Permanent pasture to winter barley - cover crop?

[ffukedfarmer]

I’ve got an unproductive field of grass that’s mainly meadow brome. The plan was to hay it this year but with it being so dry I can’t see there being anything there worth mowing.
I’m still an amateur to growing cereals and a cover crop virgin so be gentle…

I’m thinking:
Burn off the grass in the next few days, disc then broadcast some sort of cover crop. Mustard, maybe, because it’s cheap and it should help with wireworms and leatherjackets, but I’m open to suggestions. The field is fenced so something grazeable would be an option.

the ultimate aim is to get the field back into grass.

 

[jack6480]

Spray off direct drill forage rape, graze, direct drill wheat. Job done

 

[Samcowman]

Would have thought something grazeable would be better than a plain cover crop. There will be enough plant matter in the soil breaking down from the pasture already without adding more.
also be better to put the cover crop through an animal to get more value out of it.
this is what I am planning for next year to ease the transition from grass to cereal.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Hybrid Rape Vetch , Crimson Westerwolds Ryegrass , put back to grass next spring , or get some rape and vetch in quick , graze in August , resow grass 1s week September, best not to disk if you can get a seedbed Without , light pass with rotor harrow if some sort be better

 

[ffukedfarmer]

Would have thought something grazeable would be better than a plain cover crop. There will be enough plant matter in the soil breaking down from the pasture already without adding more.
also be better to put the cover crop through an animal to get more value out of it.
this is what I am planning for next year to ease the transition from grass to cereal.

Spray off direct drill forage rape, graze, direct drill wheat. Job done

The reason for thinking mustard was for its biofumigation properties, but would a non-grass break of 4 months be enough to reduce the risk from leatherjackets and wireworms?

 

[ffukedfarmer]

Hybrid Rape Vetch , Crimson Westerwolds Ryegrass , put back to grass next spring , or get some rape and vetch in quick , graze in August , resow grass 1s week September, best not to disk if you can get a seedbed Without , light pass with rotor harrow if some sort be better

I wouldn't risk a spring reseed in this dry corner of the country. As above, would a 4 month brassica break be long enough to reduce the risk from leatherjackets and wireworms going straight back to grass?

 

[Derrick Hughes]

I wouldn't risk a spring reseed in this dry corner of the country. As above, would a 4 month brassica break be long enough to reduce the risk from leatherjackets and wireworms going straight back to grass?

I would not comment on the last two as we have never had a problem with either , but get brasica it in asp while it's still wet , we had grass seed sown a week ago field is green over , never seed seed come through so quick , Vetch is cheap so well worth putting some in

 

[hendrebc]

I've done permanent pasture straight into spring barley. Grew really well it was waist high in July but it was 2018 and the dry f**ked it. I didn't know it wasn't meant to work there's pictures on here somewhere either on the direct drilling kn a livestock farm or the direct drilling thread.

 

[ffukedfarmer]

I would not comment on the last two as we have never had a problem with either , but get brasica it in asp while it's still wet , we had grass seed sown a week ago field is green over , never seed seed come through so quick , Vetch is cheap so well worth putting some in

What are the benefits of vetches?

 

[ffukedfarmer]

I've done permanent pasture straight into spring barley. Grew really well it was waist high in July but it was 2018 and the dry f**ked it. I didn't know it wasn't meant to work there's pictures on here somewhere either on the direct drilling kn a livestock farm or the direct drilling thread.

I've got 2 fields of spring barley this year. One was a half of an autumn reseed that failed and the other permanent pasture, although that was ploughed.

The reasoning behind going for a winter barley this year is better opportunity to control brome grasses and earlier harvesting.

 

[hendrebc]

I've got 2 fields of spring barley this year. One was a half of an autumn reseed that failed and the other permanent pasture, although that was ploughed.

The reasoning behind going for a winter barley this year is better opportunity to control brome grasses and earlier harvesting.

Oh I didn't see the winter barley part yes would be better to put some sort of break crop in first. Spring barley works because it grows so fast winter would be slower growing and more susceptible to damage.

 

[ffukedfarmer]

Oh I didn't see the winter barley part yes would be better to put some sort of break crop in first. Spring barley works because it grows so fast winter would be slower growing and more susceptible to damage.

Is say 4 months enough time to have an effect?

 

[hendrebc]

Is say 4 months enough time to have an effect?

I think so but @Kevtherev will know

 

[Derrick Hughes]

What are the benefits of vetches?

Provide bulk and leave a fair bit of Nitrogen for the following crop , seed is cheep so well worth putting in

 

[Great In Grass]

The reason for thinking mustard was for its biofumigation properties, but would a non-grass break of 4 months be enough to reduce the risk from leatherjackets and wireworms?

White Mustard can run to seed quickly. Also, its biomass becomes fibrous quickly and is slow to break down during this period N losses can be high.

What are the benefits of vetches?

Good nitrogen fixer but slow to establish. It is an excellent climber but can quickly smother companion species later in the year. Some of my customers have found it difficult to eradicate in following crops can be persistent. It's expensive when compared to a brassica or root crop.

Is say 4 months enough time to have an effect?

Yes, initial ground disturbance when establishing your crop after grass will get the ball rolling. No food for the grubs to live on once you have established a brassica crop certainly helps!

Grow a crop of Forage (Hybrid) Rape, it's cheap!

 

[Derrick Hughes]

The only part I would desagree with is vetch being expensive with the cost of Nitrogen where it is , seed is cheeper than forage rape seed but then you do put more on of course , it's good to get different views on these things mind , the cost of firtilzer is killing me and will explore very way I can to reduce that

 

[jack6480]

You lads are faffing now, I told you what to do

 

[Great In Grass]

You lads are faffing now, I told you what to do

They are, there's always one that leads a thread off in a completely different direction.

I agreed with you Forage (Hybrid) Rape is the answer.

 

[CORNFLAKE]

Are you now allowed to turn PP into an arable crop?

 

[Kevtherev]

I’ve got an unproductive field of grass that’s mainly meadow brome. The plan was to hay it this year but with it being so dry I can’t see there being anything there worth mowing.
I’m still an amateur to growing cereals and a cover crop virgin so be gentle…

I’m thinking:
Burn off the grass in the next few days, disc then broadcast some sort of cover crop. Mustard, maybe, because it’s cheap and it should help with wireworms and leatherjackets, but I’m open to suggestions. The field is fenced so something grazeable would be an option.

the ultimate aim is to get the field back into grass.

Spray off and a rape or hybrid rape
Very economical and will grow in the drier weather we are experiencing.