Stupid idea or stroke of genius ?

[Soissons]

I have a field that was in beans in 2018 and was sown with basic winter wheat for seed last year. Straw was removed and stubbles disced.For the past two months between 20 and 30 hoggets have been on it and the grass field next to it. There is now a nice evenly spaced cover of wheat volunteers on it which are just starting to tiller. Would it be complete madness to try for a crop of wheat from it ? Obviously BYDV would be an issue. It’s only 8 acres so won’t make or break me and was meant to be put down to grass this year anyway. No plant count done yet. Has anyone tried anything like this before? Any replies much appreciated .

 

[Rebelman]

No such thing as a stupid idea but I wouldn’t think it’d work.

 

[Cork]

I have a field that was in beans in 2018 and was sown with basic winter wheat for seed last year. Straw was removed and stubbles disced.For the past two months between 20 and 30 hoggets have been on it and the grass field next to it. There is now a nice evenly spaced cover of wheat volunteers on it which are just starting to tiller. Would it be complete madness to try for a crop of wheat from it ? Obviously BYDV would be an issue. It’s only 8 acres so won’t make or break me and was meant to be put down to grass this year anyway. No plant count done yet. Has anyone tried anything like this before? Any replies much appreciated .

I wouldn’t consider it a stupid idea.

My two concerns would be (a) what plant population have you got and (b) what is the soil structure like - harvest traffic followed by livestock and a very wet winter might make conditions under the wheat plants fairly tough.

Normally, I’d expect wheat volunteers to be carrying a very high level of disease (foliar and in the second wheat situation - take all) when you consider how early they were “planted”,

 

[Big Vern]

If it's "only" 8 acs and your not there'd either way, leave it as it is ,, if it looks like a shitty stick hit it with the mower and put it in some silage bales, it will fill a belly if nowt else ?? If it looks ok leave it and combine it, are you intending to sell the wheat to use it for mill mixing at home ??

 

[gone]

Wheat is so scarce this year and trading at such a premium over barley I would chance it.
Don't spend too much on it, cut all inputs by 1/3 and see how it goes.

 

[Ugo Schtiglitz]

Yeah. Give it a lash. But the harder you graze it down now the less disease carryover potential and the greater the hollering. If you go for it, keep a few pics up. You've already saved about 3/4 tonne of output value so doesn't need to be savage yielder.

 

[Ugo Schtiglitz]

Hollering......tillering

 

[Blackwater boy]

I’d be very concerned abou BYDV considering where your farming. 8 acres is worth chancing alright but I reckon you’ll be well hammered.

 

[Soissons]

Took the first step today and put on 2 cwt per acre of 12:7:23. Sheep are off it with three weeks.

 

[Ozzy Scott]

Looks better than much wheat I have grown in the past. Can beat sheep to make a decent crops

 

[headcase]

golden hoof

 

[Cork]

Took the first step today and put on 2 cwt per acre of 12:7:23. Sheep are off it with three weeks.

I’d say you’re on a winner there.

 

[Treemover]

Going to watch this with great interest. Fair play Soissons

 

[Soissons]

My experimental field of wheat is now at growth stage 31. I’m thinking about PGR and weed spray (cheap) mostly for volunteer fodder rape and beans. On second thought, maybe I shouldn’t be too concerned about the beans, they should contribute some N ! I put on 50 units of N today, bringing the totals up to 76 units of N, 14 of P, and 46 of K. I’ve entered it as winter wheat in my SFP application so I’m committed now!

 

[rustymcsocks]

My experimental field of wheat is now at growth stage 31. I’m thinking about PGR and weed spray (cheap) mostly for volunteer fodder rape and beans. On second thought, maybe I shouldn’t be too concerned about the beans, they should contribute some N ! I put on 50 units of N today, bringing the totals up to 76 units of N, 14 of P, and 46 of K. I’ve entered it as winter wheat in my SFP application so I’m committed now!

There are plenty of growers in the country this year who would be very pleased with a crop like that.

 

[Soissons]

This crop looks more promising every day! It got 1l Bravo and 0.3l Talius per Ha along with CCC on the 20/4 and then 1.5l Lentyma and 1l Bravo per Ha on the 9/5. It’s only had 76 units of N so I’m thinking of putting on more. Cellular is prone to mildew if
I remember correctly but there is no sign of any mildew yet .

 

[Ugo Schtiglitz]

Great result

 

[Soissons]

Not that it matters, but I forgot to mention in the OP that I put fodder rape in after the original wheat along with 50kg of CAN and 50kg of 8:5:18 per acre. That’s what the hoggets were eating for two months!

 

[Soissons]

Looks ok from a distance.

 

[Soissons]

Looks alright from a distance.

 

[Soissons]

Not too bad from up close either! I’m considering a head spray. I gave it 102 units of N.

 

[Hardysplicer]

View attachment 79230 View attachment 79230 View attachment 79232


Not too bad from up close either! I’m considering a head spray. I gave it 102 units of N.

If it’s cellule check base of the crop for mildew

 

[Soissons]

I got my “experimental “ field of Cellule wheat cut on the 11th of August during the only 3 dry days we got here , along with 90% of my spring barley. It produced 2.6 ton per acre at 17% moisture and 76 kph bushel and I was well pleased at that.Nitrogen was 102 units, maybe I should have put on more! It will definitely be reseeded now. I am considering putting in a herbal ley, either this autumn or next spring.

 

[jf 850]

View attachment 81527 View attachment 81525 View attachment 81527 View attachment 81524 I got my “experimental “ field of Cellule wheat cut on the 11th of August during the only 3 dry days we got here , along with 90% of my spring barley. It produced 2.6 ton per acre at 17% moisture and 76 kph bushel and I was well pleased at that.Nitrogen was 102 units, maybe I should have put on more! It will definitely be reseeded now. I am considering putting in a herbal ley, either this autumn or next spring.

A worthwhile experiment. And considering the way the year worked out , and that you had no establishment costs , you probably made a lot more money from it this way.

Will you try it again ??

Have you found out a bit more about the herbal ley ? Cost , likely length of time it will last etc.

 

[Ozzy Scott]

View attachment 81527 View attachment 81525 View attachment 81527 View attachment 81524 I got my “experimental “ field of Cellule wheat cut on the 11th of August during the only 3 dry days we got here , along with 90% of my spring barley. It produced 2.6 ton per acre at 17% moisture and 76 kph bushel and I was well pleased at that.Nitrogen was 102 units, maybe I should have put on more! It will definitely be reseeded now. I am considering putting in a herbal ley, either this autumn or next spring.

Nice stuff for home saving?