Spring forage crops

[NorthumbrianFarmer]

so Its looking like I’m not going to get all my
Spring barley in this year. What’s the best to plant end of April/may. Don’t mind if it’s to just graze lambs or to cut it.

wondered about vetch and cutting it then grazing lambs on it over the winter. Any better ideas?

 

[Tractorboy67]

How about Lucerne but don’t graze it too tight. No inputs need & high in protein in second year could get 3 cuts easily.

 

[sticky]

I’m not getting any crops in this year, only 90 acres but it’s my whole cropping area, and so I’m going to put in leafy turnips and forage rape for the ewes and lambs. I want the ground back for wheat in the autumn so basically a green cover crop.
For you if you want to feed through to next spring you could go stubble turnips for an early bite followed by kale for the winter.

 

[neilo]

I've a couple of fields that I'm planning on putting a berseem/crimson clover mix in soon.
Plan is to mow or wean lambs onto it, then spray out to DD stubble turnips. Hopefully the residual N from the clover will help feed the turnips, and if a bit comes back it won't hurt.

I had no intention of sowing Spring barley this year anyway. I couldn't see a margin in it, even if the Spring had been early.

 

[Jaffa Cakes]

Is it not worth a punt sowing dome spring barley into may? Has worked ok in the past. . ..

 

[NorthumbrianFarmer]

Is it not worth a punt sowing dome spring barley into may? Has worked ok in the past. . ..

It’s more 1 field isn’t going to be dry enough in time I feel more then anything

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Italian Ryegrass or Westerwolds
You can add Crimson Clover and Vetch also
Or Ryegrass Chicory Clover if its for more than a year

 

[neilo]

Is it not worth a punt sowing dome spring barley into may? Has worked ok in the past. . ..

If the seed was cheap (or off the heap), fertiliser was cheap (it’s still double what it was 3 years ago), forward price was something like reasonable and IF we had a perfect growing year fo Spring Barley…then it might be worth the gamble.

Personally, on a mixed farm, the chances of profit on a Spring Barley crop, when every man and his dog will be drilling it, is slim enough that a decent, early fodder crop outweighs the gamble many times over.

I fully expect many to plant it though, as that’s what they’ve always done, and their fathers before them…

 

[Lincs]

If the seed was cheap (or off the heap), fertiliser was cheap (it’s still double what it was 3 years ago), forward price was something like reasonable and IF we had a perfect growing year fo Spring Barley…then it might be worth the gamble.

Personally, on a mixed farm, the chances of profit on a Spring Barley crop, when every man and his dog will be drilling it, is slim enough that a decent, early fodder crop outweighs the gamble many times over.

I fully expect many to plant it though, as that’s what they’ve always done, and their fathers before them…

What will you plant on the ground? Ive 14 acres i need to put something into for the sheep/baling

 

[Derrick Hughes]

What will you plant on the ground? Ive 14 acres i need to put something into for the sheep/baling

How long to last
6 to 12 months Westerwolds + Crimson Vetch
2 years and a bit Italian Ryegrass
3 years and a bit Hybrid Ryegrass
They are not ideal for sheep grazing though
For that you would be better with a long term ley

 

[neilo]

What will you plant on the ground? Ive 14 acres i need to put something into for the sheep/baling

I’m thinking of a berseem/crimson clover mix to bale or graze with weaned lambs, then into stubble turnips in good time.
Hopefully the residual N from the clovers will save a good bit on the fert costs for the turnips.

I have agreed to put some maize in on contract too, having avoided the inevitable soil damage for years.