Zoom forage brassica

[neilo]

Thought I'd post on here, rather than cropping, as more relevant to livestock.

I bought some Zoom brassica mix (Winifred & Emerald rape) and DD'ed at 1kg/ac into sprayed off permanent pasture on the last day of May. We had a few showers soon after, but not much at all since then. Applied fert and 1kg/ac of slug pellets just after drilling and then shut the gate. Very impressed with how it's grown, and how much keep there is already. It's halfway up my thigh in most places.

Crop was planted to wean lambs on to (imminently), and hoping for a bit of regrowth for winter keep on one field, the other destined to go back into grass. I'll definitely be repeating the exercise next year, and thanks for the seed @greatingrass.



I've got to admit I also sowed another ten acres into arable land, which came up well, but has been all but smothered by mayweed, daisys and volunteer stubble turnips that never grew last Autumn, but have grown and bolted/gone to seed now, and the slugs seem to have done well on their supply of pellets in that field too. Spray on the mayweed wasn't particularly effective, so only half a crop on 10ac.

 

[JD-Kid]

seem to recall yer were going to blame me if it did not grow .. looks good just wonder why the 2 rapes tho winifred can be grazed early if need

should get 2-3 grazeings if not hammered last one give it a bit harder graze and go in with annual grass to give a good spring feed

 

[Johnny400]

Hope mine grows as well as that.

 

[sheepwise]

Thought I'd post on here, rather than cropping, as more relevant to livestock.

I bought some Zoom brassica mix (Winifred & Emerald rape) and DD'ed at 1kg/ac into sprayed off permanent pasture on the last day of May. We had a few showers soon after, but not much at all since then. Applied fert and 1kg/ac of slug pellets just after drilling and then shut the gate. Very impressed with how it's grown, and how much keep there is already. It's halfway up my thigh in most places.

Crop was planted to wean lambs on to (imminently), and hoping for a bit of regrowth for winter keep on one field, the other destined to go back into grass. I'll definitely be repeating the exercise next year, and thanks for the seed @greatingrass.

View attachment 9274 View attachment 9273 View attachment 9276

I've got to admit I also sowed another ten acres into arable land, which came up well, but has been all but smothered by mayweed, daisys and volunteer stubble turnips that never grew last Autumn, but have grown and bolted/gone to seed now, and the slugs seem to have done well on their supply of pellets in that field too. Spray on the mayweed wasn't particularly effective, so only half a crop on 10ac.

1kg seed/acre? I've just sowed mine on Tuesday with air seeder at 4kg/acre.Was I badly advised?

 

[Johnny400]

What dd drill did you use Neil? and how soon after spraying did you sow?

 

[neilo]

What dd drill did you use Neil? and how soon after spraying did you sow?

I have a Simtech Aitchison. Drilled about 5 days after glyphosate (@ 5l/ha). I only waited 5 days as I wanted to run the grassland subsoiler through it first, to take out compaction, otherwise would have gone in at 24 hours. Field was mostly couch and buttercups.

 

[Great In Grass]

Thanks for posting some photo's, looking very good Neil. Very pretty countryside you have there too.

1kg seed/acre? I've just sowed mine on Tuesday with air seeder at 4kg/acre.Was I badly advised?

Recommended drill rate is 2.5kg/acre, 4kg for broadcast. Neil's crop is even more impressive by drilling at only 1kg/acre.

Hope mine grows as well as that.

You won't have any problem Jon I'm sure of that. Hows the grass seeds looking?

 

[South Downs Farmer]

A crop to be proud of there Neil! I might have to give 'Zoom' a go next year after Winter Barley, and compare it to my usual 60%/30%/10% Swift/Stubble Turnip/Kale mix i've used previously for June/July sowings.

This year's Caledonian kale is looking much happier this morning after its first drink in weeks. But the strip of swedes have really suffered in the drought

 

[Great In Grass]

If anyone would like a Forage Seeds (or any other for that matter) catalogue please send me a PM with your details and I will gladly put one in the post to you.

 

[JD-Kid]

do yer post to NZ ?? be intresting to see whats over there mixes etc

 

[Great In Grass]

do yer post to NZ ?? be intresting to see whats over there mixes etc

I have the catalogue on PDF, it's about 20megs if my memory serves me correctly. I have your email, I'll try now.

 

[Great In Grass]

do yer post to NZ ?? be intresting to see whats over there mixes etc

It's gone, should be with you soon, all down hill from here!

 

[devonshire farmer]

Well impressed with your photos neil, looks very good in comparison to what we have grown previous in less challenging environment.

 

[JD-Kid]

It's gone, should be with you soon, all down hill from here!

got it

 

[MrA.G.]

Impressive looking crop neilo, what fert did you apply and how much?

Do you think all fert at drilling works ok or do you ever split the applications with some at drilling and a top up 6 -8 weeks latter?

 

[Great In Grass]

got it

 

[sherg]

Impressive looking crop neilo, what fert did you apply and how much?

Do you think all fert at drilling works ok or do you ever split the applications with some at drilling and a top up 6 -8 weeks latter?

We've just dd'ed turnips into sprayed off pasture and I was wondering if we should put on all the fert on now or do a split dressing?

 

[South Downs Farmer]

We've just dd'ed turnips into sprayed off pasture and I was wondering if we should put on all the fert on now or do a split dressing?

We've always done a split dressing for all our forage brassicas, whether there's any agronomic grounding in it I don't know, but the idea of giving it a little boost 6 weeks in seems to feel like the right thing to do (especially this year, if you can get it spun on before a warm rain shower!)

 

[Johnny400]

Thanks for posting some photo's, looking very good Neil. Very pretty countryside you have there too.

Recommended drill rate is 2.5kg/acre, 4kg for broadcast. Neil's crop is even more impressive by drilling at only 1kg/acre.

You won't have any problem Jon I'm sure of that. Hows the grass seeds looking?

Miles better after this recent rains

 

[Yale]

Looks very good.