So who has started drilling ?

[Wombat]

Still waiting for new seed and the cleaners to turn up for the home saved

 

[teslacoils]

Still waiting for peak BG germination

 

[Bobthebuilder]

Another 17t of seed turned up today but went to other farm to sow last field of barley, 1st outing for the pronto this year only to be met with problems when trying to calibrate it and when in field, seed motor stalling then spinning way too fast at times, managed to get local horsch dealers to pop out luckily they had a new motor in stock as it was a knackered bearing in the old 1 causing the problem

 

[Brisel]

I’ll have a look at the Stephen Moss guide to black grass control hierarchy measures and report back

You are right, delayed drilling is a good method of avoiding the peak BG germination period of September. For the last 2 years, up here there was little drilling done on heavier land after 23rd September due to months of rain - spring crops are near the top of the list of control measures but very unreliable economically even if the black grass gets a good clobbering. “Sustainable” has a very broad meaning.

Here you are @Flat 10

https://media.ahdb.org.uk/media/Default/Imported%20Publication%20Docs/AHDB%20Cereals%20&%20Oilseeds/Weeds/WRAG/Black-grass%20Why%20has%20this%20weed%20become%20such%20a%20problem%20in%20Western-Europe%20and%20the%20solutions%20(2017).pdf

 

[Flat 10]

Here you are @Flat 10

https://media.ahdb.org.uk/media/Default/Imported%20Publication%20Docs/AHDB%20Cereals%20&%20Oilseeds/Weeds/WRAG/Black-grass%20Why%20has%20this%20weed%20become%20such%20a%20problem%20in%20Western-Europe%20and%20the%20solutions%20(2017).pdf

Right. Rotation then ploughing then delayed drilling.

 

[Flintstone]

I’m normally well on with wheat by now, but a bad year of BG last year has made me realise that it’s not sustainable to get all wheat in by the end of September long term.
Seed delivery delays have helped me to avoid getting itchy feet, as has waiting for a new drill to arrive.
Thankfully, I’m on light land, and have only stubble raked, so I should be reasonably weather proof for a while, while I wait for the BG to chit.

 

[Flat 10]

I’m normally well on with wheat by now, but a bad year of BG last year has made me realise that it’s not sustainable to get all wheat in by the end of September long term.
Seed delivery delays have helped me to avoid getting itchy feet, as has waiting for a new drill to arrive.
Thankfully, I’m on light land, and have only stubble raked, so I should be reasonably weather proof for a while, while I wait for the BG to chit.

Going lower disturbance? I always thought your farm was a good advert for claydon.

 

[Flintstone]

Yes, lower disturbance, but also wider, for better output.
I’m changing my cropping a fair bit due to becoming completely disenchanted with most of the break crop options, and I’m going to need to be drilling more area in specific windows.
The Claydon is a truly excellent drill, and I’m sure I’ll regret it, but to go 6 or 8 metres with one would mean a much bigger tractor than I can justify on only 1,100 acres.

Anyway, back on topic. Nope, I haven’t started yet.

 

[Flat 10]

Only 1100 acres
Break crops are very hard to reliably make money.

 

[Steevo]

I would have started by now if I wasn't waiting for the seed delivery....and for some fertiliser to be spread.

 

[moretimeforgolf]

I would have drilled linseed by now had the seed arrived . I will name and shame if it’s not in the drill by the end of the week.

 

[Andy12345]

Started 2 weeks ago, Tetraflorum drilled at 15 Kg/ac showing nicely now. Hope the stuff we put in after Maize looks as well! Starting WB tomorrow.

 

[teslacoils]

Grass on today.

 

[bobk]

Hope to finish wheat this weekend , weather could go tits up , usually does .

 

[ploughman1963]

I have allowed myself to be persuaded by my boys to drill much earlier than I normally would. W barley all in apart from some seed yet to be delivered, well on with first wheat.

 

[Northern territory]

It’s very difficult, we drill early but have a good rotation of break and spring crops. Who knows what weather will do but usually when it does become unsettled it will last a while. Blackgrass control is definitely helped by delaying and lack of moisture won’t help residuals at the moment.

 

[thorpe]

put 70 acres barley in and went in well, waiting for ryegrass chit on the rest. had a look this morning and its combing from 3 inch down, i couldnt belive it got to let it come and spray off got to be patience! belkar on the rape tommorow then servicing, how many grease nipples on claas front susppension?

 

[Fish]

Been running two drills today.
l’m drilling wheat into ex W beans and the other drill, driven by my wife, has been drilling wheat into chopped s oats.

 

[ajd132]

Barley into really short spring barley stubble (brackled when combined) masses of straw, sprinter coping well. I was suprised it went at all. Avatar is drilling wheat into volunteer osr/cover crops.

 

[DRC]

Made a start on barley today . Too early for second wheats and first wheat is after maize and beet,
best yields usually from mid October drilling. Pretty weather proof with combi drill behind plough.
Has take all and black grass been eliminated in the UK then .