What to do with strong crop of volunteer barley?

[DeeGee]

Got about 25 acres of strong barley out in ear but lush green and just above knee high. It has all grown as volunteers/regrowth since we whole cropped the main crop in early July.

Seems a waste of a half decent crop of barley with foddermso short this year, but is this safe to forage as wholecrop fodder with most of the ears still very green? Any ideas as to whether to harvest it now while ground conditions are good, or maybe leave it till spring to plough in as (green) manure. Plan to plough and sow spring barley again next March.

All opinions appreciated.

 

[Nearly]

Too long to graze so bale and wrap.

 

[Bury the Trash]

will be too much water in for bale.

eat it off .

 

[borderterribles]

If you don't need it, advertise and sell it standing. Guaranteed some desparado will bale and wrap it!

 

[DeeGee]

Apparently baled wholecrop is an irresistible magnet for long tailed jaspers, so am reluctant to do so. Is green crop barley in any way harmful to livestock, apart from rodents?
If the crop is not in any way harmful is bulk clamp silage an option?

 

[ollie989898]

You can bulk silage it, but without wilting it will be pretty wet stuff.

You could mow it ahead of the animals?

 

[Farmer Roy]

why is it too tall to graze

 

[Purli R]

Michael Carpenter at Kelvin Cave will tell you what you need to know

 

[Brisel]

why is it too tall to graze

Losses by trampling, though you've got the principle of mob grazing

 

[Bury the Trash]

can clamp it but it will need to get some of the water out and will be a bit of a job to pick up.

no prob. with the green corns its not till later on they get real starchy


use a fence of course to save waste grazing, would run sheep on it myself.

 

[Poorbuthappy]

Losses by trampling, though you've got the principle of mob grazing

Indeed, and the op mentions ploughing in as a green manure as an option so a bit of trampling no issue surely ?

 

[glasshouse]

Got about 25 acres of strong barley out in ear but lush green and just above knee high. It has all grown as volunteers/regrowth since we whole cropped the main crop in early July.

Seems a waste of a half decent crop of barley with foddermso short this year, but is this safe to forage as wholecrop fodder with most of the ears still very green? Any ideas as to whether to harvest it now while ground conditions are good, or maybe leave it till spring to plough in as (green) manure. Plan to plough and sow spring barley again next March.

All opinions appreciated.

Wholecrop it again

 

[Devon James]

Eat it off

 

[ollie989898]

You won't have long before the weather knocks it flat and it is becomes load of yellowy horridness anyway.

 

[Bald Rick]

Eat it off

We know the OP is more tight fisted than a tight fisted thing but it seems a bit extreme even for him

 

[Bury the Trash]

notice the Devon chaps say ' eat ' ....



ir 'graze' sounds a bit townified

 

[DeeGee]

We know the OP is more tight fisted than a tight fisted thing but it seems a bit extreme even for him

Not so much tight fisted, just careful. Careful to make sure the dustbins are locked at all times, and careful to make sure we all sit in total darkness in the evenings leading up to Christmas so that any passing carol singers will assume we are out.

 

[norse]

I baler some today,third lot that I've baled in the last 10 days

 

[Flat 10]

You won't have long before the weather knocks it flat and it is becomes load of yellowy horridness anyway.

Good point. I would chuck some animals in asap and plough the rest in. At least you will get some forage for the least cost/risk.

 

[ollie989898]

I baler some today,third lot that I've bales in the last 10 daysView attachment 735714View attachment 735716View attachment 735718

How do you like that Lely baler. I used one in straw once, it was awesome!