- Location
- Lincolnshire
Yes, the key is not only the weather before drilling but straight after.
Starting to get worried about the wet weather ?
- Thread starter Good stuff
- Start date
And rolling can exasperate the problem if that happens . Last year rolled headlands got properly knackered on some barley after that wettest weekend ever in October .
I’m not rolling this autumn. The press on front and packer on drill rolls it enough . Leave seed beds a bit like they used to be
- Location
- Lincolnshire
On heavy BG soil, if it's dry enough to roll then it's not damp enough to be drilling. Time to roll is after cultivation.
That's what did the damage the last two years, whether it's a permanent change I'm not sure but it looks like this will be the third year in a row here that a dry sept has been followed by a spell of heavy rain, last two years it started mid oct this time last few days of sept, luckily got ours drilled before it broke
- Location
- Lincolnshire
Yep. Both my winter barley and winter wheat have had a right swilling since drilling earlier this week. Not fatal but not done them a lot of good. Preem just applied to the barley tonight. You can see the tramlines now. Quite squashy.
Feels like very much a catch 22 situation all round.
Feels like very much a catch 22 situation all round.
- Location
- Lincolnshire
If high autumn / winter rainfall is the new normal then it’s the end of autumn drilling. It will be left rough or cover crops and spring drilling will be the new normal.
farmerm
Member
- Location
- Shropshire
It will be the start of having to ensure we are finished by 25th Sept.. Anything drilled in a dry spring that follows a wet winter, might as well not bother
It’s only the 1st of October . Traditionally our forefathers drilled wheat around bonfire night .
Theres loads of wheat still to go in around here, after maize, roots and spuds. Most years it gets drilled and I find 15th to 20th October usually the optimum time . Why do so many people panic if not drilled up in September ( traditionally a harvest month )
farmerm
Member
- Location
- Shropshire
The traditions of the boys ground in North Shrops are somewhat different to those in the south of the county!
We do have some heavy wet stuff at one end of the farm. Fields I wouldn’t dream of growing maize on for instance .- Location
- Lincolnshire
I’ve been actively involved in farming here for 40 years. 4th October has always been the cut off date for drilling here due to heavy clay patches getting too sticky.
We’ve mauled stuff in in November but it’s never been that satisfactory.
One pass tight behind the plough is the key . If you work it down and then expect to drive on it again with a drill, you’re in trouble in my opinion .
- Location
- Lincolnshire
I’m kind of coming round to that actually. It won’t quite work on the worst clay patches but it will work on 95% of it I reckon. The problem with us ploughing early is volunteers coming through the ploughing and it either baking like concrete or turning into porridge.
I’ve taken note of your methods and I am seriously considering going down the route of combi tight behind the plough.
Tradition is of little use if the weather patterns have changed and/or the amount of rain in these storms has increased which they seem to have.
- Location
- Lincolnshire
It would seem that way. A week ago here we were bone dry. Since then we’ve had 57 mm of rain. I drilled with a unidrill that leaves ridges maybe 3” high. Normally helps prevent erosion etc. In places where it is very Sandy they have been washed flat like a beach such was the intensity of the rain. For me that’s something new.
- Location
- Lincolnshire
The alternative of course is zero till but it tends to drown on the heavy stuff over winter. Works quite well direct drilling in the spring though.
That's what has happened to us in areas the last two years, will see what happens this time, if fert stays at £400 plus per tonne then spring cereals with lower costs might well work out better if the future weather carries on like this, will be less work that's for sure
- Location
- Lincolnshire
Be fine. As mentioned, wed only be roundupping a big weed disaster if we had it now now. There's hardly any in down here yet. Many beans only got cleared s day before the rain.
But yes, a months rain in a few days seems to be the new way sadly.
But yes, a months rain in a few days seems to be the new way sadly.
- Location
- Lincolnshire
Crystal ball says autumn drilling’s days are numbered.
Soil erosion.
Lashings of herbicides getting into the water.
Insecticide to kill virus vectors.
Fungal diseases over wintering.
Within 10 years it will be over wintered covers and spring drilling all round.
Soil erosion.
Lashings of herbicides getting into the water.
Insecticide to kill virus vectors.
Fungal diseases over wintering.
Within 10 years it will be over wintered covers and spring drilling all round.
- Location
- Lincolnshire
And really I loaded an insane amount of chemical into sprayer for the preem this afternoon. It didn’t give me a good feeling at all and sooner or later it be banned as it’s just about guaranteed to end up in the water in a wet winter. Compare it with the low inputs of spring cereals. All points one way IMO.