Disastrous winter crops - cultivate out how?

DaveGrohl

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Cumbria
Will you make any money out of 2.5t/ac of spring barley? You've already spent a chunk on a failed rye crop. Cut your losses and get the ground ready for the autumn maybe?
Yeah, I’ve finally given up on trying again on those fields this year. We’ll concentrate on stubbles that we’re in charge of ish, and stop stressing about those fields.
 

DaveGrohl

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Cumbria
I think vanity is part of reason a lot of crops are ripped up.

Problem is 2nd crop has to cover costs of seed/establishment of first one. So has to do pretty well to even break even.
Well no actually. You need to be clear in your mind that the first crop’s costs are isolated and view the possible next crop as a fresh start. Trying to make it pay for both attempts is just a silly thought process.

In our own case we didn’t sink too much cost into it. Weather didn’t allow herbicide, fert etc so establishment costs only. And mental health costs looking at them all winter….
 

Chae1

Member
Location
Aberdeenshire
Well no actually. You need to be clear in your mind that the first crop’s costs are isolated and view the possible next crop as a fresh start. Trying to make it pay for both attempts is just a silly thought process.

In our own case we didn’t sink too much cost into it. Weather didn’t allow herbicide, fert etc so establishment costs only. And mental health costs looking at them all winter….
Hybrid rye seed not cheap.

I'd be the same, I'd want to rip it up too. Had this conversation with our agronomist a few days ago.
 

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Expanded and improved Sustainable Farming Incentive offer for farmers published

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Expanded Sustainable Farming Incentive offer from July will give the sector a clear path forward and boost farm business resilience.

From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and The Rt Hon Sir Mark Spencer MP Published21 May 2024

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Full details of the expanded and improved Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) offer available to farmers from July have been published by the...
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