Winter or spring barley?

D14

Member
I am going to plump for Hybrid Winter Barley, DD’d if you want to, every time.
There is absolutely no doubt IMO, that it has an incredible suppression ability against Blackgrass.
I use it as one of my major BG strategy tools. Especially in a 2nd white straw crop situation. Where BG is really bad, even as a 1st (and 2nd).
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I am wondering about continuous spring barley with a cover crop planted between each barley crop to vary whats growing in the soil. Is there a hybrid spring barley? and what variety are you growing winter wise?
 

Two Tone

Member
Mixed Farmer
I am wondering about continuous spring barley with a cover crop planted between each barley crop to vary whats growing in the soil. Is there a hybrid spring barley? and what variety are you growing winter wise?
I’m not aware of any Hybrid Spring Varieties. The Winter Variety I grow is Bazooka.
 
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Flat 10

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Fen Edge
I am wondering about continuous spring barley with a cover crop planted between each barley crop to vary whats growing in the soil. Is there a hybrid spring barley? and what variety are you growing winter wise?
I think spring barley fb cover crop preferably grazed is something that could be carried on for several years.
 

snarling bee

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Bedfordshire

If it’s heavy land then one pass with discs in the autumn so there’s actually some tilth to work with in the spring. Subsoil according to taste. Power harrow lightly and roll if it’s a bit rough in front of the DD in the spring.
So its not really DD then is it.


Get seedbed in autumn, Vaddy straight in in late March or early April, I am not DDing.
 

Phil P

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
North West
Looks at that soil and goes to cry in my beer...
Looks can be deceiving! If we don’t catch that ground just right and it rains after it’s been worked in any way it can be a total right off and generally doesn’t lend its self to spring cropping as it takes too long to dry up. However we’ve been chopping straw and risked a couple couple of over winter covers then into canary seed in the spring with the residue chopped again and it’s really starting to transform the soil structure. It’s not been ploughed for at least 6 years now and it’s starting to breaks down much easier and be more friable making a decent seed bed. Currently got the best looking crop of wheat on it I’ve seen for a very long time. Unfortunately though it’s our one field we’ve found black grass on last year 🤦🏻‍♂️ and despite roguing it’s as bad again this year 😭. I really don’t want to plough it and bring up a load of yellow sh!te and be back to square one so it’s getting one more chance. I’m half way though roguing it again his year but if it’s as bad again next year it will be getting ploughed 😔.
 

Flat 10

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Fen Edge
So its not really DD then is it.


Get seedbed in autumn, Vaddy straight in in late March or early April, I am not DDing.
Interested to hear how you achieved that please, I think if I left it level enough for vad it would be too fine and slump. Tend to leave it a bit rougher and drill in one pass with a combi instead.
 

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