Weeds in Westerwolds

Bruce Almighty

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Warwickshire
We sowed 22 acres Westerwolds on 3rd April, we've never grown it before.
After the rain in May it established well.
It's almost ready for first cut, but there is a lot of redshank and knotgrass in the bottom of it and a few other weeds.
I know I should've sprayed it but it's too late now
Will it taint the silage ?
It can either be clamped or baled.
When would be a realistic 2nd cut date if we first cut later this week ?
Thanks
 

neilo

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Montgomeryshire
I have a field of Westerwolds, RC and annual clovers that was drilled in early May that has stacks of similar weeds in it. I looked at topping it to kill the weeds this morning, but there’s too much there so reverted to plan A. I will mow it off for a light silage cut next week and hope it comes back cleaner.

A friend had a field of IRG and RC that had a stack of fat hen in it. He baled it and the bales analysed at about 28% protein iirc. He’d left it quite late though, so there were a lot of stalks left to clear from the racks.
Fathen was originally a Roman forage crop, so I wouldn’t be too concerned about a bit of it in silage. It shouldn’t come back after mowing off.
 

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