Rushes….. what to do?

deere 6600

Member
Mixed Farmer
Mcpa or similiar end of may, do not top or nothing, leave them over the winter, by next spring they mostly will be rotted down, do again if they are popping back up, cleared a lot of land last few years like this. Take time to work to the roots, been over some rushes that was thick 4 year old, most of that has gone in one hit now. To rough for a topper. A lot wont agree with our method though
I’ve done the same a few times with good results takes a wee while till they go a helluva big dose of slurry or dung also helps
 

Boohoo

Member
Location
Newtownabbey
Whatever you do, do it right first time. The first kill is always the best kill.
I've had good results with rolling mature rushes then spraying them. Cutting them and then spraying the regrowth can be hit and miss because you're trying to hit such a small target
 

onthehoof

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Cambs
For sale
48FE84A3-1B16-40A9-B683-CB67DD74183E.jpeg
 

Jackov Altraids

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Devon
Probably a stupid question, but once you have cut them, how long would you leave them before baling?

It depends on so many factors, it is impossible to answer.

If the rushes are a few years old they will be 'dry' to begin with whereas regrowth within the last year will be much 'greener'.

If they are growing where it is wet, they will be quite well dried by the time the ground is dry enough to cut them.

I'm tempted to say you can't leave them cut for too long before baling, but they can become very brittle which makes re-handling small bales very difficult.

If there is any grass with them then that has to be taken into consideration.

Obviously I only know because a friend told me ;) :ROFLMAO:
 
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Derrick Hughes

Member
Location
Ceredigion
There’s thousands of round bales of rushes baled around this area every year for bedding. Grandad’s generation would cut Bracken and all sort as bedding!! Rake them off the hill sides with an acrobat and hand rakes to bale in a more favourable spot!!
I'm sure there is, but the topic is about getting rid of them , baling them in that case would be the same as an arable farmer baling blackgrass and bedding his cattle with it
 

primmiemoo

Member
Location
Devon
I'm sure there is, but the topic is about getting rid of them , baling them in that case would be the same as an arable farmer baling blackgrass and bedding his cattle with it
Maybe we're lucky, but the muck rarely spreads rushes. If it's put on a wettish field (likely to want to be rushy in any case), or ones that need liming, then there might be a random attempt at germination, but there's no problem on other ground.
 

Davy_g

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Co Down
I inherited a few problem fields. Clay fields with old and poor drainage. I say inherited - i rent the FIL's farm. Unless it is mine I wont sort the drainage out.
That said, over the last 10 years I have sprayed with Agritox quite a few times. Try to top at least once a year. Spread lime when conditions allow. Pig slurry, cattle slurry. Graze with livestock.
It takes years with all the above and a real dent has been made.
Resorted to spot spraying with roundup equivalent for a kill but ultimately 'till its drained properly its all just superficial.
Rushes growing on a hill, now that's a different matter and is down to management.
 

Muddyroads

Member
NFFN Member
Location
Exeter, Devon
Most of my bedding is home grown rushes too. As said, I prefer them to straw as more absorbent and cattle keep cleaner for longer. We get occasional volunteers but all muck is composted for a year before spreading to reduce this and put on dry ground so don’t cause a problem.
Regular cutting does seem to reduce quantities but ground conditions and weather have to be right. Being organic we can’t spray or wipe.
E67170B4-8858-4E86-9E90-682AA0E1A625.jpeg

Given the mat which they seem to form with their roots, I’m wondering what effect slicing them with a grassland subsoiler might have?
 

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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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