Rotation revival...

[Shropshire Farmer]

Anybody growing winter barley as a first cereal or dropping rape for 12 months to get rotation back in order. I've got a block destined for rape which 55 acres together but about 15 acres of it is in spring wheat with the balance in winter wheat. Thinking might get a good stale seedbed and get it into winter barley instead of rape. It is fairly light easy working so you could drill rape a little later. Also have a 30 acre block which is also light which could go into a first crop of winter barley giving an easy entry into rape next time.

Other thinking is just go all cereals and grow winter wheat, winter barley and a split of spuds and spring oats as a break and then back into first wheat.

 

[rob1]

Not going to have any rape because of herbicide applied to spring cereals but if lots drop rape then the price would rise so would grow lots of it, always try to do opposite to everyone else

 

[Shropshire Farmer]

I agree with your sentiments but if the rape doesn't get away well it's going to be a pain in the arse again !!!

 

[JD6920s]

Depends on the weather between now and harvest, don't rush to make a decision yet, see what happens and if it'll go, order the rape seed when you know! And if by some freak chance there isn't any, try the barley. ;-).

 

[hindmaist]

Depends on the weather between now and harvest, don't rush to make a decision yet, see what happens and if it'll go, order the rape seed when you know! And if by some freak chance there isn't any, try the barley. ;-).

Yes.Its going to cost thousands and thousands of pounds to put a crop on this land.Only do it if conditions are right.

 

[Brisel]

Winter rape has had a lot of negative posts in here over the last 10 months, but strangely didn't when we were getting 2 t/acre & £350+/tonne...

I have a small block where winter barley follows spring rape & another block where rape is following wheat. The idea is to block up fields & extend my rotation from 3 years to 4 with osr going in after winter barley instead of after spring barley.

 

[franklin]

Winter rape is the business if you can get it in before 1st September. Dont think many would say otherwise.