Spring sowing Red clover grass ley

[farmer dave136]

Thinking I’m a bit short of silage grass I use red clover grass mixes I usually sow them in the autumn but thought I could switch a field out of beans into grass to give me a bit more forage how many bales would I expect an acre of a spring sown crop probably be April before I get it in

 

[Martyn]

I would aim for a cut in mid July and another September at 3/4 fusion bales an acre

 

[davidroberts30]

Cutting dates about right but I'd expect another couple of bales

 

[Derrick Hughes]

So would I if you put it in with some Hybrid Ryegrass

 

[Martyn]

All depends if we get rain in May, August, many a time have done spring reseeds that haven't really got going until the autumn

 

[Dog Bowl]

I don't know where your based but for me in the cotswolds I find spring reseeds incredibly risky. Last spring was the final straw for me. So much so I don't think I'll ever spring sow them again. If your after forage from something spring grown how about looking at wholecropping a spring barley or something? You'll get a decent yield from something that you can drill in March where it will be established before a dry spell.

 

[milkloss]

I wouldn't count in the RC fixing much nitrogen the year it's planted if in the spring.

 

[Cows 'n grass]

If you think you might be short of forage next winter then oversow the red clover with a bit of SB. This should get you 8 bales/ac in July and another 4 in September.

 

[Sid]

Peas/vetches and barley. 50kg acre.
Undersown with RC and a good ley should give you a bumper crop.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

The mix farmers seemed to like i have spoken to was 9kg of Hybrid Ryegrass with Red Clover . Its does not challenge the clover to much and the grass improves fermentation no end

 

[Sid]

Mix farmers seemed to like i have spoken to was 9kg of Hybrid Ryegrass with Red Clover . Its does not challenge the clover to much and the grass improves fermentation no end

9kg of grass to how many of red?

 

[Derrick Hughes]

9kg of grass to how many of red?

Last mix i did was £3 kg

 

[Derrick Hughes]

I would be happy to give anyone a quote for seed if the pm me

Family have been involved in Farming and Retail as far back as 1850 at least . John Hughes Farming and Retail Store Llanbrynmair [emoji41]

 

[Great In Grass]

9kg of grass to how many of red?

We have re-jigged our long term RC mix for 2021. It includes 3kgs of RC with 7kgs of a mix of two Hybrids (Tet) and 2kg of the brand new Barclamp which is very exciting as it's only one of three Diploid varieties listed on the RGCL (the other two are unavailable).

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Red Clover has a lower sugar content so would prefer to use all Tertapliod grasses for silage myself, they are also more erect so the clover has less competion

 

[Sid]

Red Clover has a lower sugar content so would prefer to use all Tertapliod grasses for silage myself, they are also more erect so the clover has less competion

But leaves a more open sward for weed ingress.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

I wouldn't count in the RC fixing much nitrogen the year it's planted if in the spring.

Have you tried inoculated seed ?

 

[milkloss]

Have you tried inoculated seed ?

No, you want to sell me some for this spring?

 

[Derrick Hughes]

No, you want to sell me some for this spring?

I used the packet stuff . Works out cheaper . Just mix it in the cement mixer a few hours before

 

[No wot]

sown a rye grass red clover mix, spring sown last yr with 40kg ac of winter oats broard cast before power harrowing then sowing grass seed and flat rolled , with the early spring drought didn't look good but heavy rains in early June saved it , mowed end july when oats kernals were just milky and surprised to get 10 bale / ac , made good suckler cow grub expect may be good store cattle grub too