direct drilling instead of ploughing

bear_hunter

ive seen this done before and apart from the fact that the reseed turned out fine , the farmer was glad not to have to spend a week picking stones as it was gravely type ground

has anyone else any experience or opinion on direct drilling

bob charles

if the land is level then its the best option by far if reseeding. a little planning is needed and attention to detail is vital. Once you get a feel for doing the job properly it will be a doodle. I will post pictures in a few weeks of some done a couple of weeks ago. Not looking happy with all this rain and the little grasses don't like there new surrounds. Will get some foliar N on this week and it may wake them up a bit

bear_hunter

bob charles wrote: »

if the land is level then its the best option by far if reseeding. a little planning is needed and attention to detail is vital. Once you get a feel for doing the job properly it will be a doodle. I will post pictures in a few weeks of some done a couple of weeks ago. Not looking happy with all this rain and the little grasses don't like there new surrounds. Will get some foliar N on this week and it may wake them up a bit

what is the name of the machine used for drilling , is it a seed driller , whats the proper description ?

rancher

bear_hunter wrote: »

what is the name of the machine used for drilling , is it a seed driller , whats the proper description ?

The machine that has proven itself in the last few years is the Guttler direct drill, works really well but field has to be level, good few of them around now

keep going

Dug up this thread as I have come to the conclusion it might be the only option for me.first I can only spare ground in may and june, didnt cut any silage off home block this year , second would be fairly busy at that time of year so abig reseeding job would be the last thing id want(even ifcyou use contractors theres still time involved).thirdly ploughing not an option .what is the key to making drilling work as there it seems to be hit and miss witn alot of people

Greengrass1

keep going wrote: »

Dug up this thread as I have come to the conclusion it might be the only option for me.first I can only spare ground in may and june, didnt cut any silage off home block this year , second would be fairly busy at that time of year so abig reseeding job would be the last thing id want(even ifcyou use contractors theres still time involved).thirdly ploughing not an option .what is the key to making drilling work as there it seems to be hit and miss witn alot of people

First time we used it this yr.
Great job I thought.
2 biggest factors for it to be a success is plenty rain after sowing and good pest control. Need to be watching for slugs and leather jackets.
Doing another bit here next week and using it again. If field is rough hete it'll be ploughed though

Milked out

Greengrass1 wrote: »

First time we used it this yr.
Great job I thought.
2 biggest factors for it to be a success is plenty rain after sowing and good pest control. Need to be watching for slugs and leather jackets.
Doing another bit here next week and using it again. If field is rough hete it'll be ploughed though

Would you do it on level ground which hasn't been tilled in 30 odd years or no?. I think ploughing may be better as it seems to improve structure and drainage capacity but ground is spun out and will need on going feeding don't want to bury the top layer too much. Plus there will be stones stones and more stones

Greengrass1

Milked out wrote: »

Would you do it on level ground which hasn't been tilled in 30 odd years or no?. I think ploughing may be better as it seems to improve structure and drainage capacity but ground is spun out and will need on going feeding don't want to bury the top layer too much. Plus there will be stones stones and more stones

Field were doing this time has been in grass 30 yrs I'd say was in grass when we arrived here do god knows how long it's in grass.
Last reseed we did with the plough here took yrs to grow anything substantial and it would have got everything it needed
If it lasts 10 yrs and grows as much grass as a ploughed fiekd I see no reason why to bother with a plough

Milked out

Greengrass1 wrote: »

Field were doing this time has been in grass 30 yrs I'd say was in grass when we arrived here do god knows how long it's in grass.
Last reseed we did with the plough here took yrs to grow anything substantial and it would have got everything it needed
If it lasts 10 yrs and grows as much grass as a ploughed fiekd I see no reason why to bother with a plough

Have had good result with plough at home particularly on wet ground bar the stones but it would get slurry etc every year. On the reseeding every 10 years once soil fertiliy is right and no major damage done by poaching and weeds kept at bay they should last longer. Went to a farm in blarney early in year and he mentioned he had one field set 20 years he wanted to reseed as it was getting a bit rough on the surface but as he looked thru his grass measuring records it was growing as much grass consistently as fields reseeded in recent years so at the moment no point in doing it as it's productive as ever. All high indexes and ph right. He did have a lot of dung tho for spreading. Just wondering would direct drilling Last as long as a ploughed reseed?

fergus1001

Anyone have opinions on the Claydon drills for tillage ?

Greengrass1

Milked out wrote: »

Have had good result with plough at home particularly on wet ground bar the stones but it would get slurry etc every year. On the reseeding every 10 years once soil fertiliy is right and no major damage done by poaching and weeds kept at bay they should last longer. Went to a farm in blarney early in year and he mentioned he had one field set 20 years he wanted to reseed as it was getting a bit rough on the surface but as he looked thru his grass measuring records it was growing as much grass consistently as fields reseeded in recent years so at the moment no point in doing it as it's productive as ever. All high indexes and ph right. He did have a lot of dung tho for spreading. Just wondering would direct drilling Last as long as a ploughed reseed?

Yep fully agree with you there one of 2 the best fields here for growing grass was reseeded 11 yrs ago when we moved. Grazed it paddys day this yr and was back in with cows by 5th April.
Other fiekd was reseeded last yr. But yes definitely if growing the grass they stay
but once whole farm is reseeded here I'd say 10% each yr reseeded would be about right

Another option to do along side the DD would be sub soil before it to break up any pan

Sam Kade

Does anyone use Sinclair McGill turbo mix for grazing? I seeded a field with it in 1996 and I always have to put the cows back into it before other paddocks that were grazed earlier than it.