I have no idea what I'm doing

[Neddy flanders]

Spun some mustard, buckwheat and phacelia on after wheat in mid Aug, now have 6' high flowering cover crop. Neighbours and non-farmers are ringing me asking what in earth I'm doing.
My employee is desperate to plough the land ahead of peas. I was, but with a new 750a on its way, wondering if it would DD.
Guess, It comes down to confidence and "backing yourself".
When would you spray off, would you top? Will I be the laughing stock of the county?

 

[yellowbelly]

Panic not, we're on our way........

Seriously though, you must have loads of options (especially if you've got a drill capable of tackling that and all winter to plan).The world is your oyster.

 

[cb387]

I wish our cover crops looked as well as that.

I’d graze 50% of it off if you have sheep but don’t let them poach the ground. Leave enough green to spray off.

Alternatively spray off after Xmas. Will have died back well by the time you come to drill it. DD straight into it, ignore neighbours

 

[Fish]

Roll on a hard frost, if we get one, then spray off late Feb/ early March, then 750 the peas in April.

Forget the neighbours, what'd they know.

 

[YELROM]

Did you harrow or roll etc the cover crop in or did you just literally just spin it on and leave it to grow

 

[ImLost]

As others have said, ignore the neighbours!
Would grazing it be a possibility?

 

[PSQ]

Phacelia and Buckwheat will die with the first frost, the Mustard needs something like -4C.

 

[Northdowns Martin]

Would anyone be concerned about mustard going woody if left until spring?

 

[N.Yorks.]

Would anyone be concerned about mustard going woody if left until spring?

If it went woody that would just mean you'd have a less easily broken down component of organic matter which isn't a bad thing.

 

[Neddy flanders]

Did you harrow or roll etc the cover crop in or did you just literally just spin it on and leave it to grow

surface was quite rough as it had been spring wheat sown with a tine drill in March. CC seed was spun on about 10 mins before a 20mm thunderstorm. trust me, no other rolling was needed.

 

[ajd132]

ignore the neighbours and what anyone else thinks and back yourself. also ignore tractor drivers who want to roar every lump of metal going 2 foot deep into the ground at every opportunity!

 

[Andrew K]

That cover must be wicking up the moisture a treat,ready for the sheep when it dries a bit..

 

[No wot]

Have an idea buckwheat is not suitable for grazing sheep on , might be wrong though

 

[4course]

one of the pleasures in farming is ensuring the neighbours spend their time wondering what the crazy fecker next door is upto,given me years of enjoyment

 

[Hindsight]

That cover must be wicking up the moisture a treat,ready for the sheep when it dries a bit..

This is a genuine non knocking question from a non direct drilling person. But why do you say that cover must be wicking water out a treat. Not knocking you personally, I hear it on here all the time about these cover crops wicking water and drying soils in the October to March period. But evapotranspiration in late October and the coming months would be minimal. Finally plucked up courage to ask.

 

[Bury the Trash]

not another cover crop Q.

but nice looking dog

 

[Hindsight]

Spun some mustard, buckwheat and phacelia on after wheat in mid Aug, now have 6' high flowering cover crop. Neighbours and non-farmers are ringing me asking what in earth I'm doing.
My employee is desperate to plough the land ahead of peas. I was, but with a new 750a on its way, wondering if it would DD.
Guess, It comes down to confidence and "backing yourself".
When would you spray off, would you top? Will I be the laughing stock of the county?

Be a bit of good walked up rough shooting for later on towards Xmas. That's a benefit.

 

[bitwrx]

Guess, It comes down to confidence and "backing yourself".
When would you spray off, would you top? Will I be the laughing stock of the county?

Nuts to em. Your farm, your rules. Back yourself.

I would say 'plough your own furrow', but you've just spent a lot of money on a drill, so DD the f**ker.

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

This is a genuine non knocking question from a non direct drilling person. But why do you say that cover must be wicking water out a treat. Not knocking you personally, I hear it on here all the time about these cover crops wicking water and drying soils in the October to March period. But evapotranspiration in late October and the coming months would be minimal. Finally plucked up courage to ask.

Cover crops do slow down evaporation at this time o year compared to cultivated soil

 

[Simon C]

This is a genuine non knocking question from a non direct drilling person. But why do you say that cover must be wicking water out a treat. Not knocking you personally, I hear it on here all the time about these cover crops wicking water and drying soils in the October to March period. But evapotranspiration in late October and the coming months would be minimal. Finally plucked up courage to ask.

It's wishful thinking syndrome!