Planting cover crops during COVID-19
We do not know what to do for the best regarding shooting this year because of the COVID-19 outbreak and restrictions. We have worked our cover plots but not drilled yet as we are still unsure whether we will shoot or not. What are our options?
Marc says: We are having this conversation with shoots up and down the country. I am sure we all wish we had a crystal ball. That said, we can evaluate the options. Some shoots plan to go ahead as normal, others are reducing the number of days/birds to limit risk, and a contingent have simply taken a year off. It all comes down to individual circumstances.
Game cover and wild birdseed plots are typically later drilled than commercial crops, so shoots have added breathing space on that front. Species such as maize and sorghum are often better drilled late May to the end of June (and in some years even in July); annual brassicas (utopia, mustard, keepers’ relief) can usually be established as late as mid-August (dependent on weather/inputs/ shoot dates); and kale can often be mixed in to provide a second-year crop. Don’t forget annual and biannual brassica crops can also double up as grazing fodder for sheep and cattle for the benefit of livestock farmers.
Land managers with Countryside Stewardship (CS) agreements still have a legal obligation to establish AB9 (wild birdseed plots) regardless of shooting intentions. Where appropriate, cheaper mixtures can be an option here to ‘tick boxes’.
My shoot has been mothballed this season due to potential health risks for the owners and syndicate members. I will be using the opportunity to establish perennial crops (chicory and reed canary grass) that will be strong crops ready for the 2021/22 season. The nurse crops in our Royal MK3 and MK4 will still provide some feed and cover for any residual or wild birds this winter. Any arable areas destined for CS AB9 next season will have mustard span on to the stubbles before chain harrowing and rolling in behind the combine this autumn.
Those who have made the decision not to shoot and do not need to establish perennials should still be mindful of soil health. Leaving weeds to seed will cause future headaches with species such as redshank having a 60-year seed life and fat hen producing two to 20,000 viable seeds per plant (and no, contrary to the conservation world’s thinking, the birds won’t eat even half of these seeds) so it is advisable to clean these nuisance species up while you have the chance.
However, leaving bare soil for 12 to 18 months is counterproductive. Soil microbiology will shut down and go into hibernation with no plant roots in the ground to feed the system. Your crops next year will depend on the same biology to help with nutrition exchange from soil solution to crop roots. If the biology is dormant this can take time to rekindle the relationship, which then slows down crop establishment, so you could be left with a stunted or backwards crop come the shooting season.
Agricultural green manure mixtures have been used for centuries and have returned to the forefront – taking a holistic view of commodities and inputs. Legumes such as crimson clover and vetch will help fix atmospheric nitrogen for the following crop to utilise, but will also help feed soil bacteria: phacelia has great interaction with mycorrhizal fungi as well as helping unlock soil potassium, and buckwheat will do the same with soil phosphate. The result is a seed feed crop for farmland birds and gamebirds alike.
All these options will support pollinators through the summer and into late autumn. Other nutritional scavengers such as quinoa, gold of pleasure and linseed will help retain and unlock soil nutrition for following crops, as well as provide further feed seeds for farmland and gamebirds (and the plant roots will give variety of depth to improve structure).
Please do feel free to contact me or a member of the Bright Seeds team for further advice.