Forage crop for sheep

[Stewartry hill]

Most years we grow20 ish acres of forage rape or swift after silage in late June .this year the field is smaller 12 acres and shallow.so looking to direct drill some forage or turnips.late May to get the same amount of feed.What are the options?

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Whats your soil type and area, Swedes would give you the highest yield, or maincrop turnips

 

[Stewartry hill]

South West Scotland fault coastal. loam shallow and rocky no arable skills hear. looking to dd to leave stones where the are .male would be a option .but talk for fencing

 

[Derrick Hughes]

South West Scotland fault coastal. loam shallow and rocky no arable skills hear. looking to dd to leave stones where the are .male would be a option .but talk for fencing

Sheep ?
Mixes are very popular . Hybrid Kale and Turnips . But when did yiu want to feed . Would be to early for stubble turnips for winter use

 

[Stewartry hill]

Is for sheep to last to match though of main crop turnips wondering about dd ing them

 

[neilo]

Is for sheep to last to match though of main crop turnips wondering about dd ing them

I DD Massif maincrop turnips every year, to graze from Christmas to March. Yield better than swedes here, and establishment more vigorous to help get away from flea beetle & weed competition.
They seem almost as frost hardy as swedes, although tops melt in the winter. Far higher yielding than Green Globe, and sheep seem to graze them better than GG too.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

I DD Massif maincrop turnips every year, to graze from Christmas to March. Yield better than swedes here, and establishment more vigorous to help get away from flea beetle & weed competition.
They seem almost as frost hardy as swedes, although tops melt in the winter. Far higher yielding than Green Globe, and sheep seem to graze them better than GG too.

When would you normally sow them . We used to Sow Swedes first week of May as they would just continue to grow before bolting in late March

 

[neilo]

When would you normally sow them . We used to Sow Swedes first week of May as they would just continue to grow before bolting in late March

Late June/early July, to try to avoid the fly.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Late June/early July, to try to avoid the fly.

I used to sow Swedes in may for many years , this fly never paid me a visit , God must be watching out for me [emoji23]

 

[Stewartry hill]

Think I am going to try massif turnips dd any tips on how to grow a good big crop

 

[neilo]

Think I am going to try massif turnips dd any tips on how to grow a good big crop

The same as any other brassica root really. Don't put seed too thick, feed well and pray for rain.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

I will used the dirty a dirty word in this place
"Potash and Plenty of it "
I will now wash my mouth out with salt [emoji23]

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Think I am going to try massif turnips dd any tips on how to grow a good big crop

First thing is get a soil test if you haven't already ,
For Swedes I would bang on 100 units of potash along with 50 Nitrogen and Phosphate with Boron .

 

[Stewartry hill]

Question is what type of drill. row space seed rate slug pellets?weed control.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Think you said you were , direct drilling . Your weed control is roundup. Dont think there is anything you can used after. Any direct drill , seed rate i suggest is 1.5kg to 2 kg 1.5 if a good seed bed , if i was doing it I would mix a few onces of swede in just for verarity

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Dont forget slug pellets, on top not mixed in

 

[neilo]

Think you said you were , direct drilling . Your weed control is roundup. Dont think there is anything you can used after. Any direct drill , seed rate i suggest is 1.5kg to 2 kg 1.5 if a good seed bed , if i was doing it I would mix a few onces of swede in just for verarity

I assume you’re quoting per hectare?

Bloody seed salesmen and their pushy sales! A kg/ac is too high a rate for Massif turnips ime. If you get decent establishment, even that rate leads to too much top/smaller roots.
Seed rate will always be a bit of a guess as you don’t know what the weather will do, what flea beetle will kill, etc, so usually play safe at 1kg/ac (DD with a Simtech).

 

[Btexel]

Just be aware swede seed is no longer treated against flea beetle as will no other brassica seed be. So sow in to moisture as Neilo said when there activity is lower. Rapid establishment essential otherwise the plants may look like a holy mess.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

My experiments this year will be trying various crops including red clover for fattening lambs , crops that will last a few years

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Drill off out today . Lovely day for it