatible with growing cover crops though because obviously you want to get them growing asap. We use ours to spread straw, create a tiny bit of tilth, take over open slots, to cover unburied seed and make a (very) minor contribution to field levelling. We really only do once after combining and drilling. We don't stubble rake at proper drilling to avoid unnecessary soil disturbance which might wake up the black grass. We've bought ours now but I wonder if a modified set of springtines would do the same or a similar job and would've been alot cheaper if bought second hand .
 

britt

Member
BASE UK Member
I think they are quite effective at exposing slug eggs from under damp straw etc (as above). Repeated stubble raking is less compatible with growing cover crops though because obviously you want to get them growing asap. We use ours to spread straw, create a tiny bit of tilth, take over open slots, to cover unburied seed and make a (very) minor contribution to field levelling. We really only do once after combining and drilling. We don't stubble rake at proper drilling to avoid unnecessary soil disturbance which might wake up the black grass. We've bought ours now but I wonder if a modified set of springtines would do the same or a similar job and would've been alot cheaper if bought second hand .
Blockages would be the major problem with anything other than the long straight tines of a rake.
 

Humble Village Farmer

Member
BASE UK Member
Location
Essex
I think they are quite effective at exposing slug eggs from under damp straw etc (as above). Repeated stubble raking is less compatible with growing cover crops though because obviously you want to get them growing asap. We use ours to spread straw, create a tiny bit of tilth, take over open slots, to cover unburied seed and make a (very) minor contribution to field levelling. We really only do once after combining and drilling. We don't stubble rake at proper drilling to avoid unnecessary soil disturbance which might wake up the black grass. We've bought ours now but I wonder if a modified set of springtines would do the same or a similar job and would've been alot cheaper if bought second hand .
Blockages would be the major problem with anything other than the long straight tines of a rake.
Yes you would have to take some of the tines out to give it any sort of a chance
 

Heathland

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lincolnshire
One of the most over priced bits of kits farm machinery manufacturers can get away with!
Think of a number,double it,then add a good chunk for good measure,hay pesto, a straw rake.

And yes I've been getting quotes for said machines.o_O:greedy::greedy::banghead::banghead::scratchhead:.
 

martian

DD Moderator
BASE UK Member
Location
N Herts
One of the most over priced bits of kits farm machinery manufacturers can get away with!
Think of a number,double it,then add a good chunk for good measure,hay pesto, a straw rake.

And yes I've been getting quotes for said machines.o_O:greedy::greedy::banghead::banghead::scratchhead:.
There's generally a few second hand ones for sale...people think they'll need one, hardly use it and eventually sell it off cheap
 

Villagefarmer

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
East Yorkshire
only started raking last year but we raked our osr stubbles 4 times on warm sunny days and we little slugs problems with the following wheat crop. I'll repeat the process this year and see what results I get. Plus the rake does a good job on volunter osr plants when they are small
 

juke

Member
Location
DURHAM
If just wanting to Harrow osr stubbles a set of chain harrows does a cracking job of pulling the shells and chopped material about exposing any slug eggs. Get anything germinated that you would want too.
 
After 6 years notill slug problems have virtually disappeared
2018 may have helped being dry
not now growing rape will also help

drilling wheat after rape on the green never used slug pellets but will not be doing that for a while
after beans is the biggest risk as there is no other slug food till the wheat is emerging
 

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Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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