Yield form a spring sown grass ley

Due to some last minute complications with the arable crop rotation, I am considering growing a short term ley on 14 acres. I know it is extremely variable, but what kind of baled silage yield could I expect from it if I drilled it now and cut it in say early July ? Looking at the Barrenborg Prota plus mix amongst others.

Could grow Fodder beet but the field was FB last year and I am not comfortable growing it in succession.

Would appreciate others thoughts and experience .
Many thanks
NHF
 

Derrick Hughes

Member
Location
Ceredigion
Also look at Vetch , is it just for a year, could even go with Westerwolds and Vetch if you want something cheap that grows fast

This is what we offer as a standard mix
To reduce cost you could take the red Clover out
4.50 kg MERIBEL Italian Ryegrass Dip
3.50 kg FABIO Italian Ryegrass Tet
1.00 kg CALISTO Red Clover

1.00 kg ATLANTIS Red Clover Tet
1.00 kg CONTEA Crimson Clover
5.00 kg Common Vetch
16.00 kg per acre
 
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Mixedupfarmer

Member
Location
Norfolk
Also look at Vetch , is it just for a year, could even go with Westerwolds and Vetch if you want something cheap that grows fast

This is what we offer as a standard mix
To reduce cost you could take the red Clover out
4.50 kg MERIBEL Italian Ryegrass Dip
3.50 kg FABIO Italian Ryegrass Tet
1.00 kg CALISTO Red Clover

1.00 kg ATLANTIS Red Clover Tet
1.00 kg CONTEA Crimson Clover
5.00 kg Common Vetch
16.00 kg per acre
How long does crimson clover last, will it stand grazing and regrow, and will it over winter ie stand any frost? TIA
 

neilo

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Montgomeryshire
How long does crimson clover last, will it stand grazing and regrow, and will it over winter ie stand any frost? TIA

Crimson will regrow as long as you don’t graze it too hard, but not at all winter hardy ime.

I’ve never been that excited about it’s yield, but a useful addition in a short term mix imo.
The last time I grew it with IRG (Oliver’s Crimson Tide), it smelt like fresh peas when you drove on it or grazed it. Very high protein I suspect.
 

Derrick Hughes

Member
Location
Ceredigion
How long does crimson clover last, will it stand grazing and regrow, and will it over winter ie stand any frost? TIA

It's not frost hard and if you cut it after it Buds and flowers you will kill it , like Niel says I was not that impressed with yield, and if you put it with a root crop it don't like the competition if the roots are sown to thick

If it's bulk someone is after then Vetch and Ryegass would work better
 
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Pan mixer

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Near Colchester
Good luck, I have sown Westerwolds this time of the year and it didn't grow at all for 2 months due to lack of water (2017) no cutting that year, was great the next 2 years and then spent 2 years getting it out of the cereals.

They might get those yields in Wales but I am guessing that you are in Norfolk
 

neilo

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Montgomeryshire
I put in an 8ac field of Hurricane ProNitro from Field Options last year, planning on it being a 1 year grazed break crop from arable. It’s IRG/Westerwolds, Red, Crimson and Persian clovers. It got a bit of fathen in it, so we took a light silage cut to clean it up. That silage came back at 11.8ME and 14%CP, with the sheep wolfing it down (albeit wet stuff).
We then grazed the regrowth with 250 store lambs for a month, then 80 rams a month after that. Rams are currently back on it, but the grades are growing so fast that I doubt they’ll keep on top of it for long.

The Crimson and Persian are gone I think, leaving a ryegrass/RC ley that will have to stay longer than originally planned now, as too good to take out yet.
If it wasn’t intended for mowing, I would throw some regrowing brassicas in the mixture too. I put some Appin turnips in with another small field, which was riddled with leatherjackets, and the turnips filled out the gaps the LJs made in the grasses. That field is coming out into Spring Barley this year, but might be grazed again first (already grazed hard in Feb).
 

neilo

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Montgomeryshire
Do these things with fancy names work any better than the straights they use , if I call myself SuperRick will I cycle any faster , 😅

Of course it, but don’t almost all seed companies give their mixes names, which stay the same as the varieties within them change?

Maybe you should be asking if it is your Yorkshireman that is the only one lacking the imagination to come up with some? :scratchhead:

Have you tried only going downhill to increase your performance?
 

Derrick Hughes

Member
Location
Ceredigion
Of course it, but don’t almost all seed companies give their mixes names, which stay the same as the varieties within them change?

Maybe you should be asking if it is your Yorkshireman that is the only one lacking the imagination to come up with some? :scratchhead:

Have you tried only going downhill to increase your performance?

Of course it, but don’t almost all seed companies give their mixes names, which stay the same as the varieties within them change?

Maybe you should be asking if it is your Yorkshireman that is the only one lacking the imagination to come up with some? :scratchhead:

Have you tried only going downhill to increase your performance?
85% of the mixes I sell are my own after speaking to the farmer , I don't use fancy names just so I could bump the price up
 
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