Worth a punt? or fallow it?

[Pan mixer]

Having seen a picture of someone who was spraying off their 'blackgrass' I thought that I would take a picture of my entry for blackgrass of the year.

I will add, very hastily, that I inherited this problem from an outgoing tenant.

A dose of glyphosate is due very soon of course.

Should I set some Westerwold in a week or two (I need the silage) or should I fallow it?

 

[Great In Grass]

Italian Ryegrass/Westerwolds mix that will take you until spring 2019?

 

[Flat 10]

Having seen a picture of someone who was spraying off their 'blackgrass' I thought that I would take a picture of my entry for blackgrass of the year.

I will add, very hastily, that I inherited this problem from an outgoing tenant.

View attachment 474828

A dose of glyphosate is due very soon of course.

Should I set some Westerwold in a week or two (I need the silage) or should I fallow it?

Why wouldn't you drill westerwolds? Spray off now. another flush, drill westerwolds cut before BG sets viable seed? If you are silaging it should be possible no?

 

[Brisel]

Ouch. With that kind of population you are likely to have a fair bit growing in your silage. As long as you mow it before it flowers you'll be fine. An intensive ley like Westerwolds is just what blackgrass doesn't like. How long will the ley be in for?

 

[Wombat]

I would fallow it, I had something similar a few years ago and tried to get some Spring barley in, it turned dry and it just made the BG worse and I have regretted it every year since. With current prices I think a fallow with the ability to do stuff like put some drains in etc is more beneficial for us. Then disk it up late July and then roundup and drill with a good wheat at a sensible time or leave till spring 19

 

[Flat 10]

Ouch. With that kind of population you are likely to have a fair bit growing in your silage. As long as you mow it before it flowers you'll be fine. An intensive ley like Westerwolds is just what blackgrass doesn't like. How long will the ley be in for?

westerwolds 1 year only?

 

[richard hammond]

Burn it off, work it to near seedbed, leave a few weeks burn it off again, and drill straight into it, biggish seedrate.
I year fallow is not going to make a big difference and you need the silage.

 

[Kevtherev]

Italian ryegrass/lofa festolium mix??
Big bulk for silage

 

[Great In Grass]

westerwolds 1 year only?

Newer varieties will do longer now.

 

[Flat 10]

Newer varieties will do longer now.

never knew that. seen some fantastic hay made from it.

 

[Two Tone]

Call that Blackgrass? Peh!!!




No seriously, I'd perhaps be wanting to get a bit of a stockpile of Roundup in for this field, just in case it ends up banned.
Might be worth a punt with Westerwold if you could do with the silage. It will suppress more BG from germinating.
But perhaps all you will do is delay it having another bash at germinating after the silage.

My goodness there must be a lot of un-germinated seed left in that soil! At least fallowing it, you can keep on letting it germinate then spray it off again, and again, and again..........

 

[Great In Grass]

never knew that. seen some fantastic hay made from it.

They have come on a fair bit the last few years we have one which will survive temps down to -12dC.

 

[bobk]

Newer varieties will do longer now.

Mine have been in 3 years and refuse to die .

 

[franklin]

Spray off. Wait until yellow. Ruffle it up a little and see what more grows. If you give it 2lt of glyphosate and drill grass in soon, you may find you get the same BG again smothering the grass. If I were going to put grass in, I wouldnt be in any rush and would want another kill.

 

[Great In Grass]

Mine have been in 3 years and refuse to die .

Have you tried Roundup? It's persistent like me.

 

[bobk]

Have you tried Roundup? It's persistent like me.

No need , if if ain't broke....

 

[Al R]

They have come on a fair bit the last few years we have one which will survive temps down to -12dC.

WOW! Haven't had under -5 here since 2011!

 

[JCfarmer]

Spray it off now with 3l roundup at least. Pan mixer how deep has that field been worked, looks like its been scuffled and no packer?

 

[Flat 10]

Spray off. Wait until yellow. Ruffle it up a little and see what more grows. If you give it 2lt of glyphosate and drill grass in soon, you may find you get the same BG again smothering the grass. If I were going to put grass in, I wouldnt be in any rush and would want another kill.

I think moving it would be very important.

 

[franklin]

Had one BG field which we ploughed when dry in August and levelled. Was going to drill in autumn, but weather meant it went in the following April. Got a great kill in the meantime. Previous ryegrass into BG land was not as good so wont do it again.