Forage Rape

[Hilly]

Which Variety best to sow now to fatten lambs Autum/winter.

 

[Beef farmer]

Swift. Graze light in 12 weeks then finish it off in Feb

 

[neilo]

Swift. Graze light in 12 weeks then finish it off in Feb

@Hilly doesn't farm in Cornwall. Unlikely to see much winter growth on his patch I suspect.

To sow now, what about Kale or maincrop turnips, or 'neeps' like some funny folk call them?

 

[spin cycle]

@Hilly doesn't farm in Cornwall. Unlikely to see mu

ch winter growth on his patch I suspect.

To sow now, what about Kale or maincrop turnips, or 'neeps' like some funny folk call them?

my may sown neeps are burnt to a crisp

my early june spifire is struggling to establish

my fodder beet look good

lessons from the arid east.....not really relevant just wanted a moan

 

[Beef farmer]

@Hilly doesn't farm in Cornwall. Unlikely to see much winter growth on his patch I suspect.

To sow now, what about Kale or maincrop turnips, or 'neeps' like some funny folk call them?

You mean there are climatic differences between the Scottish hills and north Cornwall?

 

[Great In Grass]

Don't dismiss kale, Sovereign is a high yielding forage kale with good club root tolerance. In agronomic tests conducted by the Scottish Agricultural College in Aberdeen, Sovereign was shown to have good dry matter yields and excellent leaf-to stem ratio. Successfully tested for winter hardiness and keeping ability, it has the potential to maintain good quality production over a longer usage period.

A further plus point is that it can be had with Cruiser SB Flea Beetle Treatment.

 

[spin cycle]

to late for kale surely?,,,,,cruiser is a bonus.....my agronomist thinks we're going to loose it eventually

 

[Kevtherev]

Pulsar rape/kale hybrid is very popular
Greenland forage rape also a good variety

 

[Great In Grass]

to late for kale surely?

Probably okay planting up until 2nd week of July but thinking about it the utilisation period will be a long way off, and don't call be Shirley.

Spitfire rape x kale hybrid is worth looking at, it has lower stem DM% than the majority of rapes which translates into a more leafier crop leading to better utilisation and/or animal performance.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Stubble turnips is better , I tried a field of rape and the lambs walked about biting the leaves off and tramping on them , nothing but waste , turnips better yield more frosh hardy and far less waste

 

[Kevtherev]

Stubble turnips is better , I tried a field of rape and the lambs walked about biting the leaves off and tramping on them , nothing but waste , turnips better yield more frosh hardy and far less waste

Quite a few folk put a mix of the two in
1kg per acre of each
Very economical feed

 

[Great In Grass]

Forgot to mention although Spitfire and all the other hybrids cannot be Cruiser SB treated it has a naturally excellent aphid tolerance.

 

[Hilly]

Its an exceptionally rough bt f land im breaking in so to say, so rape this year nxt year kale nxt year wheat sorry i mean grass lol i quite fancy stubble neeps mixed in.

 

[Grim Reaper]

Green globe turnip grew well for me last year, drilled 1st July

 

[romneymarsh]

If it doesn't rain don't make much difference what you plant and what does germinate flea beetle eats it .

 

[Derrick Hughes]

When you have sowed the seed find a dairy farm with dirty water pit and spread every day until it starts to germinate .it does work

 

[Hilly]

When you have sowed the seed find a dairy farm with dirty water pit and spread every day until it starts to germinate .it does work

Nearest will be over 25 mile away, its not going to happen, we not that dry here yet.

 

[cotswoldcs]

Kale hasn't done well for us this year - too dry here. Although cruzer dressing has stopped flea beetle it hasn't deterred the pigeons! It's much more expensive to grow than fodder rape or turnips but it is a fabulous crop for fattening lambs if it grows well.

 

[Hilly]

Kale hasn't done well for us this year - too dry here. Although cruzer dressing has stopped flea beetle it hasn't deterred the pigeons! It's much more expensive to grow than fodder rape or turnips but it is a fabulous crop for fattening lambs if it grows well.

I agree i have grown alot of kale over the years much better than rape, im not growing kale as the land is so ruff i wont get a good seed bed and its getting late in the season here so go for the cheaper option this year just to break the land down then grow kale nxt year when a better seed bed will be achieved.

 

[GTB]

Sorry to hijack but what's the latest a fodder crop can be viably sown. Had intended to DD 15 acres after first cut (about now) but the pit isn't very full so will probably take another cut off it in mid Aug. Would it be too late then? And if not what will grow best, stubble turnips or rape?