- Location
- Buckinghamshire
What date did people drill there Mulika Spring Wheat and at what seed rate as i hope to put in a block.
Mulika Spring Wheat
- Thread starter db9go
- Start date
, still managed 2.6t/acre though so not complaining.
- Location
- Cirencester
220-240kg/ha early April did 2.7-2.8, will know for sure Nov as it's being loaded out then. All made Group 1 and loads of straw. Does make me wonder why I am even thinking about planting WW this year.
warksfarmer
Member
250kg/ha 20th March and it returned just over 3t/acre but I think the crop was to thin to be honest. We had 10ha that wasn't drilled until 20th April due to the soil type and conditions at the same rate of 250kg/ha and it only did 2.3t/acre.
However interestingly on that 10ha we had some seed left over so we double drilled some of the 10ha until it ran out resulting in 400kg/ha total over the two passes (turned it down slightly on the 2nd pass) and that bit yielded 3.23t/acre on the combines yield meter so the figure is not right but from the seat the crop was much thicket and more even and definitely yielded at the very least 0.5t/acre more than the lower seed rate area.
It was also cleaner in terms of weeds at harvest time.
This year we are already thinking 300kg/ha because we are farm saving it now so can do what we want without having to pay silly money to buy the seed. Not sure about dressing it either as its such a short growing window that does it need a treatment really? It tillers exceptionally well so you get good cover quickly.
- Location
- Cirencester
Found that it doesn't tiller at all well hence the high seed rates
warksfarmer
Member
Tilered well for us but it was just to thin come at harvest time. From what we saw I think 3.5t/acre is achievable with the right number of plants. Theres plenty of protein to dilute as its well over 14%.
- Location
- Buckinghamshire
I am thinking drilling end of March/April at 300kg ha on a 75ha block it is a heavy type of ground and with WW we normally get 3.2/3.8 t acer this year it has done over 4 ton but that is the first time ever would that seed rate be OK
warksfarmer
Member
We rethinking of 300kg/ha but going earlier around 1st March as the crop will be following a cover crop so we are hoping only a very light or possibly no cultivation will be required. Plan is to roll the cover down at christmas time or soon after then desiccate it which will give it a good 8-10 weeks to dry the soil out pre drilling as the one negative to a cover is it could keep the soil to wet to drill and because its heavier soil its got to get drying somehow which it won't if its got a full cover on it.
Although NOTILLBILL is now saying covers are bad for him in OZ as they use the moisture up so in theory leaving a green cover should mean the soil dries quicker! We will see I guess.
SilliamWhale
Member
I find spring wheat not a hell of a lot cheaper to grow than WW.
The higher seed rate negates the extra fungicide spend.
You get a lot less straw to sell (£12.50+ a round bale)
Usually it needs drying and there's no chance of 4t/acre.
Its got a place but its not as amazing as all that.
The higher seed rate negates the extra fungicide spend.
You get a lot less straw to sell (£12.50+ a round bale)
Usually it needs drying and there's no chance of 4t/acre.
Its got a place but its not as amazing as all that.
True for you I am sure, but now put yourself on heavyland farm with blackgrass, the savings in autumn herbicides are huge, for that particular crop and it also helps reduce the burden for the rest of the rotation too.
- Location
- Lincolnshire
On bad blackgrass land it solves the blackgrass issue for that year at least.
warksfarmer
Member
Whats not to like?
3.1t/acre full spec £175/tonne.
Sold the straw for £35/acre on 90% of it - chopped the rest as an experiment with the cover crop.
1 x herbicide but should have done 2.
2 x fungicides with growth reg on one pass
180kg/ha N.
Now got the seed so no need to buy new so its looking good.
This years attempt slightly different so far as applied compost and no tilled a cover crop into it which I am hoping will save the spring cultivation costs as well as smothering out some grass weeds but we will see.
- Location
- Cirencester
No chance of 4t acre on my dirt, had one fung, herb and little else. If it makes the grade, current price differential between feed and milling makes it stack up and didn't find the straw (or lack of a problem). It is a very pleasing (to the eye) crop to grow, looks good from the day it emerges. Always looks too thin when cutting and ears always look a bit short but have grown it for the last 2 years and will continue to do so. As above on BG land it gives you a decent chance to knock it about pre Autumn and also pre drilling in the Spring.
Not as much sense as grass though.
Always seem to find spring wheat the poorest paying of the spring cereals. And the most tempremental.
SilliamWhale
Member
I forgot the milling element - I can see the advantage of that. Often the differential isn't so striking.
I'm a fan of it but I still think a good crop of WW can kick it arse, but WW is soaking up more money.
warksfarmer
Member
I think only if your using covers prior to sowing it or even under sowing it maybe.
Whilst it tillered well we still had ryegrass and blackgrass appear above the crop in June this year.
Spring barley gave much better control but today that's worth £100/t so very questionable economically.
any spring crop is always going to have a better chance than a winter one re grassweeds regardless of cover, lots more glyphosate opportunity - no silver bullet though for sure
warksfarmer
Member
Well 4 x glyphosate's, then spring wheat and one herbicide and it still came through.
As I said there is no silver bullet for grassweed - nothing can be fixed in 1 year alone.
Seems it doesn't take long to get a mess compared to how long it can take to get rid of one
Not sure x4 glyphosate is a good idea long term either ! Imagine the consequence of resistance ? Livestock would be the only option !