For the record I'm not organic at the moment. But I do like the idea of farming without chems as far as possible. I'm all grass at the moment. Sheep and poultry with a few goats who are supposed to be a mobile weed crew. They do achieve this for the 15 seconds they stay in the field I put them in......
Although someone will, please don't bother with the spray option. I'm not giving in. Yet.
My problems are:
Creeping thistle. Pretty bad in places due to years of 'prairie' grazing before I took on the place and lack of any effort to control them. My solution is hard mowing several times a year which has started this year. A lot of folk say July or August this or that but my research seems to suggest that if you keep blatting them, they don't like it. I think I am seeing progress as areas mown tight earlier on are much thinner for thistle now. As I'm under-stocked at the mo, this is not an issue.
Spear thistle. I keep whacking them in July and they keep coming back. They are specific plants so wouldn't take much to deal with them one by one. Any ideas? Currently limited to one field which I am about to top before they flower. Did it with a brush cutter last year but maybe too late.
Nettle. High ground has been engulfed. It's where the sheep have gone every night for 10-15 years so it's no surprise that this is the most fertile ground. Clearly low on forage value although a small amount may be desirable if they eat them at wilted stage. Current strategy is to mow and mow. Last time they were up to the top of the cab!
Docks. Don't mind a few and they some benefit to pastures. Have done some serious topping this year but think I left it too late. At what stage is a Dock seed viable once knocked off? They go from green to brown. If you top them off when the seeds are green, do they continue to develop? I gather that the seeds cannot survive a chicken's gut so that will form part of the long term plan.
I think that's about it. I have buttercup but it's pretty and a bit of heavy stocking seems to knock it back fairly well for a year or 2.
Edit: Bracken. Up in the field on the hill. It's covered in it. I have attacked it in places in previous years and it has not come back strongly, if at all. Just a case of letting it grow and then whacking it? Key seems to be to disrupt the layer of dead matter on the deck by harrow or Swan Vestas.
Appreciate any comments on the above from other farmers not convinced by 'Science'.
Although someone will, please don't bother with the spray option. I'm not giving in. Yet.
My problems are:
Creeping thistle. Pretty bad in places due to years of 'prairie' grazing before I took on the place and lack of any effort to control them. My solution is hard mowing several times a year which has started this year. A lot of folk say July or August this or that but my research seems to suggest that if you keep blatting them, they don't like it. I think I am seeing progress as areas mown tight earlier on are much thinner for thistle now. As I'm under-stocked at the mo, this is not an issue.
Spear thistle. I keep whacking them in July and they keep coming back. They are specific plants so wouldn't take much to deal with them one by one. Any ideas? Currently limited to one field which I am about to top before they flower. Did it with a brush cutter last year but maybe too late.
Nettle. High ground has been engulfed. It's where the sheep have gone every night for 10-15 years so it's no surprise that this is the most fertile ground. Clearly low on forage value although a small amount may be desirable if they eat them at wilted stage. Current strategy is to mow and mow. Last time they were up to the top of the cab!
Docks. Don't mind a few and they some benefit to pastures. Have done some serious topping this year but think I left it too late. At what stage is a Dock seed viable once knocked off? They go from green to brown. If you top them off when the seeds are green, do they continue to develop? I gather that the seeds cannot survive a chicken's gut so that will form part of the long term plan.
I think that's about it. I have buttercup but it's pretty and a bit of heavy stocking seems to knock it back fairly well for a year or 2.
Edit: Bracken. Up in the field on the hill. It's covered in it. I have attacked it in places in previous years and it has not come back strongly, if at all. Just a case of letting it grow and then whacking it? Key seems to be to disrupt the layer of dead matter on the deck by harrow or Swan Vestas.
Appreciate any comments on the above from other farmers not convinced by 'Science'.