Trying a cover crop

[Clive]

We have ended up spraying glyphosate in some fields this year multiple times. In many cases it was not planned. The problem is, when you are trying to hit one leaf grass weeds, there are not many suitable spraying days when you can use flat fans. So what happens is you have a weather window and you think you might get to drill, so you spray. Then the weather doesn't quite play ball and drilling is delayed by which time some more has appeared. You're not exactly going to drill with a whole load of freshly germinated black grass which can be easily killed out of the crop, so you spray again with the hope of drilling once the rain stops. The rain doesn't stop, and so you are into a spring crop. Then the process happens again.

One of the reasons I prefer to spray after drilling, there is always a window even if sometimes it might be a 2 am !

Does depend on a low disturbance drill though

 

[Feldspar]

One of the reasons I prefer to spray after drilling, there is always a window even if sometimes it might be a 2 am !

Does depend on a low disturbance drill though

Am I right in thinking that glyphosate onto damp leaves is not that much of a problem?

 

[Clive]

Am I right in thinking that glyphosate onto damp leaves is not that much of a problem?

Doesn't seem to be as long as it drys on we get good results

I can only recall a glyphosate application not working at all here once and that was due to a deluge as the sprayer left the field. Have had poor results some years on osr desiccation but I think that's due to crop being to dead at the top to translocate

 

[Fred]

I have 50 acres of spring beans being used as cover crop , I spread them on , and disced them in using a horsch joker,

Very simple all grass weeds chitted as well , spray off now and drill spring barley , no expensive seed , and crop will be clean ,

I cannot understand multiple low does passes of round up , we all know this will lead to resistance , I was flabbergasted when hutchinsons were advocating it as part of their blackgrass trials,

We need to address the reasons why we have blackgrass, not apply a sticking plaster

 

[Baling Hay]

We have ended up spraying glyphosate in some fields this year multiple times. In many cases it was not planned. The problem is, when you are trying to hit one leaf grass weeds, there are not many suitable spraying days when you can use flat fans. So what happens is you have a weather window and you think you might get to drill, so you spray. Then the weather doesn't quite play ball and drilling is delayed by which time some more has appeared. You're not exactly going to drill with a whole load of freshly germinated black grass which can be easily killed out of the crop, so you spray again with the hope of drilling once the rain stops. The rain doesn't stop, and so you are into a spring crop. Then the process happens again.

Maybe spraying the day after drilling would be a better idea then?

 

[hindmaist]

The cheapest way to establish a green cover is to mix some Italian Ryegrass seed in with your spring cereal seed before sowing.

 

[franklin]

On the IRG idea, if I broadcast 10kg of IRG into a standing crop of OSR when it was roundupped, how would that do? The weeds seems to manage ok, and if the crop is being cut quite high would the grass have grown a foot in a month? How long after Kerb would it be feasible, ignoring the Dow "must plough" label info?

 

[Clive]

having spent over 2 decades ridding my ex dairy farm of IRG the idea of using it in a cover crop doe not appeal !

 

[dontknowanything]

having spent over 2 decades ridding my ex dairy farm of IRG the idea of using it in a cover crop doe not appeal !

I'm trying IRG this autumn. I'm assured by the experts in NZ that it won't be a problem unless it sets seed - which will not happen in a CC situation. I am still nervous though - trying on a 7.5ha field that will go into maize.

 

[JNG]

Ive used Westewolds and grazed them with cattle and sheep but always destroyed before seeds set, not a problem so far anyway.

 

[dontknowanything]

Ive used Westewolds and grazed them with cattle and sheep but always destroyed before seeds set, not a problem so far anyway.

Westerwolds is a bit risky for me - it's much quicker to set seed than normal IRG

 

[Baling Hay]

What about clover??

 

[dontknowanything]

What about clover??

I don't rate it at all. Much too slow to get established and doesn't fix in cold weather. Also expensive.

Apart from that it's great

 

[Baling Hay]

I don't rate it at all. Much too slow to get established and doesn't fix in cold weather. Also expensive.

Apart from that it's great

Could you not have it as a permanent cover and drill into it?

 

[Feldspar]

Could you not have it as a permanent cover and drill into it?

That was Neil Fuller's idea. Plant Xi19 in the spring into wide rowed Kent Wild White which is glyphosate tolerant up to something like 6 l/ha. 100 days to harvest and extremely low carbon footprint due to much reduced artificial N requirements.

 

[dontknowanything]

Could you not have it as a permanent cover and drill into it?

Yes, I do like that idea

 

[stroller]

What would the best cover crop for grazing sheep? I tried Pedders no1 last year but the sheep were not that keen on the oats.

 

[dontknowanything]

What would the best cover crop for grazing sheep? I tried Pedders no1 last year but the sheep were not that keen on the oats.

I've grazed quite a lot if pedders 1 with sheep and cattle, never had a problem with any of the plants. Only time was safflower in pedders 3

 

[Dan Powell]

What would the best cover crop for grazing sheep? I tried Pedders no1 last year but the sheep were not that keen on the oats.

Stubble turnips will give you much more grazing than a Pedders mix, but won't do as much for the soil. I'm thinking of compromising somewhere between the two this year, and may well sow turnips plus vetch, sunflowers and peas... not sure yet.

@Pedders is the man to ask.

 

[dontknowanything]

Stubble turnips will give you much more grazing than a Pedders mix, but won't do as much for the soil. I'm thinking of compromising somewhere between the two this year, and may well sow turnips plus vetch, sunflowers and peas... not sure yet.

@Pedders is the man to ask.

Thats why I do pedders plus extra brassicas (actually total custom mix this year, but similar)