Cover Crops after SU herbicide application? Ideas?

[steveR]

I am bringing several parcels of land back from the Contract farming lads and putting them into a STEPS scheme, similar to AB15 and GS4 in Mid Tier.

Been a bit of a last minute Scheme, so no proper planning for an Autumn entry was planned or considered as regards herbides in the cereal crops this Spring. I have seen SU's take out following fodder crops when they were first introduced, and I am very wary these days of residuals.

So, on checking, only limited cropping in the same cropping year as Ally Max and Jubiliee SX ? The labels say only cereals, oilseed rape, field beans or grass, which is a right PITA! I will not risk the very costly seed into a hostile seedbed! I can put the seed mixes in next Spring, but on two of the fields, Autumn sowing would have been preferable because of the ground type. Ho hum...

As a result, to avoid a weed build up and to keep the land green over winter, I need a low cost cover crop that is tolerant of the herbicides... First thought, was to spin Winter Oats on, and lightly disc, and be able to control BL weeds with a simple herbicide.... But I guess they will not be setting seed before Roundup next April, prior to direct drilling, so not an issue.

Any suggestions of a cheap and cheerful CC in this situation please? DD or broadcast ASAP, post harvest, so mid August at the latest.

 

[Andrew K]

I am bringing several parcels of land back from the Contract farming lads and putting them into a STEPS scheme, similar to AB15 and GS4 in Mid Tier.

Been a bit of a last minute Scheme, so no proper planning for an Autumn entry was planned or considered as regards herbides in the cereal crops this Spring. I have seen SU's take out following fodder crops when they were first introduced, and I am very wary these days of residuals.

So, on checking, only limited cropping in the same cropping year as Ally Max and Jubiliee SX ? The labels say only cereals, oilseed rape, field beans or grass, which is a right PITA! I will not risk the very costly seed into a hostile seedbed! I can put the seed mixes in next Spring, but on two of the fields, Autumn sowing would have been preferable because of the ground type. Ho hum...

As a result, to avoid a weed build up and to keep the land green over winter, I need a low cost cover crop that is tolerant of the herbicides... First thought, was to spin Winter Oats on, and lightly disc, and be able to control BL weeds with a simple herbicide.... But I guess they will not be setting seed before Roundup next April, prior to direct drilling, so not an issue.

Any suggestions of a cheap and cheerful CC in this situation please? DD or broadcast ASAP, post harvest, so mid August at the latest.

Have grown Black Oats and Vetch after Ally Max treated cereals in the past, which established well, having been DD in late August with a Claydon Hybrid. Ask the cover crop seedsmen ?

 

[Brisel]

It's a new cropping year....! As above, ask the seed seller about this. What dose and when was it applied?

 

[steveR]

It's a new cropping year....! As above, ask the seed seller about this. What dose and when was it applied?

Same cropping year!!

B6: Jubilee SX 15g/ha 10/6/20, hurricane SC 0.1l/ha 15/4/20
B7: Crystal 2l/ha & hurricane 0.1l/ha 10/10/19, Pixxaro EC 0.2l/ha & Ally Max SC 32g/ha 30/3/20, Jubilee SX 15g/ha 30/5/20
B8: same chemicals and dates as B7
B13: same chemicals and dates as B6

A lot of VERY late S Barley, and the Autumn application on 3-4ha was W Barley, 50% which failed and was redrilled... so another hit with SU I think.

From looking at the Labels, it looked a bit doubtful that a legume or brassica would survive after such a late herbicide application...

 

[steveR]

Have grown Black Oats and Vetch after Ally Max treated cereals in the past, which established well, having been DD in late August with a Claydon Hybrid. Ask the cover crop seedsmen ?

Will do so... Thank you

Only had the spray records sent over today, so coming at this later than I had hoped.

 

[Brisel]

That late dose of DFF might have an effect too.

 

[steveR]

That late dose of DFF might have an effect too.

Very true, I'd missed that... :-(

CROP FAILURE: If a crop fails for any reason, only re-drill with winter wheat or winter barley, after ploughing. A period of 12 weeks must lapse after ploughing before spring crops of wheat, barley, oilseed rape, peas, field beans, sugar beet, potatoes, carrots, edible brassicas or onions may be drilled.

NORMAL HARVEST: In the autumn following normal harvest, only drill winter cereals, oilseed rape, field beans, leaf brassicas, sugar beet seed crops and winter onions. In the spring following normal harvest, only the spring crops listed above (under CROP FAILURE) can be drilled. Occasionally seedlings of brassica crops may exhibit slight discoloration of the cotyledons, which is normally outgrown without affecting subsequent ...

 

[steveR]

A few phone calls/emails next week I can see... Find out what is feasible.

 

[steveR]

Found this tonight...

Cover crop strategies 'essential' to farmers

Cover crop strategies to protect margins, capitalise on farm payments and maximise environmental benefits are essential to farmers, according to new study.

www.farminguk.com

Sounds a bit like a simple cereals based CC is not an all singing success in some situations. Oat based if they can be used out of a feed bin, maybe some trit in it might work?

Or just do a very light disc or harrow, to chit any seed out the back of the combine to give some cover, or even just do nothing in this instance. Just don't want two of the fields to be essentially bare again this winter too...