What to grow first?

[Agrotron M620]

I have the opportunity to plant several acres, of which some is behind spring barley stubble, some following main-crop spuds and some into very old grass leys. What would be the most sensible and most likely to give me a safe return for my investments? Most of the land would be quite heavy clay.

 

[Al R]

I’m not sure I totally understand but in terms of which to drill first:

Plough the ley, dress and drill.
While ploughing or dressing the ley, also rip up the ex potato land.
Plough the barley stubble, dress and drill.
Drill the ex potato land now it’s dried out.

 

[Agrotron M620]

Sorry, I wasn't clear, I mean what shall I grow in each instance? Barley, wheat, oats etc.....

 

[e3120]

Is it coincidence that we have this thread and another from an excel-literate new member asking about rotations? When are the assignments due?

 

[Agrotron M620]

Is it coincidence that we have this thread and another from an excel-literate new member asking about rotations? When are the assignments due?

Cheers mate, thanks for the encouragement to the 25 year old start up farmer [emoji106]

 

[e3120]

Sorry then - it must be a coincidence.

Assuming the acreage is relatively small, and your kit line-up similar, I'd personally sow the lot to new grass - that's the best way I know to protect and hopefully grow your investment. Heavy clay not conducive to alternative 'small area' (e.g. veg) crops. Maybe not the answer you want, but you're always going to be fighting a battle with scale growing combinables.

 

[Hfd Cattle]

My advice... sow with a westerwold type grass . Concentrate on the horse industry and have an early cut of small bale haylage then a cut for small bales hay or 6ft d4000 type bales then another cut of silage then get tack sheep over winter. That grass will then pay you very well. You will still get another cut of silage in April if tack sheep are off by end of Feb. If you let the second and third crop go to seed before cutting it will regenerate.

 

[Will Blackburn]

Cheers mate, thanks for the encouragement to the 25 year old start up farmer [emoji106]

Why are you starting up when you don't know what to do?

 

[Hfd Cattle]

He is starting up because he wants to have a go. I did the same 25 yrs ago with 12 acres . I now farm 360 acres with 250 ewes 72 suckler cows and 75 store cattle . Let's encourage not discourage

 

[franklin]

I have the opportunity to plant several acres, of which some is behind spring barley stubble, some following main-crop spuds and some into very old grass leys. What would be the most sensible and most likely to give me a safe return for my investments? Most of the land would be quite heavy clay.

How many acres; what kit do you have; what storage facilities; where in the country; are the fields drained?

Cant be overly heavy if there are potatoes there but suppose that could be 5ac out of 500?

Is this for spring, or for next autumn?

 

[Agrotron M620]

How many acres; what kit do you have; what storage facilities; where in the country; are the fields drained?

Cant be overly heavy if there are potatoes there but suppose that could be 5ac out of 500?

Is this for spring, or for next autumn?

I'm in the south west, I own a 180hp tractor, have a trailed Xpress and I can hire a decent kv plough easily enough. I can sort storage myself also. The fields are drained but some are starting to show signs of a lack of maintenance.

 

[Agrotron M620]

I'm in the south west, I own a 180hp tractor, have a trailed Xpress and I can hire a decent kv plough easily enough. I can sort storage myself also. The fields are drained but some are starting to show signs of a lack of maintenance.

Also it will be for the coming autumn

 

[Audlem Agron]

Ok - hope this helps what experience have you got so far ? Livestock or arable? Have you got current soil tests for the land ? Id get them tested and interpreted before you even think of burning any diesel. What buildings have you got ? you will need to store combined crops up to October until you get farm assurance. Re selling forage - if this is of interest to you think who's going to buy it now - anyone who might be interested will already have a source, so plan carefully and sound people out. Given your location grass will be the easiest option though i'd go for a decent cut and graze mix and get it down for 5 years. To make sure it gets off to the best start clean the fields up with glyphosate (2 sprays on the old leys if poss) and pick your moment to establish them. up front cost will be about £90/acre for the seed ground prep and drilling, but that will be spread over FIVE years. That will give you silage to sell and the potential to do further cuts OR put animals on it - giving you flexibility. Hope that helps. As a startup simplicity will be your key ally - as you can sell your time and labour when not working your own land.

 

[Agrotron M620]

Ok - hope this helps what experience have you got so far ? Livestock or arable? Have you got current soil tests for the land ? Id get them tested and interpreted before you even think of burning any diesel. What buildings have you got ? you will need to store combined crops up to October until you get farm assurance. Re selling forage - if this is of interest to you think who's going to buy it now - anyone who might be interested will already have a source, so plan carefully and sound people out. Given your location grass will be the easiest option though i'd go for a decent cut and graze mix and get it down for 5 years. To make sure it gets off to the best start clean the fields up with glyphosate (2 sprays on the old leys if poss) and pick your moment to establish them. up front cost will be about £90/acre for the seed ground prep and drilling, but that will be spread over FIVE years. That will give you silage to sell and the potential to do further cuts OR put animals on it - giving you flexibility. Hope that helps. As a startup simplicity will be your key ally - as you can sell your time and labour when not working your own land.

I have mainly arable experience and interest, but I am open to all options. I understand that if I want to get into farming without inheriting a pre made tried and tested business that has existed for generations I won't necessarily be able to start with exactly what I would like to finish with, and combinable crops may not offer easy cash flow. I haven't done any soil samples as of yet but I do know that the 50 odd acres of old leys are tired and will need more than a good top up! Sounds like the general consensus is to grow haylage

 

[Stevethemeat]

Wheat after grass followed by barley then oats then grass again if your looking for a rotation that might work then you may have to adjust or re arrange or remove crops depending if you have a market for the finished crop or livestock to graze grass there isant a fixed formulation and will take you a lifetime to get it right

 

[ollie989898]

I would find it difficult to give a half useful answer, we don't have enough background.

 

[Hagri]

Is it coincidence that we have this thread and another from an excel-literate new member asking about rotations? When are the assignments due?

Not hard to type a simple record of cropping history into excel.. pure coincidence is all. We both seem to be just looking for opinions on what can be done given our circumstances. No harm in that.

 

[Audlem Agron]

I have mainly arable experience and interest, but I am open to all options. I understand that if I want to get into farming without inheriting a pre made tried and tested business that has existed for generations I won't necessarily be able to start with exactly what I would like to finish with, and combinable crops may not offer easy cash flow. I haven't done any soil samples as of yet but I do know that the 50 odd acres of old leys are tired and will need more than a good top up! Sounds like the general consensus is to grow haylage

From a business perspective grass offers you lower overheads and lower initial costs Vs alternatives and you have the options of cropping / selling it and grazing it - you have flexibility.