Legumes

[Bury the Trash]

Going to see a resurgence now with the cost of N plus I don’t think prices of it will come down in the near future.

All well and good as long as there isnt profiteering on the seed for it, beyond reasonable cost covering rises of course.
Doesn't generally like too acid soil and does like good levels of Phosphate and very careful /timely grazing management as well remember.

 

[Kevtherev]

All well and good as long as there isnt profiteering on the seed for it, beyond reasonable cost covering rises of course.
Doesn't generally like too acid soil and does like good levels of Phosphate and very careful /timely grazing management as well remember.

Yes no doubt a lot of seed merchants will be rubbing their hands promoting this new wonder

 

[Derrick Hughes]

All well and good as long as there isnt profiteering on the seed for it, beyond reasonable cost covering rises of course.
Doesn't generally like too acid soil and does like good levels of Phosphate and very careful /timely grazing management as well remember.

Prices more or less the same as last year ,

 

[Dave6170]

Going to see a resurgence now with the cost of N plus I don’t think prices of it will come down in the near future.

Whats the best way to get clover back into a long term ley? Have a few fields i had to spray for docks.

 

[Kevtherev]

Whats the best way to get clover back into a long term ley? Have a few fields i had to spray for docks.

More difficult in an older ley graze off hard as hell then broadcast clover or scratch in with einbock type Harrow or direct drill.
Do not sow too deep and either roll or walk it in with sheep.
Best results are after a cut of silage if you could harvest it but not always possible though.
Clover likes P&K for establishing.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Whats the best way to get clover back into a long term ley? Have a few fields i had to spray for docks.

Whats the best way to get clover back into a long term ley? Have a few fields i had to spray for docks.

Few passes with a tine Harrow until you find some soil , then seed and roll , bit of slurry if you have some , needs doing quick though before the grass takes off , if you can't find any soil then not sure, use a two or 3 way blend of clovers small medium large ,unless you are only cutting it only grazing ,but still I would mix it up a bit ,

 

[Kevtherev]

Remember clover needs soil temps above 8 to establish properly

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Soil Temp is very Area Related ,
Pembrokeshire is well over 8 parts of Cerdigion are close , dry soil warms up a lot quicker than wet soil , soil is very dry here atm , well the top layer is , so if it comes warm this week a large part of Cerdigion will be there ,if you leave seeding to late you will be up against rapid grass growth

 

[Boysground]

I would like to grow a reasonable acreage of Lucerne.
Maybe 20-30 acres ?

We have our own silage machinery so can conserve what we like, when we like.
It could be added to our TMR easily.

As I don't know anyone else growing it locally, my experience is minimal.
We have 100 dairy cows, 50 followers as well as 700 ewes and approx 600 acres arable across several farms either rented or contract farmed.

Im going into my second year with Lucerne. It’s on think chalk, the field is the worse I have for black grass which is why it was chosen. It is Artemis which is produced by Barenbrug. The main advantage of this variety is it comes already coated with inoculant. It was autumn drilled and had Kerb as a herbicide. This didn’t work well, the 1st cut was red with poppy and there is still quite a grass weed burden although having done 3 cuts the grass hasn’t had time to seed.

This spring it looks well and I’m the last couple of weeks has really grow, a month ago you would have thought it was dead. I have been putting potash on after every cut and it has had a spring dose.

It has been baled this is purely down to location, it is not practical to clamp it. The plan is to keep it down for next year.

My son has been working in Canada and the dairy he was on was growing Lucerne in a mix with ryegrass which seems to work well, although I’ve not heard of it being done over here. There may be issues with the nvz rules and slurry application to a legume, that’s the only reason I can think that it’s not worth a try here.

Bg

 

[Dave6170]

More difficult in an older ley graze off hard as hell then broadcast clover or scratch in with einbock type Harrow or direct drill.
Do not sow too deep and either roll or walk it in with sheep.
Best results are after a cut of silage if you could harvest it but not always possible though.
Clover likes P&K for establishing.

Friend has a avatar DD wonder if that would work? Or too deep?

 

[cows sh#t me to tears]

All Lucerne seed is inoculated here. And grass is easy to control in Lucerne only paddocks.
As for companion sowing, I have done it for years. Both ARG and clover drilled into existing Lucerne stands. 2 years ago I drilled oats in. Last year was balansa clover. This year was ARG and a mix of sub and balansa.

 

[som farmer]

3 kg acre mixed Red and White Going on last week on my own place , maybe a bit early seeming how cold it's gone ,

View attachment 1026572

and yet, many recommended grass/clover leys have 1kg, or less clover inclusion. We always add to that.
there are legumes and clover types, l have never heard of, out there, we are doing some trials, of different types, for our own benefit. We shall have some idea then.

 

[som farmer]

Yes thistles ditto , pity there's not a good and effective Clover safe herbicide.
Relatively cheap N hasn't helped agricultural use of legumes development here either its likely.

add herbs, and completely buggered for sprays, docks are not to bad, anyone commenting on about a lot of docks, just say its herbs, not many would know the difference.

@Derrick Hughes , my old man reckoned he nearly killed himself, lugging west of england sacks of clover seed, up the steps to the granary, 3 and 1/4 cwt they weighed. But in those days, men were men, today, we are much more sensible.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

and yet, many recommended grass/clover leys have 1kg, or less clover inclusion. We always add to that.
there are legumes and clover types, l have never heard of, out there, we are doing some trials, of different types, for our own benefit. We shall have some idea then.

Some of that was red , larger seed , for White alone I sow at 2 kg , that's when overseeding which needs more as take won't be as good
With Clover it's best to mix the types as some will suit your condition's better than others
With a straight reseed it don't cost a lot more to increase the Clover content as the grass seed is reduced

 

[Bury the Trash]

add herbs, and completely buggered for sprays, docks are not to bad, anyone commenting on about a lot of docks, just say its herbs, not many would know the difference.

@Derrick Hughes , my old man reckoned he nearly killed himself, lugging west of england sacks of clover seed, up the steps to the granary, 3 and 1/4 cwt they weighed. But in those days, men were men, today, we are much more sensible.

docks dont borther me much, sheep grazing sees them struggle to set seed, avoid using those fields with them in, for conservation, especially hay.
With Sheep,Thistles are another matter, they damage mouth area skin enough to allow Orf to establish.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

add herbs, and completely buggered for sprays, docks are not to bad, anyone commenting on about a lot of docks, just say its herbs, not many would know the difference.

@Derrick Hughes , my old man reckoned he nearly killed himself, lugging west of england sacks of clover seed, up the steps to the granary, 3 and 1/4 cwt they weighed. But in those days, men were men, today, we are much more sensible.

That's Clover seed in my van , Dead weight like lifting slag bags

 

[som farmer]

for what it could do for you, clover seed is cheap, still being quoted under £8 kg, there are an awful lot of seeds in 1 kg.
Lucerne, have grown it in the past, successfully, cut only. Hoping to try grazing lucerne in a trial plot.

 

[Homesy]

Few passes with a tine Harrow until you find some soil , then seed and roll , bit of slurry if you have some , needs doing quick though before the grass takes off , if you can't find any soil then not sure, use a two or 3 way blend of clovers small medium large ,unless you are only cutting it only grazing ,but still I would mix it up a bit ,

I've tried overseeding clover but there is simply too much grass growth in the autumn here in the SW. Clover just gets swamped.I've got a grant for a direct drill. Hoping to buy a sim-tech with idea being the T-slot will back the grass off enough for the clover to get established.
@Kevtherev do you still have your Duncan ? Any tips appreciated.

 

[Homesy]

for what it could do for you, clover seed is cheap, still being quoted under £8 kg, there are an awful lot of seeds in 1 kg.
Lucerne, have grown it in the past, successfully, cut only. Hoping to try grazing lucerne in a trial plot.

Watch out for bloat. My old neighbour grew some and found several dead deer on his.

 

[Bury the Trash]

Clover likes a bit of open space/soil area around it.