Winter oats 2023
- Thread starter Masseyrk662
- Start date
cowboysupper
Member
Due to a delay in winter oats seed delivery we are going to have to drill much later than normal. We're up in the NW just outside Derry/high rainfall area and unfortunately the weather broke 10 days ago and brought 100mm of rain with it.
The parcel of ground we have earmarked for winter oats (wholecrop) has had a fair bit of weed pressure building the last couple of years, particularly with meadow grass. Weather complications prevented a pre-em going on last year and 2 years prior it was in maize (the pre-ems weren't very effective during very dry spring/early summer),
We have been advised to get a pre-em (Flufenacet + Diflufenican) on immediately after sowing oats this year to give ourselves the best chance of reducing the burden, but weather conditions at the minute are so tricky that even where we get a couple of dry days to drill its blowing a gale and not suitable for spraying, before the rain comes again. Generally speaking in this part of the world we like to have all drilling finished before the middle of October but the weather forecast is continuing to remain unfavourable for completing sowing and spraying in quick succession.
Not really sure what we should do to try and make sure we complete both tasks. I'm patient by nature but that is starting to wear! Should we take the risk and remain patient. Worst case scenario we have to hold the seed until the spring. Or do we take advantage of a couple of dry (but windy days) and sow at higher seed rate to try and suppress the meadow grass and forget about the pre-em altogether. Or is there anything else we should consider? Fields have been ploughed a month approx and will be drilled with one pass. For the most part its light sandy soil. Bit of heavier ground will likely have to wait to the spring unless there is fantastic weather later this month.
The parcel of ground we have earmarked for winter oats (wholecrop) has had a fair bit of weed pressure building the last couple of years, particularly with meadow grass. Weather complications prevented a pre-em going on last year and 2 years prior it was in maize (the pre-ems weren't very effective during very dry spring/early summer),
We have been advised to get a pre-em (Flufenacet + Diflufenican) on immediately after sowing oats this year to give ourselves the best chance of reducing the burden, but weather conditions at the minute are so tricky that even where we get a couple of dry days to drill its blowing a gale and not suitable for spraying, before the rain comes again. Generally speaking in this part of the world we like to have all drilling finished before the middle of October but the weather forecast is continuing to remain unfavourable for completing sowing and spraying in quick succession.
Not really sure what we should do to try and make sure we complete both tasks. I'm patient by nature but that is starting to wear! Should we take the risk and remain patient. Worst case scenario we have to hold the seed until the spring. Or do we take advantage of a couple of dry (but windy days) and sow at higher seed rate to try and suppress the meadow grass and forget about the pre-em altogether. Or is there anything else we should consider? Fields have been ploughed a month approx and will be drilled with one pass. For the most part its light sandy soil. Bit of heavier ground will likely have to wait to the spring unless there is fantastic weather later this month.
gone
Well-Known Member
Oats has a natural weed suppression, or allopathic affect, so I would not be near as worried about not get a weed spray out on Oats
KTM 450
Well-Known Member
Got the Husky sown yesterday 170kg/ha. I wouldn’t have sown yet only the upcoming forecast looks to be getting worse. We got a short shower every hour. Conditions were sticky but drill seemed to be doing a good enough job so we kept going and finished. Hopefully it will come ok.
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nashmach
Well-Known Member
That looks grand, nothing to worry about there at all once the deluges keep away.
Masseyrk662
Well-Known Member
Husky 
jay gatsby
Well-Known Member
How late is too late to sow them this year in our neck of the woods @gone ?
gone
Well-Known Member
I start to worry about being late around now and pull the plug on the 1st of November. If lucky you may get away a bit later, but you are running the risk of frost heave.
jay gatsby
Well-Known Member
Thanks @gone
diesel power
Well-Known Member
Sown a week tomorrow. Isabelle.
KTM 450
Well-Known Member
Husky doing fine despite all the rain it has got in 3 weeks since sowing. Better strike rate than expected 370 to 420 plants per my sq. I know it’s not cool to count but I’m mad for numbers.
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nashmach
Well-Known Member
That looks lovely for something that's only in 3 weeks.
Masseyrk662
Well-Known Member
Feeling all the rain now big time 
Blackwater boy
Moderator
Yes you would be mad, the oats will do just aswell sown early March as they will now with not a fraction of the hardship
KTM 450
Well-Known Member
Lads near me planted oats on the 3rd week of Jan 22, we did get a good 10 days or so dry in the run up to it. I couldn’t believe it when I saw them sowing it.
They ploughed just ahead of the drill and it looked a lovely crop all year from the road.
No idea how it yielded but knowing those lads they wouldn’t be doing it unless it worked out.
Soil is very saturated at this stage this year though.
They ploughed just ahead of the drill and it looked a lovely crop all year from the road.
No idea how it yielded but knowing those lads they wouldn’t be doing it unless it worked out.
Soil is very saturated at this stage this year though.
Blackwater boy
Moderator
Cloone sowing for EF? If so it yielded very well.
In the same situat
In the same situation here, at this stage I think I’ll wait for February. I’ve no interest in trying to battle crows for the next month!
laoisfarmer
Well-Known Member
I was told by a man who grows a lot of oats not to sow from November 20th to December 20th, his theory was that the seed will sit to long with no growth , early January on he said work away as the ground starts to warm up and the oats will get going .