Lucerne varieties?

[Colliedog]

Thanks for that wondering if I’m a bit too late for this year by the time I get seed over here.How long has yours been in the ground for? Do you clamp it or bale ?

It was sown in 2017 and still yielding well this year. I bale mine. I'm growing more for next year for a local goat dairy who need it mould free. The key for me is using safesile additive, its very expensive but I've seen some terrible silage made in the past but this seems to ensure high quality fodder. I write the cost of the additive off against rape and soya meal I would have been buying in.

 

[Colliedog]

Friend of mine wrote a growers guide for Nickerson/Limagrain.

I've found that a really useful guide! There is also one from the ahdb as well as lots of useful info on the site.

 

[Roger Perry]

You need "roundup ready" varieties made available to really simplify your operation.
We graze heavily after the first frosts' (sheep)

 

[sjt01]

You need "roundup ready" varieties made available to really simplify your operation.
We graze heavily after the first frosts' (sheep)

Lucerne once established is pretty resistant to Roundup anyway! Our biggest problem is getting rid of it in a zero till system. The ratio of leaf to root is so in favour of the roots that the leaves only pick up enough glyphosate to weaken, not to kill.

 

[Mark C]

Lucerne once established is pretty resistant to Roundup anyway! Our biggest problem is getting rid of it in a zero till system. The ratio of leaf to root is so in favour of the roots that the leaves only pick up enough glyphosate to weaken, not to kill.

Hormone will kill it - 24D from memory. We had some in wheat, Ally knocked it back but was still there at harvest

 

[sjt01]

Hormone will kill it - 24D from memory. We had some in wheat, Ally knocked it back but was still there at harvest

Used a mix of glyphosate and 2,4 D. Followed by strip till maize. 2 post-em did not touch it. Now in spring beans/lucerne mix!

 

[ollie989898]

Hormone will kill it - 24D from memory. We had some in wheat, Ally knocked it back but was still there at harvest

CMPP will probably fold it up. Clopyralid can be used in other crops.

When cutting lucerne keep a reasonable stubble height. Same goes for red clover.

Lucerne prefers land that drains nicely. I had a crop that went into a lovely seed bed but it was a hideously wet autumn and it drowned.

 

[Boysground]

Silly question, how deep should I plant my Lucerne. May give it a go today before rain tomorrow

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[Will Blackburn]

Less than 12mm.

 

[Boysground]

Great. Hopefully give it a go today

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[hollister]

Lucerne looks the best it has all year, is it too late to take another cut?

 

[Colliedog]

Lucerne looks the best it has all year, is it too late to take another cut?

No still got 4th cut on mine to go yet. Your supposed to let it flower at some point.

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

First time growing Lucerne this year what’s the latest you can go with drilling? I was hoping to put it in following maize which will be mid September time ?

If you're doing it again, I would be prepared to undersow if you get the right conditions

 

[Great In Grass]

No, you probably have another 7-10 days to get it cut.

 

[Roger Perry]

No still got 4th cut on mine to go yet. Your supposed to let it flower at some point.

We can hold a stand 10-12 years in this dry (irrigated) climate, never let it come into flower, our yields are not as high as some areas (5-6 ton) but always makes premium quality dairy hay, our high elevation brings warm warm days and cool evenings....

 

[Boysground]

Bg Junior spent l last Friday and Saturday merging Lucerne

300ac cut for the 4th time, I think the farm has about 2000ac of Lucerne all together. He is in Canada

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[hollister]

Thanks all, looks like we will be cutting it down again.