S Barley or S Wheat for wholecrop silage?

[DaveGrohl]

We’ve always grown s barley for wholecrop, but last year‘s efforts were horrendous. Sodding wet spring (after dusty Feb/March), followed on by many weeks of no rain. Barley got sown late, established then gasped for water. None of it managed to get over 12 inches high.

This year’s heading the same way sadly, with the added problem that most of our winter sown crops are just mud so we need to resow those with summat, or poss do some SFI options. (Do I still have time to apply for this summer?)

Talking to a chap this am who reckoned his s wheat crops grew taller and better than his s barley. Got me thinking, should I try some/quite a bit? Obvs really late to try to get seed but land’s not gonna be fit for a week anyway. Oh, the joys.

Thoughts please? Apols if this has been done to death.

 

[Danieljack1991]

What about Spring oats. Add Peas and vetches Too.

 

[Brisel]

Spring wheat doesn't produce the same biomass as spring beans or oats. Sown this late, how about kale if it's bulk you need?

 

[DaveGrohl]

Spring wheat doesn't produce the same biomass as spring beans or oats. Sown this late, how about kale if it's bulk you need?

We sell it to local farms as a dairy feed.

 

[deleted user 837354]

Spring wheat sown this late will not be much cop unfortunately.

I've seen oats done very well up in the peak district for wholecrop?

Few spring crops will tolerate being put into mud. You really do need decent seed beds and fertility or you're just asking for it to be a flop.

 

[Top Tip.]

Spring barley and spring oats half and half we sow here usually get a heavy crop. Doesn’t usually go in until May.

 

[Flatlander]

I’ve sown oats for a neighbour to use as whole crop. Variety called haymaker. Most likely won’t find it in the uk unbelievable bulk from a short season crop. 5 ft tall and leaves an inch wide. spring oats will give a good bulk but need choppin rather than round bales to reduce wastage from thicker stems.

 

[ridger]

Ive sown spring wheat mid May and had a good crop, all down to the season unfortunately.