Maize 2020

[stablegirl]

Got our maize drilled last week, very early I know but it's done well the last 2 years drill in a similar window.

Blue plastic, with a selection of pioneer varieties.

 

[Barmyfarmer]

Looks great @stablegirl what will your harvest date be in a normal year? If I grow maize it will have to be under plastic, I just keep wimping out

 

[stablegirl]

First week in September, then all into winter wheat.

 

[Scania143h]

Would you mind sharing your costs?
Seed
Fertiliser
Spray
Drilling costs
Plastic
Etc etc

 

[Bald Rick]

Debating here whether we need to power Harrow or if we can make a suitable tilth with a drag harrow. Soils range from almost pure sand to medium loams.

Thoughts?

 

[Beef farmer]

Debating here whether we need to power Harrow or if we can make a suitable tilth with a drag harrow. Soils range from almost pure sand to medium loams.

Thoughts?

Cut corners at your peril.

 

[Beef farmer]

Your costs have gone, but did your drilling cost inc chem? Do you ever spray in june once it's all broke the plastic? We find weed control with plastic hit and miss

 

[TomB]

Debating here whether we need to power Harrow or if we can make a suitable tilth with a drag harrow. Soils range from almost pure sand to medium loams.

Thoughts?

Cut corners at your peril.

Haven’t power harrowed for years here. Need a nice seed bed. With no compaction, doesn’t need to be particularly fine (it’s a big seed). Much better soil structure after the crop without powerharrwing. And less (no) soil erosion in the following wheat crop.

 

[Beef farmer]

Haven’t power harrowed for years here. Need a nice seed bed. With no compaction, doesn’t need to be particularly fine (it’s a big seed). Much better soil structure after the crop without powerharrwing. And less (no) soil erosion in the following wheat crop.

Would you cambridge roll in?

 

[TomB]

Would you cambridge roll in?

No.

 

[Will Blackburn]

Debating here whether we need to power Harrow or if we can make a suitable tilth with a drag harrow. Soils range from almost pure sand to medium loams.

Thoughts?

We Dutch harrow, power harrowed one last year, didn't improve things.

 

[Bald Rick]

Haven’t power harrowed for years here. Need a nice seed bed. With no compaction, doesn’t need to be particularly fine (it’s a big seed). Much better soil structure after the crop without powerharrwing. And less (no) soil erosion in the following wheat crop.

That’s what I think too. Power harrows tend to overwork the soil and unless the drill,is up it’s chuff, a spot of rain will cap the tilth.
Also, they’re slow and heavy on juice

 

[Beef farmer]

That’s what I think too. Power harrows tend to overwork the soil and unless the drill,is up it’s chuff, a spot of rain will cap the tilth.
Also, they’re slow and heavy on juice

There only slow of you overwork the soil with one. You can push on if you wish

 

[Barmyfarmer]

Any safer from birds when it's under plastic?

 

[jimmer]

All a power harrow is any good for, is levelling , and even then that's just cosmetic

 

[Bald Rick]

There only slow of you overwork the soil with one. You can push on if you wish

Got 350ac to till (not that it will be me) but speed could be of the essence as summer turns to autumn in these mad days

 

[stablegirl]

My maize is through and hiding under the film quite nicely now but conditions are very dry.

There will be more early planted maize this year than ive know with these super dry conditions, but im guessing there is going to be a lot of very weedy crops coming though as the pre emergence struggle to work in the dry conditions?

 

[Beef farmer]

My maize is through and hiding under the film quite nicely now but conditions are very dry.

There will be more early planted maize this year than ive know with these super dry conditions, but im guessing there is going to be a lot of very weedy crops coming though as the pre emergence struggle to work in the dry conditions?

Open air drilling has got very early this year. Still catching a few frosts this week gone.

 

[Beef farmer]

This dry weather seems to have everyone excited mind. A lot of people have cut 1st cut. Maybe 4ton acre. Looks expensive to me. I'd happily graze some of what's been cut yesterday

 

[stablegirl]

We have crops nearly ready to cut and some that just cover the toes of your boot if you know what I mean.

Really frost here this morning, soil temp at 4pm 20 degrees under film.