NUM3 - Legume Fallow, now rotational

Badshot

Member
Location
Kent
Interested to see how this ahl2 followed by NUM 3 is taken, it's not in the list of allowable combinations just as multi species winter cover followed by num3 isn't and I know that is easily possible to do (and therefore won't be allowed by the system on application) but it also states it's to allow summer flowers for insects and then winter bird food. Even I think it may be pushing it to claim that following and arable crop unless you can get good establishment from broadcasting seeds into the standing crop.

If it's accepted it may be something for me to add in future, but it will need the system updating to accept it.
 

Clive

Staff Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lichfield
Interested to see how this ahl2 followed by NUM 3 is taken, it's not in the list of allowable combinations just as multi species winter cover followed by num3 isn't and I know that is easily possible to do (and therefore won't be allowed by the system on application) but it also states it's to allow summer flowers for insects and then winter bird food. Even I think it may be pushing it to claim that following and arable crop unless you can get good establishment from broadcasting seeds into the standing crop.

If it's accepted it may be something for me to add in future, but it will need the system updating to accept it.

it's not posible to AHL2 and NUM3 in the same year and the system would reject that if you tried to put both on the same parcels BUT if your SFI agreement had a February start date you would not have your AHGL@ and NUM3 on the same parcels in the same year as the year changes between end of AHL2 and the start of the NUM3


agreement start dates could prove very important !
 

Badshot

Member
Location
Kent
it's not posible to AHL2 and NUM3 in the same year and the system would reject that if you tried to put both on the same parcels BUT if your SFI agreement had a February start date you would not have your AHGL@ and NUM3 on the same parcels in the same year as the year changes between end of AHL2 and the start of the NUM3


agreement start dates could prove very important !
Don't really see the importance myself as you have 12 months to complete the action. I do think the scheme will tighten as time progresses.
 

moretimeforgolf

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
North Kent, UK
What are your thoughts on getting clarification on this? I have just spoken to a brilliant advisor on the RPA helpline, seemed very knowledgable and clued up on the scheme as a whole. He could see no reason why the following wasnt possible with a Feb start date and a 3 year rotation consisting of Wheat, Barley, AHL2 and NUM3.
AHL2 as an Autumn rotational option and NUM3 as a spring rotational option.

Example: Num3, Wheat, Barley, AHL2
AHL2, Wheat, Barley, Num3
Barley, AHL2, Num3, Wheat
Well I’m going to try it! I mentioned on another thread that I could meet the aims of ahl2 tight in behind winter barley (maybe autocast seed at harvest) then spray off in March, then drill num3, wheat in autumn. If the system lets me apply num3 next January on that same parcel I’ll do it, if not I’ll just make do with my own voluntary, unfunded fallow.
 

Clive

Staff Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lichfield
Well I’m going to try it! I mentioned on another thread that I could meet the aims of ahl2 tight in behind winter barley (maybe autocast seed at harvest) then spray off in March, then drill num3, wheat in autumn. If the system lets me apply num3 next January on that same parcel I’ll do it, if not I’ll just make do with my own voluntary, unfunded fallow.

I think your agreement start date will be key to this to get both within one cash crop year but cross over 2 sfi agreemnet years to avoid double funding of same parcel rule (feb / march start date basically)

Sandy has told me they are looking at this and will get back to us on it so hopefully a definitive answer soon (y)


personally I think as long as aims get achieved it could fit really well
 
Last edited:

Badshot

Member
Location
Kent
I'm not sure agreement start dates should really be used in this way.
Surely it's based on a growing season, otherwise there's a major advantage for some and disadvantage for others based purely on a date of entry.
I'm not saying it can't be done, I do question it though, but if it's allowed for some based on date of entry I can see a bit of dissent in the ranks.


If it's allowed and meets different aims, then it should be possible for all to do it.
Similarly the multi species cover followed by legume fallow, they do meet different aims, they are possible (I hope the spring sown fallow does work), and everyone can apply them if it suits .
 

Geffro

Member
Arable Farmer
The SFI application will be going in soon and I had a brilliant thought the other day... why not use NUM3 as a replacement for the spring pea slot in my rotation! It could still give the benefits of a spring sown legume break crop, but with none of the growing/harvesting/storing costs (well apart from the seed, drilling, topping and spraying costs of course). But it looks like TFF have had the idea already!

I'm thinking of a small (5-10ha) trial this year before committing to a larger area. A seed mix of peas, beans, crimson clover, persian clover, spring vetch and phacelia (approx £100/ha) could give some flowers throughout "late spring and summer" before giving an excellent entry for a first wheat. What could go wrong.

Is anyone being bold enough to try the W Barley/AHL2/NUM3/W Wheat cropping strategy?
 

Geffro

Member
Arable Farmer
The Gross Margin of AHL2 + NUM3 grown in 1 cropping year (maybe taking the place of an unprofitable break crop) looks very favourable. £732 + £593/ha payments minus roughly £100/ha seed costs for each = £1125/ha which would make it comparable to an average wheat crop according to Nix.

Weed control could be difficult though. The AHL2 would have to be sown immediately behind a W barley crop (if not into it), so wouldn't allow for any stale seed bed or spraying off of volunteers. I suppose the AHL2 (and any weeds) could then be sprayed off before the NUM3 is sown.
 

Hornet

Member
Location
Suffolk
The Gross Margin of AHL2 + NUM3 grown in 1 cropping year (maybe taking the place of an unprofitable break crop) looks very favourable. £732 + £593/ha payments minus roughly £100/ha seed costs for each = £1125/ha which would make it comparable to an average wheat crop according to Nix.

Weed control could be difficult though. The AHL2 would have to be sown immediately behind a W barley crop (if not into it), so wouldn't allow for any stale seed bed or spraying off of volunteers. I suppose the AHL2 (and any weeds) could then be sprayed off before the NUM3 is sown.
In terms of weed control, on the contrary, im not too bothered about any weeds in the autumn, as the only weeds that could come to seed in the autumn here are possibly groundsel and perhaps sowthistle? Anyway it all provides cover for wild birds. In fact regrowth from winter barley stubbles might even provide some bird food?

Clean up glyphosate in spring, before sowing the NUM3 legume fallow.

The weakness in the idea is bg control in the NUM3, but if DD'd not much ground disturbance to stimulate bg germination?
 

willy

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Rutland
The Gross Margin of AHL2 + NUM3 grown in 1 cropping year (maybe taking the place of an unprofitable break crop) looks very favourable. £732 + £593/ha payments minus roughly £100/ha seed costs for each = £1125/ha which would make it comparable to an average wheat crop according to Nix.

Weed control could be difficult though. The AHL2 would have to be sown immediately behind a W barley crop (if not into it), so wouldn't allow for any stale seed bed or spraying off of volunteers. I suppose the AHL2 (and any weeds) could then be sprayed off before the NUM3 is sown.
May aswell have ipm4 another £45. I am tempted to do a chunk of this
 

Badshot

Member
Location
Kent
May aswell have ipm4 another £45. I am tempted to do a chunk of this
Don't think you can have ipm4, as pesticides are excluded on legume fallow at least unless spot sprayed or weed wiped herbicides.
Unlikely it's allowed on ahl2 either but haven't checked as I'm not doing it.
 

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