How to establish OSR with very wet ground?

[MrNoo]

I started yesterday using a Shakerator style machine with seed box on the back, gone in very nicely so far after SB.

 

[mo!]

Everyone getting on his back for wanting to drill it early but I am from the same area and year after year anything drilled after around 20th August is regularly useless. Heavy clay in a flea beetle hot spot is different to sand the other side of the country...

I'm the same side 200miles north and don't grow rape on sand. Have you heard of Foggathorpe clay? Sow later and get less flea beetle.

 

[Brisel]

Everyone getting on his back for wanting to drill it early but I am from the same area and year after year anything drilled after around 20th August is regularly useless. Heavy clay in a flea beetle hot spot is different to sand the other side of the country...

My post was more to do with the current fragile wet soil rather than the calendar date

I've no issue with it going in early, but going in early and badly is the dodgy bit.

If this is like 2012 or 2007 we'll have a lovely Indian Summer and be praying for rain after 2 weeks of dry when everything we abused in the wet bakes solid...

 

[Bovril]

I'm getting on with it. Straight LD leg, no wing, medium to heavy clay, not doing a bad job. Stuff I drilled last week is well up, little to no signs of beetle damage and slug pellets still on top. Crap forecast for next week.

Ever if you drill in perfect condition on the perfect date, it can still fail...

 

[nick...]

Mine went in,in perfect conditions on monday with a combiination drill.had 55mm wed but all looks ok if a bit damp but drying out now anyway.that was on ploughed and rolled ground.hope to see the rows by next monday
Nick...

 

[warksfarmer]

I had high hopes of planting a decent acreage of OSR this year. I thought the numbers looked good on paper, but best laid plans at and all that.

So, given we've now had 30mm on top of persistent rain belts over the last few weeks, the ground is now extremely wet. Drains are running and there is no sign of scorching hot and dry weather in the short term.

The question is then what to do about OSR and its establishment? Do we just not bother, which would be a great shame from my POV, do we wait until late August / early September to see if good ground conditions materialise, or do we try and turn to some cheap establishment technique that is better suited to wet ground conditions?

Thoughts on a postcard.

I wouldn't dream of planting osr before the end of August early September anyway as you are just lining the pockets of the input suppliers. Farm save the seed and go old school at 12-15kg/ha either direct drilled or broadcast, roll it then walk away till February.

 

[ajd132]

My post was more to do with the current fragile wet soil rather than the calendar date

I've no issue with it going in early, but going in early and badly is the dodgy bit.

If this is like 2012 or 2007 we'll have a lovely Indian Summer and be praying for rain after 2 weeks of dry when everything we abused in the wet bakes solid...

Yes totally agree, I really don't think subsoiler systems are worth using this year.

 

[Oat]

I wouldn't dream of planting osr before the end of August early September anyway as you are just lining the pockets of the input suppliers. Farm save the seed and go old school at 12-15kg/ha either direct drilled or broadcast, roll it then walk away till February.

Depending on weed spectrum and pressure, not applying an early herbicide (even if you are planting at a high seedrate) is a risk. Obviously you can perhaps go in late with Astrokerb, but there are not that many herbicides available in OSR, and most are best applied pre-em or early post-em. This also has to be balanced against the risk of your crop failing early on (so don't want to spend too much early on), but if it is FSS, it hasn't cost you too much and you can always redrill.

 

[warksfarmer]

but if it is FSS, it hasn't cost you too much and you can always redrill.

Exactly the cost is negligible at around £20/acre all in for seed, no tilling it and rolling it which is 'cover crop' territory. We won't be applying any chemical or fertiliser or slug pellets before February. If there's a crop then Kerb and Nitrogen. If there's no crop then either S Barley or S linseed both farm saved undressed and uncleaned seed.

 

[Gong Farmer]

Neither Kerb nor Astrokerb can be applied in February.

 

[warksfarmer]

Neither Kerb nor Astrokerb can be applied in February.

Ok March

 

[Feldspar]

Ok March

March is even worse!

 

[warksfarmer]

March is even worse!

Ok I'll read the label then as I've no idea but it'll go on when allowed

 

[Clive]

Ok I'll read the label then as I've no idea but it'll go on when allowed

Nov to end Jan IIRC

 

[Clive]

Yes totally agree, I really don't think subsoiler systems are worth using this year.

are they ever based on my trial ? (again)

 

[warksfarmer]

Nov to end Jan IIRC

31st Jan it'll be then.

 

[Gong Farmer]

31st Jan it'll be then.

 

[nick...]

Just had a wander on field that was drilled Monday pm.despite 55mm rain on Tuesday I found this plant already up.is it too late to roll after plants start emerging.
Nick...

 

[hollister]

yes.

 

[nick...]

Thank you
Nick...