To sow or not to sow ?

[Tha Ulsterscot]

I have 14 acres which was reseeded last autumn. Most of it has grass 12 inches high, so I'm wondering do I sow fertiliser on it now, or save it for the second cut? Apart from the cost of the fert. I'm going to be tramping a lot of grass down with the wheel tracks. What would you do? Ground would probably carry at the start of next week.

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

If it's a foot tall (without fertiliser at around £1 a kilo plus the diesel and time to spread it), maybe it's worth considering not applying any at all?

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Looks ready to cut ,don't waste your money
And don't be nitrogen junky either

 

[Kevtherev]

Leave it without fert
Looks well that

 

[yin ewe]

I have 14 acres which was reseeded last autumn. Most of it has grass 12 inches high, so I'm wondering do I sow fertiliser on it now, or save it for the second cut? Apart from the cost of the fert. I'm going to be tramping a lot of grass down with the wheel tracks. What would you do? Ground would probably carry at the start of next week.View attachment 1023433

Cut it and save the fert for the next time. Should be nice stuff.

 

[M-J-G]

I'd cut it, if you get a few inches of show she'll go like a pancake.
Diesel per tonne of DM will be high though.

 

[shumungus]

I'm going to go against opinion here and say give it some nitrogen. Sunny forecasst here for next two weeks give it 30 units of nitrogen it will promote leaf growth and and get rid of that tinged end, There has been no weather to put anything in grass here yet and I would be afraid of the analysis of that if it was cut without some help. It's only March you know.

 

[ollie989898]

Realistically when will you be able to cut that?

I'd say you've a little while to go yet and since you can't cut it for a while I'd be tempted to put some N on, maybe a reduced dose and then cut it as planned when you are able to.

 

[Tha Ulsterscot]

Should have said it's for haylage.

 

[Wellytrack]

Lucky man. I should post a picture of my autumn reseed that’s mostly weeds at the moment.

 

[wdah/him]

I'd aim a little N but top up any P and K for later. I have a reseed last year and will more so look after the p and k at first cut with fert with an aim to add clover. If it dries out it will get slurry after grazed by sheep in spring. No where near as advanced as that though owing to dry winter and field lice

 

[bobk]

Should have said it's for haylage.

When do you plan on cutting it

 

[Wellytrack]

I got flooded out of it with torrential rain for a month after sowing.

 

[Bokey]

Mow it beginning of April then put n on an get a banging 2nd cut

 

[Boohoo]

Is the haylage for horses? Have you anything else to feed it to or if you're selling have you any other markets?
Early cuts for horse haylage don't usually work well unless it's going to race horses and you don't really want to take a bulky first cut in mid June off a reseed.

 

[M-J-G]

Is the haylage for horses? Have you anything else to feed it to or if you're selling have you any other markets?
Early cuts for horse haylage don't usually work well unless it's going to race horses and you don't really want to take a bulky first cut in mid June off a reseed.

It's interesting that you find that wity racehorse owners.
Any racehorse training customers I've supplied haylage to feed so much concentrate they want fairly stalky stuff as it acts mainly just as a fibre source.

The only horse owners I find to want softer haylage are those with brood mares.

 

[Boohoo]

It's interesting that you find that wity racehorse owners.
Any racehorse training customers I've supplied haylage to feed so much concentrate they want fairly stalky stuff as it acts mainly just as a fibre source.

The only horse owners I find to want softer haylage are those with brood mares.

The only racing stable I've had anything to do with makes haylage from young grass off young leys. They're usually some of the first to cut. Maybe they're doing things differently to most.

 

[ritchiekirkland]

I think you should put my ewes on it just now until say a month after lambing then go on with fert