Seedbeds

[wellingtonfarmer]

How bad are the seedbeds people planting into or is everyone holding off, im worried we won’t get anything planted if we don’t push our luck soon!

 

[farmerm]

Better to not plant than plant a crop that end ups being ripping up and re-drilled in the spring.. If I have to I would rather look at a field of fallow that a depressing cereal crop It is either fit enough to drill or it isn't Fingers crossed for something drier next week.

 

[EddAke]

Better to not plant than plant a crop that end ups being ripping up and re-drilled in the spring.. If I have to I would rather look at a field of fallow that a depressing cereal crop It is either fit enough to drill or it isn't Fingers crossed for something drier next week.

Agree 100%, but when it’s your first attempt at no-till what does “fit enough” look like! It’s a steep learning curve, we’re on free draining land but I’m erring on the side of caution - no wheat drilled yet!

 

[Fish]

With most fields at field capacity, even if you get a dry period to allow the drill to run, the big problem will be what comes in the 2/3 weeks after drilling.
Some times you just godda sit on your hands.

 

[Brisel]

Nothing really forced so far but I've stuck to lighter land. Some of the clay will be done when it's only a patch 5-10% of that field.

The heavier stuff was disced for a flush of oat volunteers and looks horrible but frankly would be just as wet if not disturbed. Over 6 inches of rain in the last month has set everything well back. This coming week's weather window won't be enough to get the last 200 acres in unless I broadcast it and harrow it in.

 

[MF 168]

All ploughing with me and the way the weather has been if I wasn't ploughing I wouldn't have a single acre sowed. Would ploughing not be a better option for you fellas with the way the weather is?.

 

[rob1]

All ploughing with me and the way the weather has been if I wasn't ploughing I wouldn't have a single acre sowed. Would ploughing not be a better option for you fellas with the way the weather is?.

We have been 7 years getting where we are, would sooner wait till spring than spoil all that good work, in 2012 we didnt drill an acre in the autumn, as tempting as it is to get the plough in to get some drilled I wont

 

[yellow belly]

drilled half the wheat before the rain
got 15 % that is free draining

the rest can wait till we get 10 days dry

in 2012 the best crops were planted in the spring my first year of 100% notill
similar land that was cultivated was a worse margin than notill

if 2020 harvest is all spring crops get the bg beaten to manageable levels then plant in September in future

 

[Clive]

Going to start properly tomorrow - glad we have it drilled yet as it would not have liked the weather of the last 3-4 weeks at all

 

[Andrew K]

Using the Horsch ,Clive?

 

[DrWazzock]

I think undisturbed light land stubbles will direct drill soon with the Unidrill. Clay, not till spring.

Anything that has been cultivated at all is like blancmange. Can't travel on it. Can't drill it. Not sure our heavy land would have benefitted from ploughing early. This much rain would have slumped it so badly that it would not take any traffic and would be unworkable.

Very glad we didn't plough the sugar beet land before drilling it back in the spring. Travels fairly well.

 

[Audlem Agron]

My DD clients are mostly drilled up now - conventional only really getting started. The big success of the year has been drilling into OSR stubble's with the volunteers in place. They have really made a difference, better travelling, slot closed, and up in the expected time. Cover crops are looking very lack lustre this year, couldnt get the hen muck on, so not really got going.

 

[SilliamWhale]

My DD clients are mostly drilled up now - conventional only really getting started. The big success of the year has been drilling into OSR stubble's with the volunteers in place. They have really made a difference, better travelling, slot closed, and up in the expected time. Cover crops are looking very lack lustre this year, couldnt get the hen muck on, so not really got going.

If you can make it work then this really works well. Need a disc drill and confident you can control the slugs though.

Instead of cover crops its cheaper just to grow a field of barley - you needn't worry however you try you will have a carpet after for free.

 

[mikep]

Early no tilled wheat now going backwards with the wet. The roots are just under the surface trying for air whilst the leaves yellow off.
I'm not afraid to say but I got fed up and started ploughing. Not an easy choice but we missed the boat two years ago and the soil getting pounded by the rain all winter was a disaster and if I'm honest the ploughing is probably the best thing for it. The structure was fine underneath but the top two inches was packed to hell and back.
Those saying it should be left to spring may be right in their area but last year we had spring oats and barley written off by frit fly so I'm damned if I'm taking the risk. Winter Linseed looks very good and its taking this weather in It's stride so may be the best crop next year.