Wheat, chems and cover crops.

[redsloe]

Planning chemical strategy with the agromonist this afternoon and it seems to be a nightmare planning grass weed control with following crops. I've direct drilled wheat after grass and needs a tidy up for grass weeds. Normally Othello or hatra or the such will do it but because I want to plant a cc before S barley afterwards it makes things difficult.
Is it just my agromonist or is it a real problem to negotiate?
It's because I don't plough I'm told
What happens when we're all encouraged down this route by defra?
Doesn't look straightforward to me or can it be?

 

[alomy75]

Planning chemical strategy with the agromonist this afternoon and it seems to be a nightmare planning grass weed control with following crops. I've direct drilled wheat after grass and needs a tidy up for grass weeds. Normally Othello or hatra or the such will do it but because I want to plant a cc before S barley afterwards it makes things difficult.
Is it just my agromonist or is it a real problem to negotiate?
It's because I don't plough I'm told
What happens when we're all encouraged down this route by defra?
Doesn't look straightforward to me or can it be?

There are constraints but if he’s blaming the lack of plough use then it may be a sign that he won’t be thinking out of the box for suitable solutions which agree with your system going forward. Which cover crop? You could go for a cereal based cover crop if there is a genuine issue or put up with a potential lack of vigour in a broad leaved one. Read the labels regarding following crops. Might give an idea of likely cc performance

 

[Clive]

it’s easy enough with glyphosate

im mot sure its posible (economically) without

 

[clemmo]

What’s going in the cover crop ?

 

[redsloe]

it’s easy enough with glyphosate

im mot sure its posible (economically) without

I'm not sure what you mean? It had glysophate in the autumn but some of the ley is beginning to grow back. I would like to hit it again but not with glysophate!

 

[redsloe]

What’s going in the cover crop ?

A little bit of what I can get away with. This year I used oats and vetch which is being grazed with sheep right now. I would like to try something else as well next year for variety.

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

I would avoid oats in a cc preceding barley, it's as bad as any chemical!

So you want to hit the grass weeds / volunteers in the wheat? How big/ how many are they, would they be easier to control at the termination of the cover crop, having made a contribution or do you think they will harm the wheat yield?

 

[redsloe]

I would avoid oats in a cc preceding barley, it's as bad as any chemical!

Apparently so. I guess I'll find out.

So you want to hit the grass weeds / volunteers in the wheat? How big/ how many are they, would they be easier to control at the termination of the cover crop, having made a contribution or do you think they will harm the wheat yield?

Not many but I guess I don't want them to get out of control. Could be a mass of couch grass by next spring. It was classed as pp so not an easy short term ley.

 

[Will Blackburn]

Planning chemical strategy with the agromonist this afternoon and it seems to be a nightmare planning grass weed control with following crops. I've direct drilled wheat after grass and needs a tidy up for grass weeds. Normally Othello or hatra or the such will do it but because I want to plant a cc before S barley afterwards it makes things difficult.
Is it just my agromonist or is it a real problem to negotiate?
It's because I don't plough I'm told
What happens when we're all encouraged down this route by defra?
Doesn't look straightforward to me or can it be?

Just crack on, cc will be fine.

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

If you are grazing with sheep it's worth adding a few turnips.

 

[Will Blackburn]

Apparently so. I guess I'll find out.

Not many but I guess I don't want them to get out of control. Could be a mass of couch grass by next spring. It was classed as pp so not an easy short term ley.

You may struggle with couch, preharvest glyphosate is a decent option. I’ve got mostly strong amg after grass with dd wheat. The wheat is thicker this year so I’m open minded yet as to treatment. Last year did the lot and had no trouble after.

 

[redsloe]

You may struggle with couch, preharvest glyphosate is a decent option. I’ve got mostly strong amg after grass with dd wheat. The wheat is thicker this year so I’m open minded yet as to treatment. Last year did the lot and had no trouble after.

Last year I mistakenly missed out a pre harvest glysophate spray, didn't realise until I got in it with the combine how much was there. Then I couldn't get the Claydon drill through it to drill in the autumn. So I disced the worst bits and left it until a month ago and then drilled it. Looking at it the other day I could still find roots with little shoots on. How big they will get I don't know.
This year it does look like amg so am going on with hatra and see what happens.

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

How come the couch grass has become such a problem, has it been in grass for a long time?

 

[redsloe]

How come the couch grass has become such a problem, has it been in grass for a long time?

It surprised me. I don't think it's real bad, just patches where last years crop failed in the wet patches I think. Been in grass 6 years or so.

 

[Terrier]

it’s easy enough with glyphosate

im mot sure its posible (economically) without

Are you doing anything to avoid glyphosate resistance ? A DD system puts most pressure on glyphosate in the absence of some form of 'double knock' such as cultivations.