Westerwolds

[Jerry]

Westerwolds is new to me, drilled 2 weeks ago after barley.

Pic taken couple of days ago and it’s starting to shift now. And been mild and wet last couple days in the balmy south!!

How soon do people graze it? Hoping to put ewes on in about 8 weeks.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Got a customer grazing Hybrid Ryegrass now that was sown 4 weeks ago , won't hold them long but you should have a fair bite in 8 weeks on that

 

[Jerry]

Got a customer grazing Hybrid Ryegrass now that was sown 4 weeks ago , won't hold them long but you should have a fair bite in 8 weeks on that

Does it need a feed at all?

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Does it need a feed at all?

What was on it this summer , if it looks OK I would not bother until spring

 

[Jerry]

What was on it this summer , if it looks OK I would not bother until spring

it’s after spring barley that had digestate and 75kg of N.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

it’s after spring barley that had digestate and 75kg of N.

I would not be putting anything on it myself until spring
Once it's got some cover, as long as is dry I would give it a light graze, don't leave them on to long first time ,will do it good

 

[Hampton]

Does it need a feed at all?

Be careful.
It needs forcing, otherwise it goes to head.
Ideally it needs fert after every cut and lots of it.
Defo a case of the more you put in the more you get out.
I’ve gone off it though. I prefer a two year ley as I think you get more soil benefits and less volunteers in the following wheat crop

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Be careful.
It needs forcing, otherwise it goes to head.
Ideally it needs fert after every cut and lots of it.
Defo a case of the more you put in the more you get out.
I’ve gone off it though. I prefer a two year ley as I think you get more soil benefits and less volunteers in the following wheat crop

My comment was regarding this winter ,will need feeding next year, but a lot plant Westerwolds just as a winter early spring crop like between maize, if it's for 12 Months then I would go Italain here

 

[serf]

,

 

[serf]

Be careful.
It needs forcing, otherwise it goes to head.
Ideally it needs fert after every cut and lots of it.
Defo a case of the more you put in the more you get out.
I’ve gone off it though. I prefer a two year ley as I think you get more soil benefits and less volunteers in the following wheat crop

Second the above its mission is to seed ASAP and stems turn to straw in no time if not mowed or hammered

 

[Lincs]

We wouldn’t grow it again with fert price as is. Was very difficult to manage during the summer if grazing but Grew some amount of bales!

 

[Jerry]

Prob will be maize next year so a single cropping season.

Graze over winter, shut it up and take an early cut pre maize

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Prob will be maize next year so a single cropping season.

Graze over winter, shut it up and take an early cut pre maize

That's where most of Hurrells Westerwolds goes to be honest, it's cheap and grows well , only other option is Rye but seed is so expensive

 

[Kevtherev]

Prob will be maize next year so a single cropping season.

Graze over winter, shut it up and take an early cut pre maize

It will need some N in spring

 

[bobk]

Grew them for 5 years , shite in hindsight

 

[tr250]

Go and grab a handful like a sheep would if it pulls out by the roots don’t graze it if it doesn’t it’ll make it tiller push it tighter fertilise and control weeds.

 

[Jerry]

Grew them for 5 years , shite in hindsight

Why did it take 5 years to realise?

 

[bobk]

Why did it take 5 years to realise?

Eternal optimist , quick cutting crop , not much use to graze

50p a kg they are ok

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Grew them for 5 years , shite in hindsight

You growing the wrong product then for what you wanted , we use it just for winter cover to graze and one cut in the spring, , any longer we put Italian in

 

[bobk]

You growing the wrong product then for what you wanted , we use it just for winter cover to graze and one cut in the spring, , any longer we put Italian in

They are too expensive for that timeline