To start OSR drilling next week?

[Feldspar]

As the rain tumbles in a highly novel fashion, thoughts turn to OSR drilling. Something which seemed seemed an impossibility only a short while ago. 15mm and counting. If we top an inch, should we start drilling with a dry forecast after this weekend? What's the chance of the seed chitting and then the ground drying once again killing the small plant?

To those who say it's too early, for what seems like yet another year in a row, the early drilled rape in this area has avoided the flea beetle, given us a fighting chance against pigeons, smothered black-grass and given decent yields. No, if I get a good chance, I'm not going to wait from Monday onwards. The question here is, do we have a good chance.

Rain absolutely hammering down here. Feels weird to welcome it so much in the middle of harvest.

 

[richard hammond]

As the rain tumbles in a highly novel fashion, thoughts turn to OSR drilling. Something which seemed seemed an impossibility only a short while ago. 15mm and counting. If we top an inch, should we start drilling with a dry forecast after this weekend? What's the chance of the seed chitting and then the ground drying once again killing the small plant?

To those who say it's too early, for what seems like yet another year in a row, the early drilled rape in this area has avoided the flea beetle, given us a fighting chance against pigeons, smothered black-grass and given decent yields. No, if I get a good chance, I'm not going to wait from Monday onwards. The question here is, do we have a good chance.

Rain absolutely hammering down here. Feels weird to welcome it so much in the middle of harvest.

But this early?? Flowering pre Christmas can also be a major problem!! but your not in my growing area..

 

[richard hammond]

As the rain tumbles in a highly novel fashion, thoughts turn to OSR drilling. Something which seemed seemed an impossibility only a short while ago. 15mm and counting. If we top an inch, should we start drilling with a dry forecast after this weekend? What's the chance of the seed chitting and then the ground drying once again killing the small plant?

To those who say it's too early, for what seems like yet another year in a row, the early drilled rape in this area has avoided the flea beetle, given us a fighting chance against pigeons, smothered black-grass and given decent yields. No, if I get a good chance, I'm not going to wait from Monday onwards. The question here is, do we have a good chance.

Rain absolutely hammering down here. Feels weird to welcome it so much in the middle of harvest.

!st wheats?? only joking!!

 

[Feldspar]

But this early?? Flowering pre Christmas can also be a major problem!! but your not in my growing area..

Our highly experienced agronomist said he'd seen it once from a field drilled end of third week in July. He's suggesting 1 August onwards. Flea beetle damage bigger risk than early flower. There's always something. It's about prioritising.

 

[Hesstondriver]

I’d say get it in the ground, if it fails in 10 weeks time your still ok to drill something else!

 

[Chalky]

cabbage root fly can be really problematic in early sowings. Plant death possible & lodging collapse in the spring as no tap root. You will doubtless beat the pigeons-but at what cost?

 

[Feldspar]

cabbage root fly can be really problematic in early sowings. Plant death possible & lodging collapse in the spring as no tap root. You will doubtless beat the pigeons-but at what cost?

Possibility of cabbage root fly versus probability of flea beetle. Haven't seen any of the former from early August sowings, but plenty of the latter from all sowing dates (but especially 15 August onwards). I'm prepared to risk the former to mitigate the latter to an extent.

 

[Feldspar]

I’d say get it in the ground, if it fails in 10 weeks time your still ok to drill something else!

Was thinking of possibly just using the 750a and farm saved Elgar as a very low cost first attempt. Worried the Claydon will move too much soil and lose the moisture. That said, 750a crop was slow establish last year and then suffered from CSFB as a result.

 

[T Hectares]

IMO, I would think it a big risk, the longer term forecast Is hot and dry and I would be concerned about it germinating and then running out of moisture while being inundated with fb...

I drilled a field of Elgar on September 18th last year that out yielded two other fields of Elgar drilled earlier, no two years are the same of course, but I will be waiting for more rain in the forecast before drilling any, if that’s September so be it !!

I can remember drilling mid August in 2003 and the crops struggling for an age before rain in September

 

[Feldspar]

IMO, I would think it a big risk, the longer term forecast Is hot and dry and I would be concerned about it germinating and then running out of moisture while being inundated with fb...

I drilled a field of Elgar on September 18th last year that out yielded two other fields of Elgar drilled earlier, no two years are the same of course, but I will be waiting for more rain in the forecast before drilling any, if that’s September so be it !!

I can remember drilling mid August in 2003 and the crops struggling for an age before rain in September

Thanks. I think if we had anything other than back the heatwave then I'd definitely be keen to try. As it is, I am a bit nervous, and we will gain two extra people at the end of next week which will help doing harvesting and drilling and everything else.

 

[Godber]

Its been a good move the last 2 or 3 years to thwart the CSFBeetles . There maybe some risks but you stand a better chance of survival if in by the first 10 days of August. Not regreted it ourselves but perhaps july is a little early. If it fails try the next window in early September!
Maybe the little sods won't appear. One year is never the same as another.

Guessing @Feldspar I'm only a mile or 2 away from you and have 35mm so far including some hail. I would rather have had none for a week or so as not halfway on the wheats yet

 

[Feldspar]

Its been a good move the last 2 or 3 years to thwart the CSFBeetles . There maybe some risks but you stand a better chance of survival if in by the first 10 days of August. Not regreted it ourselves but perhaps july is a little early. If it fails try the next window in early September!
Maybe the little sods won't appear. One year is never the same as another.

Guessing @Feldspar I'm only a mile or 2 away from you and have 35mm so far including some hail. I would rather have had none for a week or so as not halfway on the wheats yet

I think the worst drilling date has been OSR emerged and at cotyledon stage at August bank holiday. That seems to have been the worst. Possible later sowing then better, but I hate having thin OSR crops to nurse through pigeons and spring emerging black-grass. Early drilled gives us way better black-grass control than late. Crop competition is king.

I'm at least relieved with the hail and heavy rain that we have just finished the OSR and weak strawed Siskin. Haven't dared check rain gauge (Saffron Walden). Should chit up OSR and allow us to actually get the cultivators going properly.

 

[T Hectares]

Definitely early or late, late August drilling’s bore the brunt of the fb damage around here, while September’s cool and wet saw crops romp away and allowed a stale seedbed spray before to reduce bg pressure.

We have had only 6mm here since the end of May, which is influencing me rather than your 35mm...

 

[franklin]

Too early. For me anyway. Back to a chunk of sun after the weekend.

 

[watfordfrosty]

not a concern here as still no rain 0mm and counting biggest problem would be seed dropping 1m down the cracks

 

[Baling Hay]

Was thinking of possibly just using the 750a and farm saved Elgar as a very low cost first attempt. Worried the Claydon will move too much soil and lose the moisture. That said, 750a crop was slow establish last year and then suffered from CSFB as a result.

Make sure you get your seed tested for |Erucic acid!!!!

 

[Feldspar]

Make sure you get your seed tested for |Erucic acid!!!!

Yes, going to.

 

[Laminated]

I might drill some end of next week. Kale is drilled in may so I can't see a problem wit drilling rape

 

[willy]

Verticillium wilt would be my worry from this early drilling.

 

[Flat 10]

Crack on