how soon can i cut??

Farmer Dan

Knowledgeable people!

For reasons beyond my control I spread 2.5 bags of Richland (22.5% n) + a bag of urea per acre fort silage. It's after growing well. How soon can I cut it? Hate the idea of missing out on this good weather. Thanks in advance

bogman_bass

by my maths 52 days after spreading

_Brian

We would usually use 2 units of N per day + 1 week as our guide.

How would it work when fert was spread and saw no rain for 10 days. I'm thinking of starting the count from the first rain.

bogman_bass

_Brian wrote: »

We would usually use 2 units of N per day + 1 week as our guide.

How would it work when fert was spread and saw no rain for 10 days. I'm thinking of starting the count from the first rain.

You don't need to wait or rain. If you kneel down when speading and your knees are damp then you're fine.

If it was second cut there is merit in waiting for rain

Farmer Dan

Thanks guys. Should have said, I spread on the 26th may for first cut silage.

kay 9

In the same predicament. Put out can 4 weeks ago. Everyone I talk to saying wait 6 weeks. Might cut in the 5th if it gets some sun. Only prob is I went 3 bag to the acre in few fields

dohc turbo2

kay 9 wrote: »

In the same predicament. Put out can 4 weeks ago. Everyone I talk to saying wait 6 weeks. Might cut in the 5th if it gets some sun. Only prob is I went 3 bag to the acre in few fields

Take a sample to see if there is nitrogen in it . U might be able to cut sooner than u think ,

Farmer Pudsey

Farmer Dan wrote: »

Thanks guys. Should have said, I spread on the 26th may for first cut silage.

As a matter of interest why did you put out so much N. You will need 55 day ideally that takes you to the 20th of July. Is it pit or bale. If you are baling it you could chance it around the 10th of July if you have very dry weather and leave it down 4-5 days and make haylage out of it. But it will be a gamble. Not even sure if it is worth the risk to save 10 days as crop will be poor quality at that stage anyway

As a matter of interest how come so much N was put out on the 28th of July and final question was it very wet when the urea was spread

Deepsouthwest

Not sure where u guys are getting 50+ days from. If it's 2.5 bags of 22.5 N, then is that not 2.5 x 22.5 = 56.25 units of N, using 2 units/day that's 28 days. If he spread in late May then plenty rain then, remember the june bank holiday monday's rain. I'd be cutting around now

mf240

Deepsouthwest wrote: »

Not sure where u guys are getting 50+ days from. If it's 2.5 bags of 22.5 N, then is that not 2.5 x 22.5 = 56.25 units of N, using 2 units/day that's 28 days. If he spread in late May then plenty rain then, remember the june bank holiday monday's rain. I'd be cutting around now

Its two richland and a bag of urea.

Thats 102 units.

Deepsouthwest

mf240 wrote: »

Its two richland and a bag of urea.

Thats 102 units.

Sh1t, didn't see the bag of urea part, my bad, apologies! There must be some cut on that now!

Sacrolyte

Leave it another 2 weeks.

Brown Podzol

Can't see a problem with cutting now. We've often cut paddocks blue with nitrogen and once you get a wilt and dm up to around 30% never had a problem. A positive is that the protein would be higher in this silage.