Highest output crop rotation on a mixed farm?

[Dog Bowl]

This is my late Oct sown Forage Rye and Westerwolds mix from @Great In Grass. Drilled after 4th cut in autumn this will have one cut of bales at end of April /early May before ploughing up for maize. Im amazed how well it looks now after looking so poor all winter! Depending how the bales analyse it will either be used for buffer feeding dairy cows or sucklers...

 

[jackrussell101]

The problem with such a short ley is that your grass becomes expensive as the establishment costs aren't spread very thinly. How about a 2 year IRG/Westerwolds ley sown after wheat, with a 1st cut taken in year 3 then put into maize with lots of muck applied. Back into wheat afterwards.

Winter barley fb turnips fb spring barley fb turnips or forage rape?

In an average sort of year, how long would a crop of turnips or forage kale require growing time? 12 weeks would be something like wouldn't it? When's the latest you can drill W.barley? Dependent on season of course

 

[Brisel]

In an average sort of year, how long would a crop of turnips or forage kale require growing time? 12 weeks would be something like wouldn't it? When's the latest you can drill W.barley? Dependent on season of course

What are you thinking of? Planting winter barley after turnips?? They wouldn't have grown enough bulb for lifting by early October. Better to plant the turnips after winter barley or spring barley. A continuous rotation of spring barley followed by turnips for grazing over winter would be best IMO. Harvesting forage crops adds a lot of cost - grazing them is best IMO.

 

[Newby]

A continuous rotation of spring barley followed by turnips for grazing over winter would be best IMO.

Can you actually do that?

 

[Brisel]

If you keep the soil pH up to prevent clubroot, yes. I haven't seen it done long term though - more than 5 years anyway.

 

[jackrussell101]

If you keep the soil pH up to prevent clubroot, yes. I haven't seen it done long term though - more than 5 years anyway.

Interesting, what would a good crop of spring barley yield nowerdays, good bodied medium loam ground and plenty of muck?

 

[jackrussell101]

This is my late Oct sown Forage Rye and Westerwolds mix from @Great In Grass. Drilled after 4th cut in autumn this will have one cut of bales at end of April /early May before ploughing up for maize. Im amazed how well it looks now after looking so poor all winter! Depending how the bales analyse it will either be used for buffer feeding dairy cows or sucklers...

How did it go?

 

[vinnie123]

Can you actually do that?

Fella local to here on fifth or sixth year of this now and still going strong, this is on lighter more forgiving land mind. On heavier ground surely a medium term irg, winter wheat, maize rotation would stand the test of time

 

[jackrussell101]

Fella local to here on fifth or sixth year of this now and still going strong, this is on lighter more forgiving land mind. On heavier ground surely a medium term irg, winter wheat, maize rotation would stand the test of time

Do you know what sort of s.barley yields he gets?

 

[beefandsleep]

You would be delighted with 3 ton russ, work on 2.5 though.

 

[Newby]

Do you know what sort of s.barley yields he gets?

You would be delighted with 3 ton russ, work on 2.5 though.

What about spring barley wholecrop?

 

[kfpben]

If you keep the soil pH up to prevent clubroot, yes. I haven't seen it done long term though - more than 5 years anyway.

I have thought of growing continuous Spring Barley- Stubble Turnips too on an area of light ground. Do you think liming would be sufficient to prevent club root?

We are on chalky/flint (lots of flint!) with a bit of clay loam so soil pH is usually quite high anyway. Otherwise looking at a rye/vetch mix for winter.

 

[Brisel]

Ask your agronomist - it's a high risk but maintain a pH of at least 7.5 and you should keep clubroot at bay. I have clubroot in several fields where brassicas haven't been grown more than 1 in 4 but nothing in the chalk/flint field where I've had the double cropping for years.

The continuous brassica vegetable growers on grade 1 silt in Lincolnshire manage this with plenty of lime.

 

[Brisel]

Interesting, what would a good crop of spring barley yield nowerdays, good bodied medium loam ground and plenty of muck?

As @beefandsleep said, budget for 2.5 t/acre but aim for more