Actionpigeons Posted December 14, 2012 Report Share Posted December 14, 2012 Morning all I have a fair bit of land to shoot over, some say more than my fair share…lol One farm not far from me of a 1,000 ac last year, and the years before had a 50/50 Rape, cereal. This year the farmer has not drilled any Rape at all and has left a good few fields for spring drilling. A farm 30 min away from me has drilled some rape, but nowhere near the amount he normally puts in. This seems to be the case with most of the farms I shoot over, most seem to be following the same plan of drilling in the spring. Every cloud has a silver lining, and I am looking forward to a good bit of shooting in the spring. Now I'm thinking this maybe down to the wet weather, or is it? My question is, are the farmers around in other areas of the country following the same plan this year, or is it just around here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted December 14, 2012 Report Share Posted December 14, 2012 I would imagine that the pattern is repeated in most arable crop growing areas of the country and it is entirely due to the wet ground. Some of my farmer friends tell me now that if the wet weather continues they may not be able to sow spring cereals. That would be an exceptional circumstance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon controller Posted December 14, 2012 Report Share Posted December 14, 2012 Most of my farms just have not managed to get the soil ready, I'm 50% down on rape this year. The big problem is the shortage of spring seed for rape and cereals and the price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little_Dom Posted December 14, 2012 Report Share Posted December 14, 2012 we managed to get all our rape sown ( albiet 2 weeks later than normal) but its still at the 2-4 leaf stage and about 1 inch tall so hopefully the pigeons will leave it alone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Essex Hunter Posted December 14, 2012 Report Share Posted December 14, 2012 (edited) The biggest problem is actually getting to an area where the birds are! Plenty of pigeons but the farm lads are setting bangers out and just pushing the birds in the centre of the monster blocks of rape! A few phone calls and an hours meeting with the local dedicated pigeon shooters would result in less chasing and more shooting! TEH Edited December 14, 2012 by The Essex Hunter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gav912 Posted December 14, 2012 Report Share Posted December 14, 2012 We managed to get our rape drilled but have had to redrill 8 acres due to our neighbours damned partridges grazing it off despite or efforts to get rid of them, we've probably lost another couple of acres to pigeons as well.........boss moans about the pigeons then asks a local chap to come shoot them bypassing me despite knowing I'd come and shoot them so as far as I'm concerned they can graze the whole lot off!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
team tractor Posted December 15, 2012 Report Share Posted December 15, 2012 Rape everywhere in tamworth and more than normal . The hs2 cuts through every farm I shoot so their trying to get top money for the land ,the only way to do this is growing rape Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbo33 Posted December 15, 2012 Report Share Posted December 15, 2012 Not good down here. 2 fields poor germination and choked by grasses as it was too wet to spray off. They are a write off. Another about 50% of the field is ok the rest much the same as the previous two. On another farm 30% lost to poor germination and 15-20% massive slug damage. I think PC is on to a hot one, in that spring seed could be in very high demand/shortage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davyo Posted December 15, 2012 Report Share Posted December 15, 2012 SLUGS,took the tops of as soon as crop came through.Farmer had to re drill & spread pellets.If its another wet year gona have to get cartridges filled with slug pellets.lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted December 16, 2012 Report Share Posted December 16, 2012 I would say there is more rape than normal in some areas that i shoot. I drove round yesterday and had a look. There was a couple of hundred here and a couple of hundred there on some fields, nothing really worth setting up for. I will probably only venture out if i get a specific request by a farmer or i get a really itchy trigger finger. The best time for rape is March - june. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PLH1966 Posted December 24, 2012 Report Share Posted December 24, 2012 The rape I shoot over is really struggling to get a hold, looks like a combination of loads of standing water & Partridges nibbling it off, dont think the major problem is Pigeons at the moment Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B725 Posted December 24, 2012 Report Share Posted December 24, 2012 All ours has gone under the plough,it was drilled in time but rotted off as it was too wet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PLH1966 Posted December 30, 2012 Report Share Posted December 30, 2012 Some of ours back on to some beet, that's just been turned in & we've been getting plenty on there for a week but it's dying off now & the rape is still looking very sad, got some "driven" land coming my way at the end of the season so at least I have a plan B! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mad1 Posted December 30, 2012 Report Share Posted December 30, 2012 Mines under water !!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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