Cover crops

[Jim t]

Ok so I’ve missed the boat to plant winter barley on heavy ground, what would you suggest I grow as a cover crop on heavy ground in the spring before winter oil seed rape, I’d need deep rooting so I can use a 750a to plant the rape, do I then spray it off the day before planting the rape ?

 

[cotswoldcs]

What about planting spring barley and following with OSR? Would that not produce a better margin? Whilst I'm a fan of cover crops if you can plant a cover crop then surely you can plant a normal crop and harvest it?

 

[Jim t]

Spring barley can be late to the combine, this one field could benefit with a cover crop. Also barley for next November is 115 you would need a good yield to make it pay ?

 

[Brisel]

No cash crop harvested also won’t pay. Spring barley is ripe from 5th August here.

Do the maths - you’ll find that a mediocre paying spring barley spreads your overheads rather than concentrate them on a smaller area. Unless you’re using contractors and you’ve no rent to pay, then the sums work out differently.

I was offered £130/t ex farm for Nov 20 for feed barley. Add £15/t malting premium and it’s not so daft an idea.

 

[cotswoldcs]

Barley could be £200/t next year....



...I've got to hope! I actually sold some malting barley for £210 back in 2011 so it's not impossible!

 

[Brisel]

Hmm. Lots more supply with lower UK wheat sowing, export demand is in limbo with Brexit. I’m not as bullish as you. Even at £130 it’s worth thinking about. Cheap to grow. Planet is less fussy about N applied to make malting so would suit the OP’s heavy land.

 

[Jim t]

£200 /tonne I like your optimism
this year I can’t find a £15 malting premium. 5 year average yield of 2.5 t/a @£115 doesn’t really get me overly excited