Drilling Spring Barley into Ley

Sartybartfast

New Member
Location
nw of ni
Hello all, new home.

I know alot of you from previous posts are against Barley into grass, but I'm tempted this year. Been in grass (italian) for 3 years, plan is to go in this spring. I've normally sprayed off just before drilling, however I'm tempted to burn off now and once the seedlings are up give them a kick with a phosphate based foliar spray. How does that sound or would it be too toxic an enviroment for the seeds. Have been told before either spray two months before or just pre drilling. Any thoughts appreciated.
 

BSH

Member
BASE UK Member
I am going to be drilling into an 18month old ley and plan to sparay just before drilling. I had some sheep in in the early winter to munch it right down and am now waiting for it to warm up. I am hoping that warmth and grass height suitable for spraying/drilling will coincide! Two other fields that have been in grass for twenty odd years have been ploughed as I didnt think I could DD barley into them and I needed for restructuring purposes for them to go into barley rather than rape.
 

BSH

Member
BASE UK Member
Have you made a decision on spraying yet? I am getting concerned that unless I spray off on the next decent day (poss thurs here?) then I am in danger of not gettting the sprayer when I want it and it will compromise drilling date because I will be waiting for the contractor instead of grabbing windows of good weather for the drilling. The flip side is that I may not be able to drill before I have a week away so will only be able to drill after the 9th of April, which would mean the grass sprayed off up to 20 days before drilling. Not sure that Weathermans fine weather is materialising!
 

Old Spot

Member
Location
Glos
I DDed into grass with SB last year. Sprayed off after drilling to ensure I got all the weeds I could.
My mistakes were drilling too early into unsuitable ground and not fully closing the slots, agronomist insisted on pre-em. The combination really gave the seedlings some stick. I would definitely do again minus pre-em, wait for warmer soil and now I know how to use the drill get the slots closed. All part of the steep learning curve!
 

BSH

Member
BASE UK Member
Thanks Old Spot! What drill were you using? I think I will have too much disturbance using the Sim Tech to spray afterwards. What was your fert regime? Did you put some on before drilling?
 

Old Spot

Member
Location
Glos
Weaving Big Disc, 15kg/ha umostart micro fert and then 70kg/ha N two weeks later. The ley was 5 years old and full of clover so was aiming to get residual from that.
 

BSH

Member
BASE UK Member
Thanks. Do you think there will be a yield penalty going after the 9th April this year given how cold it is or do you think it will be fine? Would you worry? And what are your thoughts on timing of glyphosate pre drilling.?Lots of Q's ( too much time to think about it with all this rain outside!!)
 

Elmsted

Never Forgotten
Honorary Member
Location
Bucharest
Why just as a question is it regarded that spraying off pre planting is a need. Sure spray off 24 hours before or any time after planting before emergence.

Cover crops or previous crops provide homes to lots of nasty things and food for them. Example Clive's present view that leaving rape volenteers growing untill day before emergence is better for slug control. Certainly has been my experience. Grass and Barley = possible or probable insect related problem plus fungicidal needs. IMHO
 

Dan Powell

Member
Location
Shropshire
Why just as a question is it regarded that spraying off pre planting is a need. Sure spray off 24 hours before or any time after planting before emergence.

Cover crops or previous crops provide homes to lots of nasty things and food for them. Example Clive's present view that leaving rape volenteers growing untill day before emergence is better for slug control. Certainly has been my experience. Grass and Barley = possible or probable insect related problem plus fungicidal needs. IMHO
How much should one worry about glyphosate residues in the soil affecting crop emergence when spraying so close to drilling? Does the amount of soil cover affect this?
 

Elmsted

Never Forgotten
Honorary Member
Location
Bucharest
How much should one worry about glyphosate residues in the soil affecting crop emergence when spraying so close to drilling? Does the amount of soil cover affect this?

Frankly much less worried by any residue issues ( Real or perceived) the closer to planting. More implied evidence for longer in advance. Also if stuff ie grass in this case is not dead and begining to rot at planting, then less effect from the rotting stuff in the area where the seed and emerging plumule are.
 

BSH

Member
BASE UK Member
Why just as a question is it regarded that spraying off pre planting is a need. Sure spray off 24 hours before or any time after planting before emergence.

Cover crops or previous crops provide homes to lots of nasty things and food for them. Example Clive's present view that leaving rape volenteers growing untill day before emergence is better for slug control. Certainly has been my experience. Grass and Barley = possible or probable insect related problem plus fungicidal needs. IMHO

I wanted to spray off before drilling because I feel that it will be a missed opportunity not to get a good kill before the disturbance of the drill, but I only really want to spray 24 hours before drilling. I have read various conflicting bits of advice on the timing so am interested to hear Old Spots experiences. The problem is trying to co ordinate my contractor, the weather and a family trip! I know that drilling barley into grass isnt ideal, but that is a compromise I have had to make as part of re organising the farm. I dont think I will have an insect problem as the field hasnt been in grass long, only 18 months and was ploughed and cultivated before that. Might be proved wrong though!
 

Old Spot

Member
Location
Glos
As you know still a DD novice, I in theory really like the idea of planting and then spraying off a week or so later so definitely pre crop emergence. It however does not make for a good nights sleep! If it rains or wind blows for two weeks. I have done it with spring wheat this season. Sprayed 200 acres planted 350 and then sprayed off the last 150 six days after drilling will make a good experiment, I think there will be no difference.
 

Sartybartfast

New Member
Location
nw of ni
Looks like spraying just before the drill. I was taking fear about too much decaying vegetation. Hopefully can get it moving fast if and when things warm up. Problem about up here is, once that sw flow starts, that's when the rain starts.
 

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