Grazing cover crop available

[unlacedgecko]

Oats vetch and raddish.

Available now till 28 Feb. 120ha, will keep 900 x 50kg sheep.

I'll do the fencing and lookering.

DM or call me to discuss 07842 071126

 

[Frank-the-Wool]

Looks a bit thin but presume it is dry ground.
Transport cost would kill this at anything over 50p a week as it will only be 5 weeks!!

 

[jack6480]

Would you be better to not graze it?

 

[unlacedgecko]

Would you be better to not graze it?

I haven't got enough stock.

 

[unlacedgecko]

Looks a bit thin but presume it is dry ground.
Transport cost would kill this at anything over 50p a week as it will only be 5 weeks!!

That's a common theme.

It is dry ground. Couldn't graze earlier due to payment schemes. Did have other land before Xmas to offer a longer grazing period, but the floods buggered that plan.

 

[neilo]

I haven't got enough stock.

I think the suggestion was to not graze it, but to leave it to build soil OM. I’m guessing it’s not your ground though?

 

[jack6480]

Yes if you’ve already been paid to put it in, and your only going to gain a couple of k for the hassle of 900 sheep making a mess for 5 weeks then without a doubt leave it ?

 

[unlacedgecko]

I think the suggestion was to not graze it, but to leave it to build soil OM. I’m guessing it’s not your ground though?

No it's not my ground. One day though....

 

[unlacedgecko]

Yes if you’ve already been paid to put it in, and your only going to gain a couple of k for the hassle of 900 sheep making a mess for 5 weeks then without a doubt leave it ?

I haven't been paid, the landowner has. Hassle from sheep is what I do.

They won't make a mess. They'll improve SOM and potentially save a pass when establishing the next crop.

 

[Hindsight]

Sacrilege I know, but the heathen in me would say Glyphosate followed by direct drill in Spring when suitable. Thin cover why bother with sheep paddling about. I have quickly left the room and will not dare venture to return.

 

[Kiwi Pete]

Rotavate it after, sheep don't have cupholders bouncy seats and USB jacks

 

[unlacedgecko]

Sacrilege I know, but the heathen in me would say Glyphosate followed by direct drill in Spring when suitable. Thin cover why bother with sheep paddling about. I have quickly left the room and will not dare venture to return.

Putting organic matter through a ruminant is better for soil chemistry than just mulching it. It's also a cashflow positive (especially for me!), rather than paying for chemicals and a vehicle.

There's the possibility of just DDing the crop in behind the sheep. But I'm just a sh!t kicking shepherd, I've no idea about arable.

 

[unlacedgecko]

Rotavate it after, sheep don't have cupholders bouncy seats and USB jacks

I've got a bouncy seat and USB jack on my quad, and could put on a tank bag with water bottle pouch.

 

[DRC]

My stubble turnips won’t leave much if anything this year . All the expense for a poor crop. Seed, fertiliser, spray volunteer barley, and establishment, verses carrying about half the normal amount . Cover crop in some scheme or other, then plough in, might pay better .

 

[neilo]

My stubble turnips won’t leave much if anything this year . All the expense for a poor crop. Seed, fertiliser, spray volunteer barley, and establishment, verses carrying about half the normal amount . Cover crop in some scheme or other, then plough in, might pay better .

The same everywhere from what I’ve seen. I have 250 lambs that have just finished grazing 12ac of what was a good crop, until it started drowning in October. It’s only lasted 6 weeks because the crop has been going backwards fast, as well as treading a lot in.
They’ll be on a worse (wetter) field next, which is 6ac and I doubt will last them much over a week.

Cover crop in some scheme or other, then graze, works better. I have 13ac of swedes & maincrop turnips on just that, and wish I’d signed up for more of it.

 

[hally]

Maybe better oop north this year

 

[Anymulewilldo]

Yes if you’ve already been paid to put it in, and your only going to gain a couple of k for the hassle of 900 sheep making a mess for 5 weeks then without a doubt leave it ?

wow, wish I had enough money to just write off 2 grand for 5 weeks worth of fencing and checking?!?!

Don't listen too them bud, grazing with sheep is the best end to any cover crop! We graze crops off for arable men, their neighbours sneer and take the pee but our lads soils are far better quality!! Hopefully in a few years they might realise that the spray and fert method of farming isn't going to be sustainable. Is is the "Golden Hoof" the old boys call it??

 

[jack6480]

They’ll make more mess than do any good this year, better to leave it and direct drill nicely into the cc. Your just going to cause soil erosion, he’s already been paid to put the cover crop in stop being greedy. That is unsustainable

 

[unlacedgecko]

They’ll make more mess than do any good this year, better to leave it and direct drill nicely into the cc. Your just going to cause soil erosion, he’s already been paid to put the cover crop in stop being greedy. That is unsustainable

How will it cause soil erosion? Pugging is caused by time of stock on ground.

2 day paddocks will mean good utilisation and very limited (if any) pugging.

 

[jack6480]

ok If you want to set up paddocks every 2 days then do that. But I think you’d be better finding something better to do with your time