Cover crop

[Samcowman]

Going to be putting 40 ac of cover crop in this Autumn for our greening. It will be drilled straight into wheat stubble after harvest and planted into maize next spring.
I was thinking of having vetch oats and oil radish as they all come under the list you are allowed to plant.
Has anyone used a mix similar to this before and in what ratios should they be included in the mix?

 

[Brisel]

@Great In Grass @Kevtherev

 

[Great In Grass]

@Great In Grass @Kevtherev

Sam & I had a chat back in early May.

 

[Brisel]

Doh! I should have looked at the date of posting.

 

[Kevtherev]

Cheers for the tag @Brisel not my customer so I'll leave it to the man from Truro

 

[Great In Grass]

Doh! I should have looked at the date of posting.

It wasn't that long ago.

 

[TelesnaAg]

Is anyone using Teff in covers? perfect ground cover to keep if direct drilling following crop and need weed suppression..IMO.

Ant...

 

[Farmer Roy]

I was thinking of having vetch oats and oil radish as they all come under the list you are allowed to plant.

I'm intrigued by "allowed" to plant. What does that mean, are there restrictions on what crops you can grow, or "guidelines" by some self serving organisation for before gaining accreditation as a cover crop?
Apart from noxious weeds, hemp or poppies, I struggle to think of anything I wouldn't be "allowed" to plant

 

[Brisel]

I'm intrigued by "allowed" to plant. What does that mean, are there restrictions on what crops you can grow, or "guidelines" by some self serving organisation for before gaining accreditation as a cover crop?
Apart from noxious weeds, hemp or poppies, I struggle to think of anything I wouldn't be "allowed" to plant

One of the conditions attached to our subsidy payment is to have 5% Ecological Focus Area. You can use cover crops as EFA but you are limited to one from a list of cereals (barley, rye, oats) and one from a list of non cereals (vetch, phacelia, mustard etc.). Multiple species mixes are not allowable as EFA but there's nothing to stop you planting them.

 

[Farmer Roy]

One of the conditions attached to our subsidy payment is to have 5% Ecological Focus Area. You can use cover crops as EFA but you are limited to one from a list of cereals (barley, rye, oats) and one from a list of non cereals (vetch, phacelia, mustard etc.). Multiple species mixes are not allowable as EFA but there's nothing to stop you planting them.

Ok, thanks
Is the subsidy a significant amount?

 

[Brisel]

I think it is worth the paperwork & hassle, yes. £81/acre last year. He who pays the piper gets to call the tune.

Quite a lot of the hoops we have to jump through for our money are legal requirements so if the subsidy goes the burden of bureaucracy won't. The big difference is that it is easier to deduct money from what they give us for non complicance than it is to drag us into court and have to prove guilt before a jury for breaking a law. The costs of a court are prohibitive even though the costs of administering the subsidy aren't cheap. It's easier to remove part of the carrot [incentive] than it is to use a big stick to beat us with.

Sorry for all the metaphors!