Management of AB15 legume fallows

[Wigeon]

I have some which are well over knee high, and thick with grasses. Others are shorter but thick with flowering crimson clover.

What are people doing about management in these scenarios?

There's plenty of flowering blackgrass in some, docks in others etc.

Grazing or taking a cut would be the obvious answer, but it's not allowed. Flailing it off seems criminal, and a massive waste of diesel. I know guidance says cut before 15th May, but blackgrass generally not advanced enough before now.

Any thoughts welcome!

 

[yellow belly]

Flail off when the bg is in full flower before seeds have filled and are viable bg that has flowered and ppolinated cut off takes longer to regrow than if cut before flowering
I have done this in osr crops and then dedicated in mid July virtually totally eliminating the bg
the om and nutrients returned to the soil
flail a second time in late July then again in October

the regroth of the legumes is very vigorous especially if it has enough water

 

[Wigeon]

Thanks, yes ill do that.

it just seems bonkers, environmentally speaking, that you can't graze it. Obviously loads of diesel is better than a few sheep burps!

 

[Minesapint]

It’s a dilemma. In year 4 on the same fields(re drilled after year 2), and one bit is a mix of grass, clover, and some champion thistles. It should be topped, but I can’t bring myself to do it, as it is alive with wildlife. Will sort in the autumn

 

[teslacoils]

Thanks, yes ill do that.

it just seems bonkers, environmentally speaking, that you can't graze it. Obviously loads of diesel is better than a few sheep burps!

He who pays the piper calls the tune. Dont think of it as your grass etc. Think of it as land you have rented to a customer and they are paying you good money to treat it as they want.

 

[Regenerator1]

I have some which are well over knee high, and thick with grasses. Others are shorter but thick with flowering crimson clover.

What are people doing about management in these scenarios?

There's plenty of flowering blackgrass in some, docks in others etc.

Grazing or taking a cut would be the obvious answer, but it's not allowed. Flailing it off seems criminal, and a massive waste of diesel. I know guidance says cut before 15th May, but blackgrass generally not advanced enough before now.

Any thoughts welcome!

TopCut collect | Mechanical Weeding | Zürn Harvesting GmbH & Co. KG

Zürn - Technik fürs Land und Harvesting, Landtechnik, Gartentechnik, Schneidwerke, Feldversuchstechnik

www.zuern.de

 

[Regenerator1]

A combine for the future

 

[Wigeon]

TopCut collect | Mechanical Weeding | Zürn Harvesting GmbH & Co. KG

Zürn - Technik fürs Land und Harvesting, Landtechnik, Gartentechnik, Schneidwerke, Feldversuchstechnik

www.zuern.de

Yes had one in a couple or yrs ago. Expensive but good job in the right conditions (wildoats in linseed that time).

 

[Zippy768]

I have some which are well over knee high, and thick with grasses. Others are shorter but thick with flowering crimson clover.

What are people doing about management in these scenarios?

There's plenty of flowering blackgrass in some, docks in others etc.

Grazing or taking a cut would be the obvious answer, but it's not allowed. Flailing it off seems criminal, and a massive waste of diesel. I know guidance says cut before 15th May, but blackgrass generally not advanced enough before now.

Any thoughts welcome!

Cut ours on the 14th. Do people generally ignore the guidance?
Will have to spot spray ours as ragwort about

 

[farmerm]

Cut ours on the 14th. Do people generally ignore the guidance?
Will have to spot spray ours as ragwort about

Ragwort has flowers for the pollinators and you didn't even have to pay for the seed

 

[Wigeon]

Cut ours on the 14th. Do people generally ignore the guidance?

Recommended actions, not mandatory. Too early for decent job on the blackgrass this yr I think.

 

[Zippy768]

Recommended actions, not mandatory. Too early for decent job on the blackgrass this yr I think.

Yeah, I figured a bit to early, but wanted to keep within rules.
Not really bg in ours, but plenty of brome, wild oats

 

[Zippy768]

Ragwort has flowers for the pollinators and you didn't even have to pay for the seed

I am just gearing up to bag all that clover up on the 1st September. Nom, nom, nom

 

[Regenerator1]

Yeah, I figured a bit to early, but wanted to keep within rules.
Not really bg in ours, but plenty of brome, wild oats

Loads this yr.. and for the last 10yrs if you check out the weed seed bank using science

 

[Regenerator1]

I am just gearing up to bag all that clover up on the 1st September. Nom, nom, nom

10k per tonne to buy... enjoy the game

 

[yellow belly]

Thanks, yes ill do that.

it just seems bonkers, environmentally speaking, that you can't graze it. Obviously loads of diesel is better than a few sheep burps!

There are other actions that can be grazed

 

[steveR]

It’s a dilemma. In year 4 on the same fields(re drilled after year 2), and one bit is a mix of grass, clover, and some champion thistles. It should be topped, but I can’t bring myself to do it, as it is alive with wildlife. Will sort in the autumn

I remember many moons ago, getting a derogation from NE on some CS mixture of some type, as toppin was going to be so damaging, but the weeds HADS to be controlled. Roundup it was, and left the cover until Autumn. A healthy dose of commonsense.

 

[steveR]

Cut ours on the 14th. Do people generally ignore the guidance?
Will have to spot spray ours as ragwort about

What do use...??

Spot of Glyphosate?

 

[Zippy768]

What do use...??

Spot of Glyphosate?

Yep

 

[Essexman]

Hi I’m looking at a thriving legume mix which sometime after 15th August I’m looking to re establish. Hoping to cut and bale it for either silage or more likely bedding. Any one got any experience of if is likely to reseed and therefore re establish itself?