Should we bring back straw burning - Poll

[Andy Howard]

No way

Why would anyone want to effecifily stealing their soil of life ?


This kind of farming deserves to remain firmly as embarrassing history

There is no need for it - and before someone says black grass I will say just get a rotation !

+1
Roatation, rotation, rotation

 

[SilliamWhale]

I think we can do better.

Anyway don't waste your energy, it won't happen given the buzzword Carbon and C02 is at the moment.

 

[John 1594]

too many bunny huggers for it to happen

besides, what would stubble burning do to the 1000s of acres of blackgrass and weed infested ELS margins

they should all be ripped up imo, if you have land you should farm it and keep it in "good agricultural conditon", ie cropped.

not take the lazy mans route and put it down to ELS and watch the rubbish grow while the money goes in the bank

thats simply not farming!

 

[tw15]

Bet the carbon footprint would be less with stubble burning rather lots of diesel and chems would be intresting to see wich does have the highest carbon emissions by copareing systems.

 

[SilliamWhale]

Bet the carbon footprint would be less with stubble burning rather lots of diesel and chems would be intresting to see wich does have the highest carbon emissions by copareing systems.

Why what does burning diesel do for blackgrass?

 

[tw15]

Why what does burning diesel do for blackgrass?

Was trying to say that all the carbon produced by makeing chems transporting them etc and extra tillage might be higher than haveing a good burn.

 

[John 1594]

Was trying to say that all the carbon produced by makeing chems transporting them etc and extra tillage might be higher than haveing a good burn.

all of the above are activities that line the pockets of the big boys that make chemicals, fuel etc

why would they allow this income to be taken away by the humble peasant farmer trying to save a few bob and burning a bit of stubble

they wont let it happen

 

[Brisel]

all of the above are activities that line the pockets of the big boys that make chemicals, fuel etc

why would they allow this income to be taken away by the humble peasant farmer trying to save a few bob and burning a bit of stubble

they wont let it happen

I don't think they have that kind of power these days. I just can't see it getting the nod from the bird twitchers & bug lovers though, whatever the carbon footprint is or isn't.

 

[John 1594]

I don't think they have that kind of power these days. I just can't see it getting the nod from the bird twitchers & bug lovers though, whatever the carbon footprint is or isn't.

precisely, look at the commotion over badgers without setting fire to half the countryside

 

[Monocock]

straw = NO ---- stubble = YES

Not sure how one can burn stubble without some spread/chopped straw in it!! Maybe with a 50 knot wind!!!

I agree about the rotation aspect. I've used voluntary fallow (15-20%) for 12 years and having previously had bad BG problems in the past, I no longer suffer from it and my herbicide spends are now at sensible levels.

However, with nothing left in the pipeline to take over from S-Ureas, people really do need to start planning their future grass weed control policy, really really soon. Farming the whole croppable area when there is BG present and solely relying on chemistry is suicidal.

As for whether burning would help slug and weed control.... it would be wonderful to be able to do it! Our input suppliers wouldn't be too happy though!!

 

[rob1]

too many bunny huggers for it to happen

besides, what would stubble burning do to the 1000s of acres of blackgrass and weed infested ELS margins

they should all be ripped up imo, if you have land you should farm it and keep it in "good agricultural conditon", ie cropped.

not take the lazy mans route and put it down to ELS and watch the rubbish grow while the money goes in the bank

thats simply not farming!

John That "rubbish" is food for lots of insects that are food for birds etc, I know you farm a small area and you are young but I hope when you get older you will come to love the diverse countryside and its beauty. I know I often look at my farm now and think how lucky I am that it is heaving with all sorts.

 

[Hanslope]

I agree about the rotation aspect. I've used voluntary fallow (15-20%) for 12 years and having previously had bad BG problems in the past, I no longer suffer from it and my herbicide spends are now at sensible levels.

However, with nothing left in the pipeline to take over from S-Ureas, people really do need to start planning their future grass weed control policy, really really soon. Farming the whole croppable area when there is BG present and solely relying on chemistry is suicidal.

You're quite right, dealing with Black-grass and other grass weeds will be the major hurdle for many in the future.

 

[JD-Kid]

i say what a crock ... FAR did tests here and the burning of stubble did next door to nothing to soil OM levels or remove min's ,baleing off straw has the biggest efect
+ side is lower use of chem for pests and diseases

 

[Farmer T]

No.

Agree with most earlier points as well as it would take one crash on a main road due to smoke to give the whole UK farming a huge negative image.

Embarrassed its even been debated

 

[Clive]

i say what a crock ... FAR did tests here and the burning of stubble did next door to nothing to soil OM levels or remove min's ,baleing off straw has the biggest efect
+ side is lower use of chem for pests and diseases

Over how many years of burning was this trial done ?

Not sure how you can burn OM and still have it ?

I don't think worms etc are fireproof either ?

 

[Baling Hay]

No way

Why would anyone want to effectively sterilise their soil of life ?


This kind of farming deserves to remain firmly as embarrassing history

There is no need for it - and before someone says black grass I will say just get a rotation !

I have many a discussion with some big arable men who are complaining about blackgrass. I tell them I had never seen it in Northern Ireland's crops and then I came to England and it was everywhere! They seem confused and then I tell them that most crops in Ireland are grown in rotation with grass leys so the blackgrass never gets a chance. When I mentioned to them that they either need to get a proper rotation that isn't just WW/WOSR all the time or put the worst fields down to grass for two years and make sure it doesn't head they look at me like some hippie!

 

[Baling Hay]

Over how many years of burning was this trial done ?

Not sure how you can burn OM and still have it ?

I don't think worms etc are fireproof either ?

I can't see how fire on the soil surface would kill the worms further down the soil profile. After all did the native Americans not use to burn old grasslands in America?

 

[tw15]

I will go a have dig about in a field where we burnt some broken bales and where we didnt last sept to see if if i can see anything different in worm counts were the bales were pushed up on area of the field that had sterile broom did trickle along a bit as they do, so will be good to look if it has reduced the worm numbers.

 

[Y Fan Wen]

What is the difference between stubble burning and straw burning?

 

[JD-Kid]

over quite a few years

OM in root system if only stubble burnt not a lot of DM left as cover

hot dry weather worms out of heat zone fast fire with low amounts to burn not a lot of heat transfer 6 foot high gorse will bake the ground 6 inch stubble soils still cool

if low amounts fire harrows used to carry fire