Grass after wheat/cereals

[Cowski]

I’m sure this must have been covered but “grass after wheat” in the forum search removes “after” despite trying to search the phrase with “”

What is the best way to avoid cereal volunteers in a new grass/clover ley after cereals are combined. We wanted to direct drill as there is a good cost saving, we have a Moore unidrill and it’s just less hassle/work however we have struggled with volunteers out-competing the grass when we min tilled in the past. Are ploughing or stale seed beds the only options?

 

[Mark C]

Stubble rake or shallow disc. Wait for germination. , spray off , drill.

 

[Cow1]

Do you have sheep or access to them? They graze volunteer cereals out a treat and the grass then takes over. Then you can direct drill away.

 

[Bury the Trash]

I’m sure this must have been covered but “grass after wheat” in the forum search removes “after” despite trying to search the phrase with “”

What is the best way to avoid cereal volunteers in a new grass/clover ley after cereals are combined. We wanted to direct drill as there is a good cost saving, we have a Moore unidrill and it’s just less hassle/work however we have struggled with volunteers out-competing the grass when we min tilled in the past. Are ploughing or stale seed beds the only options?

yep. and ploughing is the quicker option as you do it straight after harvest.

or else unfortunately volunteers can smother it to death in places

 

[Chae1]

We just run over stubble with a vaderstad carrier, then roll, put grass seed on with grass harrow and roll again. Have done this for a few years and been a success. Volunteers not been a problem, this is after spring barley. The volunteers actually provide a cover for new grass seedlings and it came quicker where barley volunteers were. Geese grazed it over winter, or could cut it for silage/wholecrop. Plenty people undersow cereal crops with grass.

 

[Bury the Trash]

well if there wasn't much corn chucked out by the combine it will be ok. even light volunteers aren't a problem and are actually useful for cover yes agree. its where the swath is thats sometimes thick with it I expect problems like the op has had .

 

[Gone Shooting]

Growing grass for seed we always plough - done the carriers , chit and spray but too many volunteers survive.

 

[MNBVCXZ]

0.1 l/ha falcon!

 

[Brisel]

0.1 l/ha falcon!

In the grass crop? Highly illegal & could kill the grass...………. At higher rates

 

[Brisel]

I’m sure this must have been covered but “grass after wheat” in the forum search removes “after” despite trying to search the phrase with “”

What is the best way to avoid cereal volunteers in a new grass/clover ley after cereals are combined. We wanted to direct drill as there is a good cost saving, we have a Moore unidrill and it’s just less hassle/work however we have struggled with volunteers out-competing the grass when we min tilled in the past. Are ploughing or stale seed beds the only options?

Stale seedbeds or ploughing. I'd do the stale seedbed and spray off before DD sowing - as long as your seed is in by mid September you'll be fine. I did 2 stale seedbeds last year & still had some volunteer cereals in my leys. Grazing does help keep them down & the grass soon outcompetes the cereals.

 

[Cowski]

Thanks for the replies, I think we’re going for the stale seed bed this time as the contractor did leave a fair bit on the floor- I was just glad to see him in the small harvest window we got. If we can get him to put more in the trailer in future I think we’ll direct drill straight away and use sheep (which are in abundance locally) to graze out volunteers as they appear.

 

[rob1]

I just DD yes get a few volunteers but nothing to worry about drill asap after the combine and give the grass ahead start

 

[MNBVCXZ]

In the grass crop? Highly illegal & could kill the grass...………. At higher rates

Have you checked the EAMU?

 

[Brisel]

Have you checked the EAMU?

I have now - still can't see one. Are you thinking of 1283 of 2014? Might be some wriggle room in there.

 

[deleted user 837354]

No no no, get on and drill the grass asap, whilst the soil is warm. Spray out BLWs as normal, if cereal volunteers persist in it then graze early with sheep.

Don't waste time or money ploughing it- there is no need. Get a tilth with something and get the stuff in.

Falcon on newly emerged grass- sooner you than me.