Permanent clover understory

Bury the Trash

Member
Mixed Farmer
are there any Medic's i wonder that will grow in/cope with our moisty conditions? not sure that they re particulary hardy but certainly they drop seed around for the future
 
We use Herakles which is not a hybrid but I am told old ’culture’ varietys work even better scavenging for what they need. Last year we placed 60 kg of N with the drill in spring. It was slow release organic prills so didn’t release fast enough for the rye to make much use of it. Probably make a big difference with mineral N (that we can’t use..).
 

Cutlerstom

Member
Arable Farmer
Is anyone experimenting with white clover for this purpose. It almost looks like the perfect cover crop?

BB
I have half an OSR field this year with rivendell white clover. Idea is to keep it through the next wheat crop, but I have heard others have found thistles become a problem due to no astro kerb! Fingers crossed it has established ok - last year I failed miserably because I drilled the clover with the OSR and it was too deep and didn't come. This year I broadcast the clover before drilling rape and buckwheat. i have a plant of clover, but its not very even establishment
 

Banana Bar

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Bury St Edmunds
I have half an OSR field this year with rivendell white clover. Idea is to keep it through the next wheat crop, but I have heard others have found thistles become a problem due to no astro kerb! Fingers crossed it has established ok - last year I failed miserably because I drilled the clover with the OSR and it was too deep and didn't come. This year I broadcast the clover before drilling rape and buckwheat. i have a plant of clover, but its not very even establishment

Clover seems extremely difficult to establish. It seems perfect otherwise.
 

James Ream

Member
Arable Farmer
Drilled all our clover last year, crimson, red and white, with the 750 in the lowest setting(12.5mm) result was an almost perfect plant stand.
Maybe just luck I guess.
What situation was this in? And what time of year did you establish? Thanks
 

Cutlerstom

Member
Arable Farmer
Clover seems extremely difficult to establish. It seems perfect otherwise.
Hates depth. I broadcast with stocks off quad which isn't terribly accurate. Initially went on too heavy, then I had to go so fast to get the right rate it possible didn't spread very well. Then raked it to shingle it through straw onto soil. Think an applicator with spreader plates would be better
 

Jimbo26

Member
We broadcasted our white clover with the slug pelleter whilst rolling the osr in last autumn. Clover did fine, osr failed. Used glyphosate (2l/ha I think) pre drilling, drilled zyatt 1st week in October with the mzuri. I think the wheat rate should possible be increased.

How do you think clover would take to being rolled in the Spring? Knock some back?
 

martian

DD Moderator
BASE UK Member
Location
N Herts
This is wheat behind a four year herbal let. You can't see too well in the snap but theres a fair amount of small leave clover in the gaps between rows...wider than they should be as the Weaving GD drill drifted a bit on the hillside.

The pigeons have been on the clover all winter, but it's well established having been part of the ley. All other components taken out by pre-drilling roundup. It actually had two doses...we sprayed the grass off August time, as wheat straight behind grass never does that well, and sprayed it again to catch the ones we missed first time.

Looked a bit rough in the wet weather, but ok now
 

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Wigeon

Member
Arable Farmer
I'm going to have another crack at this as all my previous attempts have seen hopeless establishment.

I was thinking: spin it on at 2kgs/ha. Grass harrow. Cambridge roll.

How are other people doing it? Just spinning it on in front of rain doesnt seem to work, but am I right to be worried that the wheat/barley/oats might not enjoy a roll straight behind the harrows?

Thanks
 
I'm going to have another crack at this as all my previous attempts have seen hopeless establishment.

I was thinking: spin it on at 2kgs/ha. Grass harrow. Cambridge roll.

How are other people doing it? Just spinning it on in front of rain doesnt seem to work, but am I right to be worried that the wheat/barley/oats might not enjoy a roll straight behind the harrows?

Thanks

I would pay someone to put it in with a grass harrow/seeder box thing so it is done in one pass and evenly with no grief.
 

Wigeon

Member
Arable Farmer
Be nice but none local. Also have all the kit though in bits.

Having miserably failed with previous attempts I am convinced it needs both tilth and roll. Question is whether crop would stand a roll straight behind a harrow. Dont know until you try I guess.
 

Wigeon

Member
Arable Farmer
Ready to rock on once the spring crops can take it. Dont they are quite there at c3 leaves generally, but any advice on harrowing spring corn would be most welcome. Gather it's best to go away for a bit afterwards, but any guidance on how much damage is acceptable?
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Wigeon

Member
Arable Farmer
Good question...

Establishment the best I've ever had. But generic duplosan for broadleaved weed control looks to have given it a mighty headache, or worse. All I can hope is that its green after the combine!

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Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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