Is it to early to start drilling wheat?

[Clive]

Long story short, I’ve got a 750A on demo and would like to try direct drilling some wheat before It goes. Is it to early to start? Drilled plenty of covers with it and been impressed upto now but would like to try it in something where I can measure the end results.
We don’t normally start drilling till at least the 2nd or 3rd week in September here in the northwest but the whole direct drilling is all new here so any advice welcome.
We’ve no black grass or resistant grass problems. On medium to heavy clay loam.

Thanks in advance.

Get on - if you don’t have grassweed issues there is no issue drilling early

Autumn Direct drilled crops want to be in 2 weeks earlier than your normal date imo anyway

 

[Flat 10]

Decided to hang fire for a week or two, as much as I’d like to try the drill in some wheat it’s not worth rushing it in. And If the drill isn’t here then so be it! I’m sure there’ll be another chance to try it at some point.
After checking I really don’t want to be drilling skywalk the first week in September anyway, it’s recommended towards the last week in September.

I think waiting is a good decision

 

[bobk]

Some folk oh here need a holiday . .... or a life .

 

[nick...]

No wheat going in here till October and won’t start barley till around 20th of this month
Nick...

 

[Zippy768]

Aiming for everything in the ground by end of Sept. That should give me two weeks buffer to actually get it in the ground by mid Oct

 

[DRC]

most of mine is after spuds or maize, yet to be harvested. some continuous wheat, which was drilled 6th october last year, which is about right here.

 

[jpd]

its the blinking beginning of september

 

[Clive]

its the blinking beginning of september

Best yields come from early drilled crops here

If grassweeds are not an issue there is little downside

Not planning to start until the 14th though

 

[Goodbeef]

Too early yet Phil! Go and have a look at Olly’s drilling, just seen on Facebook he has made a start on wheat today!

 

[Warp Land Farmer]

Best yields come from early drilled crops here

If grassweeds are not an issue there is little downside

Not planning to start until the 14th though

Is that in your light land? Do you feel you would be later on bodied land?

 

[Richard III]

For No Till in the Northwest, I would say 14th to 20th of Sept is ideal. So pretty much the same as @Clive 's advice.

 

[bobk]

23 rd september here , BUT it's a dry year so far .

 

[Zippy768]

Best yields come from early drilled crops here

If grassweeds are not an issue there is little downside

Not planning to start until the 14th though

You must mean the 17th? 14th is a Friday

 

[farmer92]

I’m gonna do 100 acres end of next week all being well. Normally leave winter wheat drilling until at least 20th sept but have it in my head to go a little earlier on this bit of land

 

[Clive]

You must mean the 17th? 14th is a Friday

I’m not superstitious

But I mean any time after 2nd week in September

 

[General-Lee]

We like to start fairly early sort of last week or so of September, lot of people in disbelief, shock, tutting...but we prefer to get it in in good conditions rather than later on mauling it in the wet.

Conventional and min till though.

 

[Phil P]

We generally don’t start till around the 20th of September but all conventional drilled up to now, but I’ve had this 750A in the yard on demo for the past two weeks and been drilling covers with it, however I’ve got a feeling they’re either going to want me to buy it (not going to happen this year) or someone else will want to have a go very soon.

Ideally I wanted to try it in some wheat trials next to some min till and conventional drilling.
I may be jumping the gun a little but I’ve finished drilling covers and had a spare afternoon so was tempted to drill some wheat. Unfortunately I’ve got a tight schedule after today so won’t be happening this week anyway now. I’ll see what next week brings.

 

[Breckland Boy]

We generally don’t start till around the 20th of September but all conventional drilled up to now, but I’ve had this 750A in the yard on demo for the past two weeks and been drilling covers with it, however I’ve got a feeling they’re either going to want me to buy it (not going to happen this year) or someone else will want to have a go very soon.

View attachment 712842

Ideally I wanted to try it in some wheat trials next to some min till and conventional drilling.
I may be jumping the gun a little but I’ve finished drilling covers and had a spare afternoon so was tempted to drill some wheat. Unfortunately I’ve got a tight schedule after today so won’t be happening this week anyway now. I’ll see what next week brings.

Get some in the ground and see what happens. Use the slowest developing variety you have, deter dressed and lower the seed rate. If the weather comes wet and or cold it will be fine . You have nothing to lose. Early is always best provided you have taken precautions. Deter being the best. You won't have it next year.

 

[Brisel]

What other drills do you have? For a meaningful comparison you ought to drill a field with your normal system early too.

 

[Phil P]

What other drills do you have? For a meaningful comparison you ought to drill a field with your normal system early too.

Combi drill (disc Coulters), I was going to min till and plough some then put both drills in the same field. That way I had a complete comparison but I think it’s way to early to start conventional drilling really, especially looking at how fast the covers have come up!