Drilling progress autumn 2013

[l'ordinary bonville]

Will that not just put seeds into a slimy smeared narrow trench? If it rains then will flood the trench, if it doesn't then will it dry out? How can you consolidate effectively?

If that works then I have found the answer.

If clay soil is very heavy and wet, do you do anything about structure or soil drainage/subsoiling?

 

[Andy Howard]

No, it went in very well with no smearing. I may roll it but the Guttler have done a good job. It it amazing what happens to clay when you leave it alone! It does not happen in year one though. This is year four of direct drilling

 

[SilliamWhale]

No, it went in very well with no smearing. I may roll it but the Guttler have done a good job. It it amazing what happens to clay when you leave it alone! It does not happen in year one though. This is year four of direct drilling

I alwasy felt clay farmers had the most to gain from DD

 

[Brisel]

Drilled 70 acres of extremely heavy clay today with solstice. Used 750a direct into chopped oat stubble. Went very wellView attachment 17223View attachment 17224View attachment 17225

There appears to be some straw pushed into the slots by the disc - do you see that causing any problems as it breaks down right next to the germinating seed?

 

[Brisel]

I alwasy felt clay farmers had the most to gain from DD

In terms of saving a lot of horsepower, yes. Clay does take the longest time to "convert" to the structure created by DD though. Tony Reynolds at Bourne described it as being like going through the take all cycle, with yields dropping off in years 2 - 4 before the soil sorts itself out.

 

[Clive]

I alwasy felt clay farmers had the most to gain from DD

Spent yesterday broadcasting 100ac and then incorporating with the carrier which was pulling up some horrid wet lumps - on heavy land and the 750a would have done a great job but he wouldn't have it ...................so frustrating but the customer is always right apparently !!!! worst still its WW after spring barley so it will be 50% barley volunteers when (if) it grows

 

[SilliamWhale]

In terms of saving a lot of horsepower, yes. Clay does take the longest time to "convert" to the structure created by DD though. Tony Reynolds at Bourne described it as being like going through the take all cycle, with yields dropping off in years 2 - 4 before the soil sorts itself out.

he's not the only one drilling on clay though. Speak to/see some others on the heavy stuff as well!

 

[SilliamWhale]

Spent yesterday broadcasting 100ac and then incorporating with the carrier which was pulling up some horrid wet lumps - on heavy land and the 750a would have done a great job but he wouldn't have it ...................so frustrating but the customer is always right apparently !!!! worst still its WW after spring barley so it will be 50% barley volunteers when (if) it grows

So you didn't convince him then....

 

[Clive]

So you didn't convince him then....

no - contracting is a frustrating job sometimes, he has suddenly dropped a load of work on us which is going to make life complicated for a few weeks, need some kind weather to help

 

[franklin]

Spent yesterday broadcasting 100ac and then incorporating with the carrier which was pulling up some horrid wet lumps

Good thing your customer had the foresight not to dress the seed then.

 

[Wombat]

Should be on drilling tomorrow, then if the weather will hold will get the SpringOsr cut end of this week and drilled behind it.

 

[Clive]

Good thing your customer had the foresight not to dress the seed then.

It wasn't dressed and was direct from the heap ! it would have been nice if he had cleaned it or even set his combine up a bit better - spent half the day unblocking straw from heads and metering wheel - Talk about low input trials, if this grows we should all question what the hell we are doing with kit and inputs ! For years this guy has broadcast from the heap, worked lightly in, 1 herbicide, 1 fungicide, roundup and harvest, reckons it gets 2.5t and 3 in a good year on rubbish ground !

it is ok to broadcast dressed seed however as long as its buried straight away isn't it ??

 

[SilliamWhale]

It wasn't dressed and was direct from the heap ! it would have been nice if he had cleaned it or even set his combine up a bit better - spent half the day unblocking straw from heads and metering wheel - Talk about low input trials, if this grows we should all question what the hell we are doing with kit and inputs ! For years this guy has broadcast from the heap, worked lightly in, 1 herbicide, 1 fungicide, roundup and harvest, reckons it gets 2.5t and 3 in a good year on rubbish ground !

it is ok to broadcast dressed seed however as long as its buried straight away isn't it ??

I knew it was Lee!

 

[franklin]

it is ok to broadcast dressed seed however as long as its buried straight away isn't it ??

I was of the impression that it was not. But as usual open to interpretation and I am sure most have done it.

Autocasting is certainly considered broadcasting, but then do you cover the seed and bury with the mulch from the combine?

2012 FW artice says no to broadcasting - http://www.procam.co.uk/downloads/cuttings/FarmersWeekly191012.pdf

Perhaps @Ian at Bayer might have a more enlightening answer?

 

[Andy Howard]

Very little straw in slot. No more than you would have had if you had min tilled all the straw into the top couple if inches. This block did have biomulch when sprayed off which will reduce straw problems. Our other spring oat stubble will have a starter fert to help combat any problems with straw

 

[Clive]

Very little straw in slot. No more than you would have had if you had min tilled all the straw into the top couple if inches. This block did have biomulch when sprayed off which will reduce straw problems. Our other spring oat stubble will have a starter fert to help combat any problems with straw

Looks a great job Andy - what's in bio mulch ? Humid acid and molasses I guess ? What starter fert will you use with wheat ?

 

[Feldspar]

no - contracting is a frustrating job sometimes, he has suddenly dropped a load of work on us which is going to make life complicated for a few weeks, need some kind weather to help

I thought you said that after your no-till conversion that the days of being a busy contracting fool were behind you?!

 

[Clive]

I thought you said that after your no-till conversion that the days of being a busy contracting fool were behind you?!

That was my intention but this farmer is unexpectedly ill and needs some help. I've told him I don't think it will grow so the decision is his. I like him and it's not in my nature to watch anyone struggle if I can help

I must be mad though as we have plenty of our own combining and drilling to be getting on with

What we are doing for him is not direct drilling, we are doing what he would normally be doing himself if he was fit enough . I won't dd for anyone in a situation where it's unlikely to succeed

 

[shakerator]

I alwasy felt clay farmers had the most to gain from DD

its a route i want to succeed with, but is the only area of the farm (40%!) which isnt ready for yr 3 continuous 750 and nothing else. pic shows the conundrum. land hasnt been moved since autumn 2010. good rape crop, average wheat, good bean crop. pic also shows great channels and worm/ beetle activity, but still cracks (!) BUT look at 3rd pic which i simply smeared with my finger.....after a dry summer, this land is STILL WET AS HELL. i know strucutre is improving, but it is not fast enough. the land needs a return to grass (used to grow grass for british chlorpyl- oddly enough "before we had blackgrass" but many still think a match would solve this problem).

I am going with low draught shakerator point @ 10 inches- a months weathering, roll, drill. if the opporunity doesnt arrive in mid oct then perhaps need to follow andys example of a spring oat crop, but the fertility after beans needs capitalizing on.



any thoughts welcome

 

[Ian at Bayer]

I was of the impression that it was not. But as usual open to interpretation and I am sure most have done it.

Autocasting is certainly considered broadcasting, but then do you cover the seed and bury with the mulch from the combine?

2012 FW artice says no to broadcasting - http://www.procam.co.uk/downloads/cuttings/FarmersWeekly191012.pdf

Perhaps @Ian at Bayer might have a more enlightening answer?

Well it really depends on what it says on the label. As an example the Redigo Deter label distinctly states `TREATED SEED MUST NOT BE BROADCAST`. So this is quite clear. The concern is that subsequent cultivation might not bury all the seed to the required depth. Other labels might just refer to `seed must be covered`?