Cover crop to help remove moisture etc

[Right-arm fast]

Hi we have a sizeable headland which lies wet as it is permanently shaded and as such we are in a vicious circle as it wont grow anything properly. It was meant to have sp Linseed on it but due to the recent bout of rain it wont get drilled. I need to put a crop of something on there as a cover to get some roots in to remove moisture and create some structure. Question is what is the best thing for the job, needs to cope with the shade. Ground will dry eventually on its own but need something on there growing until the Autumn to then drill with wheat.

Tia

 

[Brisel]

Why drill with wheat if that isn't going to get enough sun either? Put it into Countryside Stewardship or even EFA fallow next year. I doubt it will ever turn you a profit.

In answer to your question, anything will do that won't become problem in future crops, so no mustard or canary grass. Buckwheat, vetch & phacelia will do well & put some goodness back into the land for you. The phacelia will be alive with pollinators over the summer.

 

[teslacoils]

Grass.

 

[ih1455xl]

Drains

 

[e3120]

Chainsaw

 

[ollie989898]

Trees.

 

[farmerm]

Funny. I have a similar headland as expected I was short of seed... mines not so wet but it’s currently greening itself with creeping thistles and grass not sure if I want to cultivate and spin some cover on it or just burn of before it seems with a half boom of gly...

 

[Right-arm fast]

Drains

Tis drained, just the shade and there's a slight fall to the headland.

 

[Right-arm fast]

Trees.

I hope that was a tongue in cheek remark, otherwise its blasphemy.

 

[Right-arm fast]

Grass.

i'm trying not to go down that route really

 

[yellow belly]

plant it after mid june then the cover will not need knocking off too early

as it is so wet rape is not likely to do very well so use a brascica cover then use a non rape break crop

but I would plan for a stewardship option where yield is not needed for a profitable use of the land

some option pay over £600 a ha and some only need planting once in 5 years

 

[teslacoils]

i'm trying not to go down that route really

I've found that a bag of westerwolds sucks the wet out best. Otherwise, I'd run a drag through it if the top is crusty.

 

[ih1455xl]

Tis drained, just the shade and there's a slight fall to the headland.

When was it drained, recently or 200 years ago?

 

[ollie989898]

I hope that was a tongue in cheek remark, otherwise its blasphemy.

Not at all. If its perpetually wet the forget fudging about cropping it and plant a few trees in it? Sell em for firewood 30 years down the road?

 

[Brisel]

Moving the shade further out?

 

[Right-arm fast]

When was it drained, recently or 200 years ago?

1984 by farm services

 

[Right-arm fast]

Not at all. If its perpetually wet the forget fudging about cropping it and plant a few trees in it? Sell em for firewood 30 years down the road?

I planted some trees under the woodland premium scheme in odd corners 0.5 Ha in total. Wouldn't do it again on good land even if it is shaded. It causes more problems than it solves and a lot of extra work. In fact somebody mentioned using a chain saw which is a far better option.

 

[ih1455xl]

I'd dig down and find a drain to see if there clear or blocked are the out falls clear ditches clean out have the drains got gravel on
Is it water coming up or not going down would a ditch along side the trees help
If it was mine I'd be going on with the trencher with 4in pipe and some gravel

 

[Brisel]

Some tree roots will go a long way for water - I've felled a willow that had a mass of roots blocking a land drain 40 feet away.

 

[Breakthru]

Arable silage mix of barley, oats and westerwolths. Cut, baled and wrapped will make you money and not only give an early entry to WW but a great base to drill into if you avoid having too much machinery romping about just for fun. Make the trailer drivers follow the tramlines as much as possible.