Drilling now

[wurzell1976]

I finished drilling Belepi today, dd with a Simtech.All went well i think.It will cause some conversation for some of my neighbors if nothing else.After 8 years of no till ,they have now just started coming into the field whilst i"m drilling to see what the local lunatic is actually doing.

 

[wurzell1976]

What are people's views on this, got a field after fodder beet that would sow now with belepi wheat, should I ? Light ground Scottish borders, I've got plenty of seed so could put it in thick my only worry is that the crows would get it and would be slow to emerge if I turns cold ! Anyone any thoughts on this ?

Just finish today on black land and some of my heavier land that gets mucked most years.I was just thinking it could be dryer now than in spring.

 

[Mr Charisma]

Nothing to drill here for a bit but we did muck and plough the maize ground on Tuesday , perfect conditions , never seen it turn over like it in Jan , more akin to Sept ploughing

 

[Roy_H]

Nothing to drill here for a bit but we did muck and plough the maize ground on Tuesday, perfect conditions, never seen it turn over like it in Jan , more akin to Sept ploughing

Unreal isn't it? I remember one January similar to this, we were repairing some fencing, my dad and I were digging holes for the stakes and both of us took our pullovers off it was so warm. I also remember him saying "We are going to pay for this you know, I don't like to see grass growing in January." The best of it was that particular year (I can't remember when!) we didn't really have a 'winter', it just sort of morphed into spring without any intervening bad weather.

 

[Devil's advocate]

Unreal isn't it? I remember one January similar to this, we were repairing some fencing, my dad and I were digging holes for the stakes and both of us took our pullovers off it was so warm. I also remember him saying "We are going to pay for this you know, I don't like to see grass growing in January." The best of it was that particular year (I can't remember when!) we didn't really have a 'winter', it just sort of morphed into spring without any intervening bad weather.

Was it 1994/5 winter?

 

[Will 1594]

Nothing to drill here for a bit but we did muck and plough the maize ground on Tuesday , perfect conditions , never seen it turn over like it in Jan , more akin to Sept ploughing

Ploughing tommorow , after beet ,and will turn all spring barley land over ,got a good chunk to go at now ,just over 200 , ,mark how is the single furrow one going

 

[kamloops]

Got 105 acres of Belepi in, and it went in really well. Plannning to roll on Sunday. I think I’ll get caught up with rolling and then decide in the last 60 acres depending on weather.

You need a bloody good reason to roll at this time of year... it will easily drown or cap!

 

[Roy_H]

Was it 1994/5 winter?

I'm not sure. We sold up in '96 and l think it was well before then.

 

[farmer92]

Thinking about putting a bit of barley in next week, will see how it goes

 

[Iben]

Thinking about putting a bit of barley in next week, will see how it goes

What variety and seed rate are you thinking of?

 

[Feldspar]

What is anyone's thoughts on drilling spring barley on frosted ground (like tomorrow morning possibly)? Did half the spring barley the other day before the rain came in the relative dry (without frost). Just not sure now ground has cooled again and with some rain forecast whether it will like being drilled now or not?

 

[moretimeforgolf]

What is anyone's thoughts on drilling spring barley on frosted ground (like tomorrow morning possibly)? Did half the spring barley the other day before the rain came in the relative dry (without frost). Just not sure now ground has cooled again and with some rain forecast whether it will like being drilled now or not?

Brave man. It sounds as if conditions were good. It’ll be interesting to see the difference in crop margins if you wait say 2 months before you drill the rest.

 

[Feldspar]

Brave man. It sounds as if conditions were good. It’ll be interesting to see the difference in crop margins if you wait say 2 months before you drill the rest.

NIAB trials results from drilling last year showed steady yield decline from Mid Jan to April drilling. Our spring crop yields have been unimpressive from late drilling recently so thought we might as well try some.

 

[Brisel]

It would be hedging your bets. If we don't get anything sown until mid April again then I'd be glad of getting something done.

The worst thing for drilling now would be a long cold wet spell after sowing. 15mm rain here yesterday (21mm this week) will reduce the rush to get something sown around here I think.

 

[Feldspar]

It would be hedging your bets. If we don't get anything sown until mid April again then I'd be glad of getting something done.

The worst thing for drilling now would be a long cold wet spell after sowing. 15mm rain here yesterday (21mm this week) will reduce the rush to get something sown around here I think.

If the soil is wet before it freezes, does this very much reduce the chance of being able to put it in well? Will soil just be not frozen enough or rock hard?

Forecast does look cold and wet so that's rather a negative.

 

[Brisel]

If the soil is wet before it freezes, does this very much reduce the chance of being able to put it in well? Will soil just be not frozen enough or rock hard?

Forecast does look cold and wet so that's rather a negative.

How are you putting it in? A low disturbance drill like a 750A might still smear a slot without shattering any root channels but a tine in drier conditions would permit rooting and drainage.

 

[Feldspar]

How are you putting it in? A low disturbance drill like a 750A might still smear a slot without shattering any root channels but a tine in drier conditions would permit rooting and drainage.

Would be with the 750a. When we drilled before the rain it was going in nicely without compaction away from the wheelings. Wheelings were still OK (I hope!), just not as good.

I would imagine something like a Vaddy would tickle up enough tilth to cover the seed which the 750a cannot do.

 

[Brisel]

A 6m Rapid is around 9 tonnes empty, before you've put 12-15 tonnes of tractor on the front. The soil will still be delicate underneath.

 

[Matt77]

I’m as keen as the next man to get on but don’t you find that if the soil isn’t warm enough for a quick get away the rooks just bugger it, talking mainly spring barley here, my ground would drill a treat at the moment but gone cold and early before and the vermin just get at it before it can get away, I kinda of feel that that takes any yield benefit from the early drilling away.

 

[Chae1]

In my humble opinion spring barley needs to go into warm soils and get away quickly.

It isn't very hardy and won't appreciate sitting in wet cold soil for weeks.

Be interested to know how it does. At least you've plenty time to redrill it.