Spring drilling

[Mixedupfarmer]

Makes nice hay if got right

For what?

 

[som farmer]

modern varieties are much better, our cows clear it up.

showed son some 'wild cocksfoot', in a bank, they wouldn't touch that.

 

[Flat 10]

For what?

Horses. You are making me doubt myself now. I’m sure I used to get several loads a year. Doesn’t want to get old.

 

[Mixedupfarmer]

modern varieties are much better, our cows clear it up.

showed son some 'wild cocksfoot', in a bank, they wouldn't touch that.

Field in question was seeded fairly recently with "modern cocksfoot" in the mix, but neither sheep or cattle like it.

 

[Mixedupfarmer]

Horses. You are making me doubt myself now. I’m sure I used to get several loads a year. Doesn’t want to get old.

Maybe for horses, doubt it would have much feed value though.

 

[Flat 10]

Maybe for horses, doubt it would have much feed value though.

Smelt lovely if got nicely. It was green enough

 

[Hindsight]

800 tyres at 12 psi, so not a big deep mark. The crops grow through it ok even though it looks untidy at the time.

My main concern is the wheels prevent the following harrow from scratching any soil into the trench - I've got an Avadex applicator on the back and don't want exposed seed to be taken out by corvids or the Avadex. We have made a bracket to fit an angled harrow tine behind the coulters in front of the wheels just to flick some soil across. A couple of loops of chain dragging on the ground help too, inspired by the chains on the back of the T Sem drill.

What you boys all need was designed decades ago.

 

[Pilatus]

Also, I need to switch from just ryegrass to something with better rooting.

Although not a grass, Chicory is a really deep rooting plant as part of a herbal ley mix, takes some managing but must have a deep root as always stays green on the very thin Cotswold soils in the driest of years. Apologies for mentioning dry years, as from what you say you’re farm is extremely wet at the present time

 

[Pilatus]

What you boys all need was designed decades ago.


View attachment 1175926

Perhaps also need the horses that originally pulled them.
Joking aside some bright spark will come up with the old idea, to use them for harrowing cereals with them to help control weeds organically.

 

[som farmer]

son dragged the old spring tines out the nettles, and ran over the failed wheat, did a marvellous job ahead of the drill.

moaned like feck, when l bought them at a sale for £80. Years ago, it was them and disc's to work ground down, they do the job.

l think ours was called a vibro tiller ?

wonder how soon he uses them again..........................

 

[som farmer]

What you boys all need was designed decades ago.


View attachment 1175926

done 100's of acres with them, both before drilling, and after drilling corn.

modern tillage kit, especially combination drilling, not 100% sure it does a proper job in making a decent seed bed, doesn't go down to the bottom of the furrow, leaving air pockets that fill up with water, are cold, in catchy conditions.

but then, l'm just a miserable old git, that isn't convinced new is always better than the old.

 

[Pilatus]

done 100's of acres with them, both before drilling, and after drilling corn.

modern tillage kit, especially combination drilling, not 100% sure it does a proper job in making a decent seed bed, doesn't go down to the bottom of the furrow, leaving air pockets that fill up with water, are cold, in catchy conditions.

but then, l'm just a miserable old git, that isn't convinced new is always better than the old.

I think the combi drills do a good job, from what I have seen this spring they are more forgiving than where cereals have been planted into slightly compacted soil with zero till drill.

 

[teslacoils]

Although not a grass, Chicory is a really deep rooting plant as part of a herbal ley mix, takes some managing but must have a deep root as always stays green on the very thin Cotswold soils in the driest of years. Apologies for mentioning dry years, as from what you say you’re farm is extremely wet at the present time

Grass is still something I'm working on. The ryegrass is just not ticking the boxes. But it's moot as SFi is paying my loads better than a grass ley for a three year legume mix.

 

[farmerm]

Can you drill it now or does it need a week drying?

It might need a week if we get the worst tomorrow.. some would have gone this afternoon but drill got held up

 

[Two Tone]

Horses. You are making me doubt myself now. I’m sure I used to get several loads a year. Doesn’t want to get old.

Forage Merchant near here absolutely loves Timothy hay.
A lot goes to London Zoo.
Easy and fast to make too and smells fantastic.

 

[DrWazzock]

When grandfather grew Timothy for the seed, the “straw” went to the zoo for the elephants to eat.
We grow Timothy for horse hay but it’s not that easy to dry having a thick sappy stem.

 

[DrWazzock]

What you boys all need was designed decades ago.


View attachment 1175926

We still have two sets : a heavy set for working down and a lighter set that we can pull behind the MF30. They are unsurpassable for burying seed and creating that final bit of tilth. They are Parmiters and father bought them very late as they were being cleared out by P and B in the 1980’s. The heavier set generally run in a train in front of Cambridge rolls if it’s dry. Still a lot to be said for old well designed kit though we have a Reekie Harrow behind the MF30 now which does a good job well set up. Light tractors help as well. All contrary to the “modern” way.

 

[JCfarmer]

Mulika spring wheat going in well at the moment although heavy showers early this morning will stop us until 11.

Is it too late for Winter oats? They will struggle to make milling this late, Mascani?

 

[principal skinner]

Pushing your luck with the oats, feed maybe but can’t see you getting milling imo.

 

[David.]

I drilled some later than this last year, they had a groat in them, but we're still green when the wheat was cut.