rushes...grrrrrrrrr

doubter

I'm looking for someone in the area of Manorhamilton/dromahair with a tractor and cutter who could cut 42 acres of rushes for me? I am obviously paying for this, I'm at my wits end trying to find someone...help?

on the river

Did you try local agri stores for contractors?

doubter

yeah, they don't know any

Sam Kade

Not many would take on the job as it's a slow job and rough ground wrecks machinery.

PureBred

Why do you want them cut?

Are you going farming the land?

You would be better off getting a young lad in on a quad and lick the lot.
They'll rot into the ground in a few months and wont grow back.

doubter

PureBred wrote: »

Why do you want them cut?

Are you going farming the land?

You would be better off getting a young lad in on a quad and lick the lot.
They'll rot into the ground in a few months and wont grow back.

The land is grazed on and i have no where else to move the horses meanwhile. And my landlord wants them cut.

Buona Fortuna

Is the land wet?

Figerty

doubter wrote: »

The land is grazed on and i have no where else to move the horses meanwhile. And my landlord wants them cut.

Cordon off half it. Lick that half. Keep the horses out of there for two weeks. Then do the other half. Cutting will cover the ground.

Lick again next year. Tell the landlord that cutting is a great way of spreading them..

TUBBY

Figerty wrote: »

Cordon off half it. Lick that half. Keep the horses out of there for two weeks. Then do the other half. Cutting will cover the ground.

Lick again next year. Tell the landlord that cutting is a great way of spreading them..

lad on done deal in longford that has a rush mulcher for hire. Did work near me and it did a great job.

on the river

TUBBY wrote: »

lad on done deal in longford that has a rush mulcher for hire. Did work near me and it did a great job.

How much?

Charliebull

Lad in Sligo with Mulcher, 50 per acre, good lad

Damo810

Charliebull wrote: »

Lad in Sligo with Mulcher, 50 per acre, good lad

€50/acre :eek: He's making something there if he can keep himself busy!

TUBBY

on the river wrote: »

How much?

40 an acre think he said. Didn't pass much remarks though tbh

Nekarsulm

Spray/weed lick them. Cutting a waste of time and diesel. MCPA works out about a fiver an acre, that's probably less than the cost of diesel to mow them.

Livestockmad

Judging by the way some of ye are talking ye have sprayed rushes without cutting them first? I taught they had to be cut and let grow back for 4-6 weeks before spraying when there is soft growth??

Buona Fortuna

Livestockmad wrote: »

Judging by the way some of ye are talking ye have sprayed rushes without cutting them first? I taught they had to be cut and let grow back for 4-6 weeks before spraying when there is soft growth??

If you read the bottle (I usually use Mortone) thats the two alternatives. Spray now or cut wait and spray. I don't know which is the most effective, but I've sprayed without cutting first and the rushes went down for the year.:(

_Brian

Damo810 wrote: »

€50/acre :eek: He's making something there if he can keep himself busy!

Isn't he entitled to though..
I watched a machine mulching on a neighbors land and its a serious job.. the rush is mulched into powder so letting grass up straight away, its no way comparable to cutting/topping..

His costs are big..

Tractor cost.
Mulcher cost
Diesel, I'm no expert but the mulcher was running hard and probably a 150HP+ tractor.
Travel cost to-from site
Insurance, including public/employers liability.
Maybe a wage for the lad on the tractor
And then the contractor profit..

doubter

_Brian wrote: »

Isn't he entitled to though..
I watched a machine mulching on a neighbors land and its a serious job.. the rush is mulched into powder so letting grass up straight away, its no way comparable to cutting/topping..

His costs are big..

Tractor cost.
Mulcher cost
Diesel, I'm no expert but the mulcher was running hard and probably a 150HP+ tractor.
Travel cost to-from site
Insurance, including public/employers liability.
Maybe a wage for the lad on the tractor
And then the contractor profit..

I understand that, but on 42 acres that would come to 2,100 euro no way would i pay that.

doubter

Nekarsulm wrote: »

Spray/weed lick them. Cutting a waste of time and diesel. MCPA works out about a fiver an acre, that's probably less than the cost of diesel to mow them.

Yeah, I've decided to go down that road. will have the creeps licked with Galup by a young lad on a quad bike. Ground is pretty wet at the moment, but the quad will not damage it.Than top them a few weeks after. probably have to repeat the process in spring next year...

_Brian

doubter wrote: »

I understand that, but on 42 acres that would come to 2,100 euro no way would i pay that.

i agree its not value for money..
but remember 42 acres of rushes is fairly hardcore stuff..

I'd say mostly he's out mowing 3-4 acre plots at most so you'd need a decent rate to make it worth while..

I'd say for a job that size a deal could be done...


When were these rushes last cut??
I think if they're awfully strong then spraying would be more advisable than licking.. Awful heavy rushes will tend to protect one half of the tusset and so your only getting contact with some of the rushes..

Also.. Have you 42 acres rented for horses ??
that sounds like alot of ground just for horses

doubter

_Brian wrote: »

i agree its not value for money..
but remember 42 acres of rushes is fairly hardcore stuff..

I'd say mostly he's out mowing 3-4 acre plots at most so you'd need a decent rate to make it worth while..

I'd say for a job that size a deal could be done...


When were these rushes last cut??
I think if they're awfully strong then spraying would be more advisable than licking.. Awful heavy rushes will tend to protect one half of the tusset and so your only getting contact with some of the rushes..

Also.. Have you 42 acres rented for horses ??
that sounds like alot of ground just for horses

The ground is about 20% covered with rushes in patches and large area's. So it's not like the whole 42 acres have to be mowed.They were cut in February, they are pretty high as I have had difficulty finding anyone.
And yes, I have 42 acres *just* for my horses. These are rescue horses.And not one of them ever had the luxury of being able to graze and run free in enough space..now they do. :-)

Buona Fortuna

doubter wrote: »

The ground is about 20% covered with rushes in patches and large area's. So it's not like the whole 42 acres have to be mowed.They were cut in February, they are pretty high as I have had difficulty finding anyone.
And yes, I have 42 acres *just* for my horses. These are rescue horses.And not one of them ever had the luxury of being able to graze and run free in enough space..now they do. :-)

Good for you.

Could you not get a bit of sponsorship going? Stick a post-it in the local co-op; get the local rag to do a piece, local radio?

Just a thought.