Fat hen issue

[Jimfandango]

Hello all.
I wondered if anyone had any thoughts on my issue. We have a field of legume and herbal grass ley (containing chickory, sanfoin etc) which was sown in April. It is currently being swamped by Fat Hen.
I am tempted to mob graze it and let the sheep eat and trample it. However, I am concerned that they will eat everything else before they get to the fat hen and as chicory isn't supposed to be overgrazed I'm worried it might not come back.
Topping it would leave too much trash on the surface and baling it would likely damage the crop left behind.
I am leaning towards getting a weed wiper in as this stuff is standing proud of the rest. But, this is potentially complicated by the presence of mycorrihizal in the seed bed which could be affected by the chemical application.
I have a bit of a pickle. Any input would be appreciated

 

[Jimfandango]

... or should I just bung it in the clamp with my pea and barley whole crop?

 

[spin cycle]

not quite so bad but i've gotta lot of fat hen in a bit of westerwold......gonna let it die off + cut + bale

 

[Derrick Hughes]

If the Fat hen is that high it must be able to take a baler . My fat hen was only six inches high it go mown.
Lets have a picture then ?
Most of my reseeds are getting mown and baled next week . Not ideal but I could not get stock on them at the time and grass as grown like it's on a mission

 

[Derrick Hughes]

not quite so bad but i've gotta lot of fat hen in a bit of westerwold......gonna let it die off + cut + bale

Why die off . Let is spread is seeds why dont you [emoji1]
Get the mower in tomorrow ?

 

[spin cycle]

Why die off . Let is spread is seeds why dont you [emoji1]
Get the mower in tomorrow ?

being annual i doubt it would make much difference.....worry is the fresh fat may keep moisture that sends hay wrong

 

[Derrick Hughes]

being annual i doubt it would make much difference.....worry is the fresh fat may keep moisture that sends hay wrong

Cant you wrap it
Dont think much of a market for fat hen hay [emoji3]

 

[spin cycle]

Cant you wrap it
Dont think much of a market for fat hen hay [emoji3]

i'm a buyer not a seller?

 

[Derrick Hughes]

That's my fat hen field today . Mistake I made was to spray with Minstral to get rid of self set spuds . Got rid of spuds as well as clover . Never touched the fat hen . My ride on mower killed it dead , as it would have done the spuds . Use sprays as a last resort

 

[neilo]

That's my fat hen field today . Mistake I made was to spray with Minstral to get rid of self set spuds . Got rid of spuds as well as clover . Never touched the fat hen . My ride on mower killed it dead , as it would have done the spuds . Use sprays as a last resort

Or maybe use the right spray instead? The actives in Minstral were always going to kill clover.
2-4DB will kill fat hen and leave the clover. Not sure what it will do to spuds as I’ve never been that keen to bugger the soil structure up.?

 

[neilo]

being annual i doubt it would make much difference.....worry is the fresh fat may keep moisture that sends hay wrong

Google fat hen and see how many seeds a plant can produce. They won’t all shed out either, some will stay in your hay, then your muck, then everywhere.

 

[spin cycle]

Google fat hen and see how many seeds a plant can produce. They won’t all shed out either, some will stay in your hay, then your muck, then everywhere.

i know that but TBH it doesn't matter cos there's always fathen....but muck heap maybe best place....heat

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Or maybe use the right spray instead? The actives in Minstral were always going to kill clover.
2-4DB will kill fat hen and leave the clover. Not sure what it will do to spuds as I’ve never been that keen to bugger the soil structure up.[emoji850]

My spuds are planted by hand and never get harvested and I dont need a sprayer with a ride on mower. Just need to have more faith it it [emoji1]

 

[Wigeon]

I'm sure I read once that sheep love a bit of fat hen, and do very well on it!

 

[Bury the Trash]

I'm sure I read once that sheep love a bit of fat hen, and do very well on it!

They will eat it, eventyally if pressured.
it's a bit bitter apparently.

Wont hurt to eat off the chicory its tougher than the usual advice says / that's given out ....I find.

The Sainfoin is another matter it's very vulnerable to establish.... and well... always vulnerable ime, doesn't thrive unless treated with a lot of care..... ime.

 

[milkloss]

I'm sure I read once that sheep love a bit of fat hen, and do very well on it!

cows love it. Two or three cows looking down at me from the dung heap with a mouthful of fat hen as I drove past tonight

 

[Bury the Trash]

During the f & m time in 2001, there was a local sheep keeper who had lambs with blisters or skin broken on their tongue 's it was noticed , the very knowledgeable and astute vet, assessed it as being a reaction / damage from eating the fathen that they had access to.

Actually Round here the local or regional name for it is ' Lambtongue ' funnily enough, shape / texture of the leaves I guess .

 

[deleted user 837354]

This magic topper that controls all weeds. Why has no one thought of that before.

 

[milkloss]

This magic topper that controls all weeds. Why has no one thought of that before.

I've got a better idea:

 

[Muddyroads]

If I were you I’d top it. I know you say there is too much there, but it will very quickly shrivel to nothing with some decent weather next week. Problem with a weed wiper is you’re bound to get some chemical on tyres which will then scorch or kill what you want to preserve.