Plan catch crops now to avoid silage shortfall risk
Plan catch crops now to avoid silage shortfall risk
By Richard Allison
CATCH crops should be considered by producers facing a shortfall of silage for next winter because of the late spring and overstocking as a result of livestock movement restrictions.
Now is the time to plan your crop areas for the next few months, as this will leave options still open later on, says James Hague of Kingshay Farming Trust.
"There is nothing more expensive than running out of forage mid-winter, as many producers have found out this year."
Which crop to grow depends on what suits the farm in general and the field site, says SAC sheep specialist John Vipond. "Crop yield and level of waste are affected by the weather, so choose a sheltered well-drained site with a run back area.
"When the crop is to be grazed will also determine what is suitable. When a later sowing is being planned, such as following winter cereals, stubble turnips are more ideal with yields of 3t/ha being obtained on good sites. Forage rape is typically sown in June/July for use 100 days later."
But crops must go in now when the area is being put back into grass this coming autumn, says Mr Hague.
"Leafy brassicas, such as kale and forage turnips, can offer 7-10t/ha of dry matter three months after sowing. They are perfect for filling in any grazing gaps, offering an alternative to buffer feeding grass silage.
"Good crop establishment is the key ingredient for achieving high yields. Ensure there is sufficient moisture in the seedbed for germination. Where insufficient moisture is likely to be a problem, direct drilling is preferred to ploughing, as less moisture is lost."
Direct drilling is also £50-75/ha (£20-£30/acre) cheaper than ploughing. Before direct drilling grassland, Mr Hague advises grazing the old sward down to the floor and spraying a broad-spectrum herbicide. "But care is needed when following a silage crop or grazing because too much moisture may have already been removed by the grass.
"Effective pest control is also needed for good establishment. Wireworms, leatherjackets and birds all want their share of the crop."
Mr Hague advises producers to carefully consider which variety to grow because there is about 1.5t/ha difference between old and new varieties. "You can effectively double yield by going for modern varieties."
For swedes, varieties are divided into low, medium and high dry matter content types. Previously, high dry matter types were useful for long-term keep because of their frost resistance, but sheep may have problems biting off material from the root, says Dr Vipond.
Producers could also consider growing mixtures of rape and other brassicas. "There has been an increasing trend of adding 250g/ha turnips as a bottom filler to increase yield. Also, where soil fertility is patchy or rough ground, broadcast 5kg of Italian ryegrass with a rape mixture to guarantee some forage being produced."
Mr Hague stresses that it is important to integrate catch crops with grazing. "It is no good having a crop on land miles away." Ideally, sow the crop in a corner of the field where the sward is poor and needs reseeding. The grazing area then acts as a fall-back area, avoiding problems with mud, and it effectively offers a mixed forage diet.
"The cost of growing different catch crops is similar. They tend to be cheaper than grazed grass because of the high yield produced in a relatively short time. However, this is providing that you get good crop use, make a mess of grazing it and it becomes much less economic." *
CATCHCROPS
• High yield in short time.
• Integrate with grazing.
• Plan crops now.
Sowing a catch crop for grazing later in the season might be cheaper than running out of forage in mid-winter, providing crops are established well.
Sow what and when?
Catch When to When to
crop sow graze
Kale May-June Autumn-
early spring
Stubble June-Aug Autumn-
turnips early winter
Forage June-July Autumn-
rape early winter
Swedes Apr-May Winter