Forage crop for summer

[Jonny_2]

Got a field of permanent grass I was going to overseed this spring but my gimmers have trashed it after the snow and rain so think I proper reseed will be best. Want a break between grass crops to reduce leather jackets and do the soil some good then cultivate and reseed early autumn.

What crop would be best? My first thoughts were forage rape however from the seed catalogues I've looked at they recommend the crop for use in the autumn. Ideally looking for something that would finish lambs on and flush ewes but not a priority so would settle on a cover crop mix as long as ewes could graze it. TIA

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Dont say where you are or soil type but for yield and growing cost per ton you wont beat Swedes .

 

[ploughman1963]

Kale hybrid? Redstart kale (although I think there are now better varieties), sow end april/early may - graze in 6 weeks (not too hard) and get a regrowth and second grazing, reseed by end of August.

 

[Jonny_2]

Dont say where you are or soil type but for yield and growing cost per ton you wont beat Swedes .

Sorry, in North Yorkshire on shitty horrible clay so winter grazing a crop is a waste of time, however I do like the sound of swedes if someone up the road would let me grow some on their land

 

[Derrick Hughes]

hell of a top yield as well as roots

 

[Great In Grass]

Hybrid Kale (Sovereign) with the added bonus that it can be treated with Cruiser SB against Flea Beetle.

 

[DanM]

Hybrid Kale (Sovereign) with the added bonus that it can be treated with Cruiser SB against Flea Beetle.

Would that suit being direct drilled into the permanent pasture? If it’s been grazed to oblivion would you still need to roundup the old grass?

 

[ploughman1963]

Would that suit being direct drilled into the permanent pasture? If it’s been grazed to oblivion would you still need to roundup the old grass?

Yes and yes, but I would allow the grass to grow up a bit so you get a decent take of the glyphosate.

You wouldnt want to put that in until the ground warms up a bit (Kev?) - drill too early, late frost could cause it to bolt?

 

[Great In Grass]

Yes and yes, but I would allow the grass to grow up a bit so you get a decent take of the glyphosate.

You wouldnt want to put that in until the ground warms up a bit (Kev?) - drill too early, late frost could cause it to bolt?

Correct on all counts, with the weather patterns of late I'm a bit wary of stating sowing dates but mid April onwards should be okay.

A note on the Sovereign it's medium tall ideal for sheep & does not produce the large thick stems common to giant kales even when planted at lower density, therefore increasing palatability.

 

[Kevtherev]

Got a field of permanent grass I was going to overseed this spring but my gimmers have trashed it after the snow and rain so think I proper reseed will be best. Want a break between grass crops to reduce leather jackets and do the soil some good then cultivate and reseed early autumn.

What crop would be best? My first thoughts were forage rape however from the seed catalogues I've looked at they recommend the crop for use in the autumn. Ideally looking for something that would finish lambs on and flush ewes but not a priority so would settle on a cover crop mix as long as ewes could graze it. TIA

What you could do with a straight reseed is mix a kilo per acre of a forage rape to go with the grass as a bit of ‘cover’.
Very popular in this area.
Most rape or forage crops are drilled in June after silage by most farms.

 

[ploughman1963]

but you are taking a real risk nowadays going grass to grass as you haven’t got a chemical insurance policy against pests. Only safe route is via a break crop such as brassicas or cereals

 

[Kevtherev]

If direct drilling yes.
Conventional reseeds by ploughing and left as long as possible between cultivations to let the birds pick off leather jackets works really well.
I’ve done many old leys with minimal problems tbh

 

[Kevtherev]

How often did you use dursban @ploughman1963
Rarely used it myself

 

[DanM]

If direct drilling yes.
Conventional reseeds by ploughing and left as long as possible between cultivations to let the birds pick off leather jackets works really well.
I’ve done many old leys with minimal problems tbh

How long would you need to leave between cultivations? Best done between plough and powerharrow? Would this work if primary cultivation was a sumo type machine?

 

[Kevtherev]

How long would you need to leave between cultivations? Best done between plough and powerharrow? Would this work if primary cultivation was a sumo type machine?

Patience and time taken is important with a reseed I like to leave the furrows quite a few days to dry before rolling then power harrowing.
Bird activity will clear a lot of leather jackets off for you.
Cultivations will help Destroy them

 

[ploughman1963]

How often did you use dursban @ploughman1963
Rarely used it myself

Before I saw the light I had used it on occasions. I sprayed a lot of it for customers. I find using cultural methods to avoid any need of it to be very satisfying

 

[neilo]

The OP wants a summer fodder crop to finish lambs/flush ewes, then do an Autumn reseed.

I would spray the existing sward off with glyphosate (or Kyle if you have problem perennial weeds too), then graze hard after 5 days to clear rubbish. Assuming no compaction to sort out, and ground level already, I’d DD with a brassica/IRG mix (weaned lambs won’t take such a check when they go onto it, as the grass will ease the diet change). If you want to do an Autumn reseed, glyphosate again to take out the IRG and give a second hit at the weed bank, and DD in your chosen grass mix. Alternatively graze the crop again later on, then grab an early bite from the IRG in the Spring, before doing a Spring reseed when it warms up.

 

[Kiwi Pete]

What @neilo said, I have done heaps of this around the district this year.

Usually spray it off with Hammer with about 3 inches of cover, oversow IRG and turnips and often a smidge of tillage radish, pray for rain as you shut the gate

The only experimental part is using the daikon as a soil "fumigant" and to help alleviate compaction but the rest is well proven.

A lot of guys doing it and just weedwiping any thistles that reappear, as all these weeds are just waiting for soil disturbance to rear their ugly heads

 

[JD-Kid]

What @neilo said, I have done heaps of this around the district this year.

Usually spray it off with Hammer with about 3 inches of cover, oversow IRG and turnips and often a smidge of tillage radish, pray for rain as you shut the gate

The only experimental part is using the daikon as a soil "fumigant" and to help alleviate compaction but the rest is well proven.

A lot of guys doing it and just weedwiping any thistles that reappear, as all these weeds are just waiting for soil disturbance to rear their ugly heads

so whats happening with the tillage radishes
looked at appin turnips will almost do the same efect on soils with higher leaf for grazeing
radishes drilled here did not like the cold that much so have to get them in early autrum

 

[Kiwi Pete]

so whats happening with the tillage radishes
looked at appin turnips will almost do the same efect on soils with higher leaf for grazeing
radishes drilled here did not like the cold that much so have to get them in early autrum

They didn't establish very well where they came up after a shower then carked it due to the dry and heat we had, summer softs and Moata and plantain all did much better.
Can't blame the radish though it has been a pretty hard few months when you aren't experienced with drought conditions, we believed the forecasts for a bit too long
Coulda shoulda woulda

Had good success with the mix I put in here it's well away, sat for a month then the rain came and it is looking good for an autumn multi grazer now.