IPM3 - Companion Crops

[Grass And Grain]

Probably won't be looking at SFI until next year, but wondering if anyone has a plan for companion crops.

What companion in which crop, will it work with herbicides, will it leave any profit? Payment rate is only £55/ha.

 

[Clive]

Probably won't be looking at SFI until next year, but wondering if anyone has a plan for companion crops.

What companion in which crop, will it work with herbicides, will it leave any profit? Payment rate is only £55/ha.

legumes probably to best achieve aims, probably not taken to harvest

 

[Grass And Grain]

A kilo of clover goes a long way, although presume the dff in liberator will take it out. Would maybe work with spring barley or maize.

How about a few beans in with winter wheat, although would get bigger payment for overwinter cover crop if doing that. Or spring barley in winter beans.

 

[Hindsight]

A kilo of clover goes a long way, although presume the dff in liberator will take it out. Would maybe work with spring barley or maize.

How about a few beans in with winter wheat, although would get bigger payment for overwinter cover crop if doing that. Or spring barley in winter beans.

ow would beans in with winter wheat count for an overwinter cover crop? Or barley in Beans. I am being thick I presume. Cheers. TIA.

 

[Grass And Grain]

ow would beans in with winter wheat count for an overwinter cover crop? Or barley in Beans. I am being thick I presume. Cheers. TIA.

Afaik Janet Hughes said it was OK to use an autumn sown commercial crop, as long as there are least two species in the ground. You'd need to make sure autumn herbicides wouldn't take your second species out.

tbh any later drilled wheat crops (with beans in the mix as well) would maybe struggle to be considered sufficiently established to provide soil cover?

 

[Clive]

Afaik Janet Hughes said it was OK to use an autumn sown commercial crop, as long as there are least two species in the ground. You'd need to make sure autumn herbicides wouldn't take your second species out.

tbh any later drilled wheat crops (with beans in the mix as well) would maybe struggle to be considered sufficiently established to provide soil cover?

don’t think you can do that if the harvested crop is either of the “cover crop” species ?

 

[Mixedupfarmer]

Afaik Janet Hughes said it was OK to use an autumn sown commercial crop, as long as there are least two species in the ground. You'd need to make sure autumn herbicides wouldn't take your second species out.

Janet said it was fine, as I asked the question a while back.

 

[Hindsight]

Afaik Janet Hughes said it was OK to use an autumn sown commercial crop, as long as there are least two species in the ground. You'd need to make sure autumn herbicides wouldn't take your second species out.

tbh any later drilled wheat crops (with beans in the mix as well) would maybe struggle to be considered sufficiently established to provide soil cover?

OK, I had better check that out with RPA as if correct one puts the whol arable land on a farm in for Overwinter cover as it will either be an Autumn sown crop with a 'companion cover crop' or a Spring crop following an over winter cover crop. That plus no insecticide and we are up at near BPS. Jobs done.

 

[Hindsight]

Janet said it was fine, as I asked the question a while back.

Thanks - thats it all sorted then?

 

[Mixedupfarmer]

Thanks - thats it all sorted then?

May be worth asking the helpline, but Janet's reply to my question is available on here, and she said it was fine.

 

[Grass And Grain]

OK, I had better check that out with RPA as if correct one puts the whol arable land on a farm in for Overwinter cover as it will either be an Autumn sown crop with a 'companion cover crop' or a Spring crop following an over winter cover crop. That plus no insecticide and we are up at near BPS. Jobs done.

Still got to be able to use normal herbicide practices. E.g. you could put a sprinkling of barley in with OSR, but then couldn't use kerb.

But say you were putting a companion on with rape, buckwheat etc. Rather than claim the companion SFI option at £55/ha, you may as well claim the overwinter cover option at £129/ha

 

[Hindsight]

May be worth asking the helpline, but Janet's reply to my question is available on here, and she said it was fine.

Yes, But I or rather a colleague requests such advice via email with requirement for a written email response. Word on helpline can vary depending on staff member and with such thins as this at outset of the scheme need clarification in writing. Sorry but I am wary of any Defra / RPA inspectorate.

 

[Grass And Grain]

If you grow grass with clover, would that pass the rules?

 

[Hindsight]

Still got to be able to use normal herbicide practices. E.g. you could put a sprinkling of barley in with OSR, but then couldn't use kerb.

But say you were putting a companion on with rape, buckwheat etc. Rather than claim the companion SFI option at £55/ha, you may as well claim the overwinter cover option at £129/ha

Yes it is the herbicide practice that will be the decider. And for that need to know the RPA Inspectorate intentions on policing the scheme.

 

[Grass And Grain]

If you grow grass with clover, would that pass the rules?

TG01 is a compatible land use code.

 

[Daniel]

Agronomist reckons put some beans on with the fert spreader and drill with wheat?

Maybe spread the beans the day before the Sugarbeet harvester arrives and then plant wheat.

 

[redsloe]

Still got to be able to use normal herbicide practices. E.g. you could put a sprinkling of barley in with OSR, but then couldn't use kerb.

But say you were putting a companion on with rape, buckwheat etc. Rather than claim the companion SFI option at £55/ha, you may as well claim the overwinter cover option at £129/ha

Do we apply logic with this or not?
Logic would suggest that if by doing as you say with two varieties in a commercial crop and can legitimately claim £129/ha cover crop payment then there is little point in a lesser payment for companion cropping.

 

[Mixedupfarmer]

Yes, But I or rather a colleague requests such advice via email with requirement for a written email response. Word on helpline can vary depending on staff member and with such thins as this at outset of the scheme need clarification in writing. Sorry but I am wary of any Defra / RPA inspectorate.

obviously that would be best, but surely a written response from the policy director? to the question on a public forum should carry some weight?

 

[Mixedupfarmer]

Do we apply logic with this or not?
Logic would suggest that if by doing as you say with two varieties in a commercial crop and can legitimately claim £129/ha cover crop payment then there is little point in a lesser payment for companion cropping.

Its 2 or more species, and the companion cropping is more Spring / Summer?

 

[Hindsight]

Agronomist reckons put some beans on with the fert spreader and drill with wheat?

Maybe spread the beans the day before the Sugarbeet harvester arrives and then plant wheat.

Is he / she putting that in an official written form to you as client. And supported by their Professional Indemnity Insurance?