Docks!!!

[Sid]

What an explosion this year. Never seen them grow so fast, high and seed so quick.
Dry spring must have helped them get ahead.

Has some over wintered stubble that was rife with them.

Can see some fallow and green manures to shake them up a bit in our organic rotation

 

[Old Tip]

Aye it's been a good spring for docks, mind a lot of ours have been hammered by that nice beetle that eats them.
Must try and capture some and start a breeding program for you organic boys

 

[Cows 'n grass]

I'm glad it's not just mine. I've got a few fields where they are just terrible this year.

Im thinking forefront might be the best option here but it's not cheap and definitely not organic.

They're really not easy to control organically, I think fallow with repeated rotavating is about the only option.

 

[neilo]

You guys need some sheep. They might not kill them, but they eat them off enough to stop them seeding.

And a headtorch to go with your knapsack sprayer.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Been pulling them by hand and bagging them up for years now...very little this year...the least amount I've ever seen

 

[jondear]

Cut a field in April not many docks now just grassed aftermath and loads have appeared cows eating most of them leaving stalks.

 

[multi power]

You guys need some sheep. They might not kill them, but they eat them off enough to stop them seeding.

And a headtorch to go with your knapsack sprayer.

No need for a torch now with auto steer

 

[ploughman1963]

In organic conversion and so far pleased with howwe are controlling them by using multi-cut silage system and rotational grazing (recently started pre-mowing paddocks) which mean we are taking them out before they head

 

[Danllan]

You guys need some sheep. They might not kill them, but they eat them off enough to stop them seeding.

And a headtorch to go with your knapsack sprayer.

They use PNV goggles, less obtrusive... .

Cut a field in April not many docks now just grassed aftermath and loads have appeared cows eating most of them leaving stalks.

Have you noticed an increase in docks that seed at a 'dwarf' height? These seem to proliferate by residual enrichment.

 

[neilo]

Have you noticed an increase in docks that seed at a 'dwarf' height? These seem to proliferate by residual enrichment.

That's the trouble with docks. Every time you cut them, they seem to set seed lower. Otherwise, regular topping would keep on top of them I suppose.

 

[Kevtherev]

Rip them to death with an einbock

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Rip them to death with an einbock

Won't that just scatter the seeds everywhere?

 

[Kevtherev]

Before they go to head I meant sorry

 

[Sid]

Rip them to death with an einbock

Ok for seedlings but not the big mother f@&$£¥%!

 

[Headless chicken]

Docks and thistles terrible this year for us. My theory was crap milk price last year meant less people sprayed them out ( I know we were certainly in this category) meaning more went to head and spread the seeds everywhere.

 

[early riser]

Everyone has put big earth banked lagoons in.

What do you see growing all round the sides of these lagoons..........

And people wonder their dock problems are getting worse and worse........

 

[Sid]

Everyone has put big earth banked lagoons in.

What do you see growing all round the sides of these lagoons..........

And people wonder their dock problems are getting worse and worse........

I've seen them growing on the crust on a tin tank. One place has an ash tree as big as your arm growing on top!

 

[Sid]

Docks and thistles terrible this year for us. My theory was crap milk price last year meant less people sprayed them out ( I know we were certainly in this category) meaning more went to head and spread the seeds everywhere.

Sorry I think your wrong. Contractor was saying he has sprayed more docks in arable farms as well.

 

[Jackson4]

Field always had docks in did by hand a few years to save the clover, absolutely covered this year real fit and healthy, untouched by flea beetles so contractor sprayed them with doxstar and it looks fantastic.. just cut it a few hours ago. Back to square one with the clover though.
I find if they get grazed right down or murdered with flea beetles they just set seed anyway big or small ready to grow again.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Put some 18 month cutting leys in