StripCat

[dontknowanything]

Had a demo today. Not DD I know, but maybe away of having beet in a DD rotation.

Got on very well with it, I can certainly see the point of having one - there is a long list of benefits.

Not sure yet if we can justify getting one - maybe if it is a benefit for OSR too then it may tip the balance?

Video coming later,

 

[Clive]

what are you seeding into it ?

 

[dontknowanything]

sugar beet in a week or two when the soils warm up

 

[martian]

Looks like it takes some pulling!

 

[dontknowanything]

They reckon 20-30hp per row. We were doing 8 rows/4m at 10k, burning 12l/ha. Probably had it in a bit deeper than necessary - just over 10".

 

[Dan Powell]

DKA,

Good to meet you at the BASE AGM.

The strip cat looks to be doing a good job. Are you confident that one pass in spring will be enough and if so what soil type is this?

Will you be using autosteer on your drill tractor (I'm assuming you won't be drilling with that monster!?)

PS here's the link to all the old Morley trial work on direct drilled and strip tilled sugar beet from the 70s and 80s:

http://www.tmaf.co.uk/archived-reports/experiment-reports/sugar-beet/cultivations/1971-2003

Make of that lot what you will. I reckon you'll get good results, but whether it will make DD in the rest of your rotation any easier is another matter. I'm coming round to the view that it's the harvest end of the job that makes it tricky, in a wet year anyway.

Will be following this one with interest so please keep us updated.

 

[dontknowanything]

I think the soil looks in good shape for drilling into, but until we do it it is a bit of an unknown.

All our tractors have RTK, I wouldn't fancy doing this job without it. Drill tractor is more appropriately sized, yes!

Interesting what you ay about harvest as this is one of the main benefits to strip till I believe - it makes the soil withstand trffic much better than a puffy ploughed field would do.

 

[Elmsted]

Buy one as big as you can get. Darn sure you will never regret it. So many things you can bolt to it. And stay with tracks.

 

[Dan Powell]

Buy one as big as you can get. Darn sure you will never regret it. So many things you can bolt to it. And stay with tracks.

I can see how it would be ideal for beet, rape, maize, sunflowers etc.

What else? Beans? Peas? Perhaps would be an ideal bean drill if you had a front hopper in the manner of Jim Bullock.

Rows probably too wide at 50cm for cereals in the UK climate for high yields.

 

[dontknowanything]

Tim Chamen is running this day

http://soil-health-foxton-thriplow.eventbrite.co.uk

if anyone is interested in learning more about strip tillage - not very good timing for field work though!

 

[Clive]

Tim Chamen is running this day

http://soil-health-foxton-thriplow.eventbrite.co.uk

if anyone is interested in learning more about strip tillage - not very good timing for field work though!

Sounds a useful day - do you have to be a member of ctf group though or can anyone go ?

 

[dontknowanything]

Looks like you can go for £16.55 if you're not a member, or £11.25 if you are

 

[Clive]

Looks like you can go for £16.55 if you're not a member, or £11.25 if you are

Will check my diary and book this - looks useful on a few counts

 

[dontknowanything]

only 4 places left!

 

[dontknowanything]

DKA,

Good to meet you at the BASE AGM.

The strip cat looks to be doing a good job. Are you confident that one pass in spring will be enough and if so what soil type is this?

Will you be using autosteer on your drill tractor (I'm assuming you won't be drilling with that monster!?)

PS here's the link to all the old Morley trial work on direct drilled and strip tilled sugar beet from the 70s and 80s:

http://www.tmaf.co.uk/archived-reports/experiment-reports/sugar-beet/cultivations/1971-2003

Make of that lot what you will. I reckon you'll get good results, but whether it will make DD in the rest of your rotation any easier is another matter. I'm coming round to the view that it's the harvest end of the job that makes it tricky, in a wet year anyway.

Will be following this one with interest so please keep us updated.

shame you got snowed in today Dan, hope it melts soon!

 

[Clive]

shame you got snowed in today Dan, hope it melts soon!

Was today useful ? Too much snow here to be going any distance

 

[dontknowanything]

I thought it was pretty good. The guy from NIAB was interesting, and also Victor the French strip-till guy. CSF talk was also about the right length to keep it interesting (about 3 minutes)

 

[Dan Powell]

shame you got snowed in today Dan, hope it melts soon!

Still snowing here. And forecast all day tomorrow...

And then freezing all next week. Doom doom

I might try to make it to the one on Tuesday, although that's even further away at Morley. Got nothing better to do in this weather though...

Are you any closer to deciding whether the system will work for you or not after today, or will you wait to see how this year's demo pans out ?

 

[dontknowanything]

Still snowing here. And forecast all day tomorrow...

And then freezing all next week. Doom doom

I might try to make it to the one on Tuesday, although that's even further away at Morley. Got nothing better to do in this weather though...

Are you any closer to deciding whether the system will work for you or not after today, or will you wait to see how this year's demo pans out ?

I'm not any closer yet, really need to see how it pans out with the drilling, although I think it will be fine. The biggest problem was the delay between the tillage and the drilling, but that's the risk with a machinery demo. If it doesn't work it may possibly be the start of the end for sugar beet here.

If you want to stop off here on your way to Morley you're welcome to take a look at the strip tilled field.

 

[Bill Turtle]

Three of us nipped up from Essex on Friday and had a very interesting day. Thanks to Tim and David for organising/hosting, and credit to everyone involved on the farm for the very high standards of crops in view, in what is a challenging year. I particularly found the information on cover cropping helpful, and the presentation regarding the Stripcat gave a lot of broad information regarding timings of work and usefulness of fertiliser placement. I have the impression France is leading the way in Europe regarding reduced tillage machinery , companion cropping and many other innovative ideas.