Mite be having a dabble at DD but what cover crop?

[Drillman]

Ok I’ve not been the biggest fan of DD I will admit but been having a think about one field in particular

it’s thin soil chalky free draining and is a bugger to plough

so going forwards it’s maybe time to do something different

current crop is wheat and was thinking S barley next then S oats after that.

the field is a bit short on PK and is something we’re working on.

couple of neighbours have DD drills so would ask one of them to drill it depending on which machine I think is suited best on the day.

don’t want to leave it as bare stubble all winter though so what’s a cheap cheerful cover that could be put on with minimal cost?

Wheat is unlikely to be cleared before 2nd week of sept

we have a combi drill and a slug pellet machine on farm at the moment.

suggestions please

cheap suggestions are best as I’m only poor

 

[Bury the Trash]

Oats.

Keep it simple ••••••

 

[Drillman]

Oats.

Keep it simple ••••••

Would that work considering I’m going to grow oats in that field the following year?

tbh I was rather hoping for something I could spin on with slug pellet machine as anything else is an extra contractor drill pass as the only drill we have is our combi.

 

[Clive]

Not oats before a cereal - that will fail

to keep it cheap get as munch FSS as you can, beans, peas, linseed maybe a FEW oats, mustard, sunflower (pet shop). Millet (pet shop) Etc

just get max diversity as cheap as possible, make it green, don’t over think it

 

[Drillman]

Not oats before a cereal - that will fail

to keep it cheap get as munch FSS as you can, beans, peas, linseed maybe a FEW oats, mustard, sunflower (pet shop). Millet (pet shop) Etc

just get max diversity as cheap as possible, make it green, don’t over think it

Ah that sounds more what I had in mind, can I get away with just spinning them on or will it need drilling?

maybe spin on and a pass with rolls or grass harrows?

just trying to keep cost down and use what we got as it’s an experiment on one field.

 

[teslacoils]

Stubble turnips into standing wheat?

 

[Bury the Trash]

Would that work considering I’m going to grow oats in that field the following year?

tbh I was rather hoping for something I could spin on with slug pellet machine as anything else is an extra contractor drill pass as the only drill we have is our combi.

Yeah will be fine.... but just a few, mind

Spin them on and a shallow pass with the discs , will be some wheat volunteers as well.

Job done , happy days

 

[Drillman]

Yeah will be fine.... but just a few, mind

Spin them on and a shallow pass with the discs , will be some wheat volunteers as well.

Job done , happy days

Not got any discs

 

[DanM]

You could spin a mix of turnips/rape into the standing wheat, just before some rain (if forecast) in early august. Plenty of sheep farmers like me would then pay you to graze the crop over winter! You should at least cover your costs plus the muck will do your soil biology the world of good.

 

[Drillman]

You could spin a mix of turnips/rape into the standing wheat, just before some rain (if forecast) in early august. Plenty of sheep farmers like me would then pay you to graze the crop over winter! You should at least cover your costs plus the muck will do your soil biology the world of good.

Hmm just realised none of the tractors have skinny wheels for a job like that

but long term I think that would be the way to go for us

 

[Bury the Trash]

Need one of these forthat job

 

[Grass And Grain]

Second week of Sept right at top of a cold hill. I suspect that will be the biggest hurdle.

Does wheat ever get fit in August up there?

I'm thinking slug pelleter on sprayer with row crops on in standing crop, maybe a day after pre-harvest glypho, if rain forecast.

 

[Drillman]

Second week of Sept right at top of a cold hill. I suspect that will be the biggest hurdle.

Does wheat ever get fit in August up there?

I'm thinking slug pelleter on sprayer with row crops on in standing crop, maybe a day after pre-harvest glypho, if rain forecast.

Have combined wheat in august occasionally, but not very often.

not a big fan of pre harvest Glyphosate

stuff comes ripe on its own eventually for no cost. And on the occasions we have used canned sunshine I’ve seen no difference to grain moisture or straw fitness for baling

 

[Grass And Grain]

Have combined wheat in august occasionally, but not very often.

not a big fan of pre harvest Glyphosate

stuff comes ripe on its own eventually for no cost. And on the occasions we have used canned sunshine I’ve seen no difference to grain moisture or straw fitness for baling

So pre-harvest broadcasting is feasible. Suppose it really needs a fert spreader to get 24m (slug pelleter would struggle?).

 

[Drillman]

So pre-harvest broadcasting is feasible. Suppose it really needs a fert spreader to get 24m (slug pelleter would struggle?).

Boom spreader would be the best bet but would need investment in a suitably tyre equipped tractor to put it on. So not a cheap option really

 

[benny6910]

Sorry to jump in on this thread but I’ve been thinking about putting some form of cover crop in standing wheat crops aswell. What seeds can you use to go 24m and what rates can you put on through a fert spreader? I currently have a vicon weigh cell spreader.

 

[Nearly]

Hmm just realised none of the tractors have skinny wheels for a job like that

but long term I think that would be the way to go for us

Rowcrops for 7710?

 

[JD-Kid]

Sorry to jump in on this thread but I’ve been thinking about putting some form of cover crop in standing wheat crops aswell. What seeds can you use to go 24m and what rates can you put on through a fert spreader? I currently have a vicon weigh cell spreader.

I would of thought rapes bigger clovers vetch etc should all fly 12 meters from centre line grass would be hard pushed tho

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

I agree with Clive, oats are great but the root chemistry will poison your barley. With all the other favourites, most of them need an earlier start than mid September, except beans which is a good late sower. Radish might be ok, peas might be ok; don't know about linseed or millet. They only way to find out for certain is to give it a try