Grass Harrowing Winter Barley

Mr Onions

Member
I've an annoying issue with blackgrass in winter barley, it was drilled with a horsch sprinter on 2'' points so rows are wide. I'm thinking about using my browns 6m grass harrows to try and take out the blackgrass plants between the rows. I think its a bit wet and early just yet but hoping early March. Anyone done this before or a bad idea?
 

jendan

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Northumberland
I've an annoying issue with blackgrass in winter barley, it was drilled with a horsch sprinter on 2'' points so rows are wide. I'm thinking about using my browns 6m grass harrows to try and take out the blackgrass plants between the rows. I think its a bit wet and early just yet but hoping early March. Anyone done this before or a bad idea?
Bad idea. You will pull out the Barley plants but leave the blackgrass untouched. Its a bit like what they used to do to Winter Wheat back in the day if it got too proud over winter......................or grazed it off a bit with sheep.
 

Al R

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
West Wales
No experience of black grass but all I can think is you may spread it and cause more plants to emerge.
I Harrow all of my cereals as I’m organic but mainly taking out BLW and charlock. Weeding every 6 days from drilling until the crop is strong enough to smother so usually 4-5 passes.

Look on YouTube for John Pawsey, he’s farming organically in a seriously big way and doing a fantastic job and he shows in his videos weeding of certain crops and different timings and explains it all.
 

Al R

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
West Wales
Did some spring barley ,what had a small patch of rye grass ,
it looks savage when you do it ,wantss to be dry , then do it again ,week 10 days later , chap in next village does all his a couple times has a 12 m version ,
As will says it can look savage. I sow thicker and then pull up around 5% every pass, if your not pulling any crop up your not doing a good enough job and that’s with spring corn, winter corn you should be able to really grip with the tines as the roots should be that much deeper
 

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