JonnyR Posted May 5, 2010 Report Share Posted May 5, 2010 Hi All, I shoot on a little syndicate and for the last few years we have put in 3 small, 0.5 acre strips of Maize as cover. The landowner has been drilling fodder maize up to now which is pretty ragged by November, so this year I am trying to persuade him to improve things a bit and would like some advice. I have been looking at game cover maize but the array is confusing. The land we have is fairly flat with plenty of woods but is in a big flat valley so can be quite windy as well as cold. I am wondering whether the extra cost of game cover maize is really worth and of so which one and whether we should also look to undersow it with some millet or similar? thanks, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted May 5, 2010 Report Share Posted May 5, 2010 definitely undersow it makes all the difference, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M ROBSON Posted May 5, 2010 Report Share Posted May 5, 2010 We grow mainly Kale/Rape based coverstrips with 20 acre going in this year, it grows well in most soils and conditions and isn't fussy like some crops. It produces great cover all winter and will last up to 4 years if you keep on top of the weeds. Or, if the farmer wishes he can put his sheep onto it once the season is over. Mark. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teal Posted May 5, 2010 Report Share Posted May 5, 2010 For what it's worth I was impressed by the photographs of the cover strips that M Robson has, as they seemed to hold up well, he has uploaded them in previous topic. If your farmer is in any environmental stewardship schemes, he may be able to claim financial benefit from planting wild bird cover strips, although they some restrictions on use, it could reduce the cost to the shoot, whilst giving you a gamecrop that holds up into January. That said, maize as a holding crop is one of the best there is, just a shame it doesn't hold up better in the winter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonnyR Posted May 5, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 5, 2010 Cheers Folk, I spoke to the farmer and his response was, "Well all maize is the same really, in fact most Game Crop maize is old silage maize seed, and we have lots of woodland on the shoot so I don't think we need it anyway" Think I will go and buy a few bags of Mustard, Sorghum etc, broadcast it and not tell him! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackpowder Posted May 12, 2010 Report Share Posted May 12, 2010 Speak to a seed merchant who will give the best local advice for soil type and conditions. Blackpowder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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