Weed value

[Headless chicken]

Am I right in thinking that this is fat hen? If so can I graze it off with dry cows?
in a spring reseeded that looks like there is very little grass. Had a barely cover crop of that changes anything?

 

[pappuller]

View attachment 886948 Am I right in thinking that this is fat hen? If so can I graze it off with dry cows?
in a spring reseeded that looks like there is very little grass. Had a barely cover crop of that changes anything?
View attachment 886948

i take it the main crop is that particular plant ? have you seen much rain ? would topping that out and letting the grass grow not be better from a management pov ? if they make a shite job of grazing youll still have to cut it

 

[Headless chicken]

i take it the main crop is that particular plant ? have you seen much rain ? would topping that out and letting the grass grow not be better from a management pov ? if they make a shite job of grazing youll still have to cut it

Annoyingly yes. Plenty of rain here now so grass is away just seems a shame to waste it and I’m a little worried even if we top it that the toppings will smother what’s left behind.

 

[Beef farmer]

Annoyingly yes. Plenty of rain here now so grass is away just seems a shame to waste it and I’m a little worried even if we top it that the toppings will smother what’s left behind.

Spray it

 

[pappuller]

Annoyingly yes. Plenty of rain here now so grass is away just seems a shame to waste it and I’m a little worried even if we top it that the toppings will smother what’s left behind.

You have sprayed it ?
If weeds were of such high feed value Monsanto et al wouldn't be in business. Spray it or cut it and let the money plant thrive.

 

[Headless chicken]

You have sprayed it ?
If weeds were of such high feed value Monsanto et al wouldn't be in business. Spray it or cut it and let the money plant thrive.

no it’s only just started growing to warrant doing anything. Will get the sprayer man booked

 

[Cows 'n grass]

My cows had 4 days last week on a completely failed spring reseed. It was mostly fat hen and charlock with a bit on annual meadow grass. They were very content and the milk went up. Hopefully it will be drilled into kale by the end of the week.

 

[Grazer]

Yeah I was just waiting for agronomist instructions for my reseed, with a fair few of those in it, but I ran out of grass, so grazed it. Milk jumped, and they pulled it down to 1470kg/ha. Looks quite tidy for now, and since had rain, so will deal with the weeds later.

 

[Beef farmer]

Sounds like we need to grow a monoculture of fat hen

 

[Grazer]

Thought it was an annual so should graze out fine. Although plenty docks appeared so will need sprayed for them anyway.

 

[Bald Rick]

Fat hen is related to quinoa. Quinoa is it’s domesticated cousin

As recommended by vegans

 

[Headless chicken]

Fat hen is related to quinoa. Quinoa is it’s domesticated cousin

As recommended by vegans

I’ll make a fortune then

 

[som farmer]

Sounds like we need to grow a monoculture of fat hen

we are experts at growing fat hen, old man swore it came in the pig feed, hence known as bacon weed, anywhere we plough, up it comes, most sprays will hit it, as will topping, cows will eat the seed heads quite happily, however, it can cause fertility issues, and more surprisingly, can affect FPD in milk, picked that up from an Australian web site, but we pulled cows off fat hen, and rape, FPD was iffy, after, not at all, so, up to you ! Just run the cows over a iffy spring reseed, with fat hen, cows found the grass, and left the fat hen, which we then sprayed, that paddock is now going USA, the bulling hfrs are going in there, and being fed, just like the American 'lot'.
Topping is very effective, spent hours with an old double chop, with spout removed, and to be frank, probably the best control, you are returning green manure to the ground, once cut, it doesn't come back.

 

[bar718]

I had to look at this thread once I read it’s title. Thought some farmers were diversifying with a title of weed value.

 

[som farmer]

I had to look at this thread once I read it’s title. Thought some farmers were diversifying with a title of weed value.

well some 'weed' is quite valuable !

 

[linga]

we are experts at growing fat hen, old man swore it came in the pig feed, hence known as bacon weed, anywhere we plough, up it comes, most sprays will hit it, as will topping, cows will eat the seed heads quite happily, however, it can cause fertility issues, and more surprisingly, can affect FPD in milk, picked that up from an Australian web site, but we pulled cows off fat hen, and rape, FPD was iffy, after, not at all, so, up to you ! Just run the cows over a iffy spring reseed, with fat hen, cows found the grass, and left the fat hen, which we then sprayed, that paddock is now going USA, the bulling hfrs are going in there, and being fed, just like the American 'lot'.
Topping is very effective, spent hours with an old double chop, with spout removed, and to be frank, probably the best control, you are returning green manure to the ground, once cut, it doesn't come back.

It’s charlock we get growing anywhere we move soil. So I bet @ headless chicken hasn’t spotted thst yet. He won’t ask me but I think he should top it!

 

[Farmer Keith]

Trouble with spraying is you kill all the clover while you’re at it, topped a field covered in shepherds purse last April and it did a great job, possibly the only positive thing I’ve ever said about pasture topping.

 

[som farmer]

Trouble with spraying is you kill all the clover while you’re at it, topped a field covered in shepherds purse last April and it did a great job, possibly the only positive thing I’ve ever said about pasture topping.

no, topping is great, you cut off all the clumps of grass, and weeds, then, if dry, the cows hoover it up. But annuals, like fat hen, shepherds purse, and groundsel, just don't return after topping.