Sporting Gun

Options for a feed crop

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Every year we struggle to get maize/millet/sorghum establishe­d because our ground goes from cold and wet to baked boulders while we wait for the soil to warm up. We already have perennial crops in place so we often fall back on these for cover. Is there an alternativ­e feed crop we can establish earlier?

Marc says: There are several options if you are struggling to establish exotic species. My first choice would be our Early Bird Mix. Designed to tie in with spring barley establishm­ent, it can be subject to a robust herbicide programme to combat both the broadleave­d and grass weeds often associated with game cover. Any crop establishi­ng so early will often lack the ‘standing power’ to last until February. With this in mind, often the Early Bird Mix is planted in March and Keeper’s Relief broadcast into the standing crop in late June/early July. This allows weed control, provides a feed crop and makes the crop more winter hardy. It also helps get the brassicas away from flea beetle, pigeon et al.

 ??  ?? Keeper’s Relief provides good floor cover with some height
Keeper’s Relief provides good floor cover with some height

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