Winter Barley advice for novice

[MrA.G.]

Long story short is that I’m a new entrant dairy farmer who sold most of our beef cattle to fund the project hence we are down in numbers and have planted some winter barley which will be a useful feed. As per below picture I think it has potential and I don’t want to ruin it. Are there any idiot guides to fertiliser and spray requirements or I am best to pay someone for agronomy advise?

 

[Jerry]

Winter barley is all about tillers.

Early N and S to preserve them.

 

[MrA.G.]

Thanks, it would hopefully travel towards the end of next week so should I aim to get on asap? The ground is hungry as it was farmed semi organically by the owner. Should I go with N+S or a compound like 20.10.10?

 

[Jerry]

Thanks, it would hopefully travel towards the end of next week so should I aim to get on asap? The ground is hungry as it was farmed semi organically by the owner. Should I go with N+S or a compound like 20.10.10?

Do you have soil test results? What soil type and location?

Plant population looks good and not to hungry yet.

I would definitely go with Sulphur early, My plan is to go as soon as I can with 50kf of N per ha with sulphur. I dont need P&K.

 

[Devon Gurfallo]

I know I will be shoot down for saying this but use a service agronimist. You will pay more for your chemicals but on a small area it takes the hassle out of it and could save some costly mistakes. Ps Well done it looks a good crop.

 

[MrA.G.]

Sampled in 2019 when I got the ground. P index 1, k index 2. PH 5.8 but it has since had 2tonne per acre of lime
I’m in NI, soil would be better than our average heavy clay, I would call it a Sandy silt

 

[teslacoils]

Get the fert on and keep the bloody stuff stood up.

 

[Jerry]

Sampled in 2019 when I got the ground. P index 1, k index 2. PH 5.8 but it has since had 2tonne per acre of lime
I’m in NI, soil would be better than our average heavy clay, I would call it a Sandy silt

Should be ok. Get an early split of N and S on and then keep it growing.

Good pgr program, has it had any herbicides?

 

[teslacoils]

Never listen to anyone who says "oooh straws dear round hear you don't need any pgr" unless youre going to be driving the combine.

 

[MrA.G.]

Should be ok. Get an early split of N and S on and then keep it growing.

Good pgr program, has it had any herbicides?

It had a pre emergence the day after drilling then the rain came. The crop looks pretty clean so far. Presumably the pgr can wait untilthe crop is knee high and be mixed with a fungicide? does The low P and K not cause problems?

 

[teslacoils]

If you're in NI you may not have the nitrogen options we have. Low p not going to be much trouble. I would use spring potash here, something like Kaynitro S which is n, p and s. Or slurry and urea.

Straw worth nothing in my part of the UK, so I'd be using a robust pgr early on.

But my climate and soil is a world away from yours.

 

[Jerry]

It had a pre emergence the day after drilling then the rain came. The crop looks pretty clean so far. Presumably the pgr can wait untilthe crop is knee high and be mixed with a fungicide? does The low P and K not cause problems?

knee high prob too late for a pgr. And I guess you have decent rainfall.

 

[Brisel]

You need an agronomist in the field to get the best out of the crop. There is some good advice in TFF but it is worth what you paid for it!

 

[Chris F]

You need an agronomist in the field to get the best out of the crop. There is some good advice in TFF but it is worth what you paid for it!

Not sure how many indie agronomists in NI. How much could be done virtually with an agronomist?

 

[Brisel]

@david is the only NI agronomist I can think of.

 

[Chris F]

@david is the only NI agronomist I can think of.

That’s why I suggest a virtual option. Would still be good advice but not as good as being in the field. Worth paying for either way.

 

[MrA.G.]

Thanks everyone, livestock area with very little in the way of arable. It is only 20acres but I’d rather try and do a good job of it even if that means paying for advise rather than just throwing a bit of fert and chemical at it and hoping for the best

 

[AndrewB]

Don’t skimp on growth reg I have always put moddus on at T0 and then moddus and chlormequat at T1 by the time you think it’s looking leggy it’s probably too late, plenty of early N.

 

[Mouser]

Thanks everyone, livestock area with very little in the way of arable. It is only 20acres but I’d rather try and do a good job of it even if that means paying for advise rather than just throwing a bit of fert and chemical at it and hoping for the best

If using a contractor for harvest, if they have experience, ask them for advice. Usually in there interest to help customers do a good job.

 

[cowboysupper]

Thanks everyone, livestock area with very little in the way of arable. It is only 20acres but I’d rather try and do a good job of it even if that means paying for advise rather than just throwing a bit of fert and chemical at it and hoping for the best

Where abouts in NI are you and where did the seed come from? Does the seed merchant do agronomy?