Schmitty Posted February 11, 2020 Report Share Posted February 11, 2020 I'm looking for some recommendations on a cover crop that will last through to the end of January'. This is a family pheasant shoot with 1 shoot day in November and 1 shoot day at the end of January. It's a totally organic farm so any cover crop has to grow without and be free from chemicals and fertilizers. What do those in the know recommend Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted February 11, 2020 Report Share Posted February 11, 2020 How long is a piece of string ? Choices Choices. If you don't have a big population of badgers then maize stands well and can be inter rowed with millet. A good lashing of cow muck will keep maize happy. There are a selection of ready made mixes from a number of suppliers which will do this job. A dozen rows of maize on the down wind side of prevailing winds and a few rows of millet on the outside of that should do the job. You can cut access into the maize for a few feeders. But as I say choices choices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schmitty Posted February 12, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2020 Thanks Walker, we've been using millet but it tends to be giving poor cover by the end of January. We have a real problem with Badgers and are actually going to do away with one drive because of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Konnie Posted February 12, 2020 Report Share Posted February 12, 2020 You could try a kale/rape hybrid as you have no chemical control this may be a alternative, when i have used it it has out grown flea beetle damage, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B725 Posted February 12, 2020 Report Share Posted February 12, 2020 Contact King's we used to buy ours from them they have a solution for most cover crops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nmb Posted February 13, 2020 Report Share Posted February 13, 2020 Might be different down south but hard to beat old fashioned kale for holding late season birds. The colder it is the better it holds them in our experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schmitty Posted February 13, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2020 Thanks for the suggestions. Kale may be a good option but i'll give Kings a shout and see what they recommend too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Essex Keeper Posted February 21, 2020 Report Share Posted February 21, 2020 (edited) Best talk to your seed merchant as they will advise you and send out a agronomist you also get subsidies for the right crop kale is 3year cover crop very good for holding birds BUT flea bettle loves it Edited February 21, 2020 by Essex Keeper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottywilson1611@gmail.com Posted February 25, 2020 Report Share Posted February 25, 2020 I recommend introducing a three-crop/mix rotation: annual maize , Stewardship mix and a perennial mix that has a selection of seed-bearing crops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lakeside1000 Posted February 29, 2020 Report Share Posted February 29, 2020 We always had Kale as our go to for cover, it will stand high winds and frosts, gives good protection to the birds and can be grown with little or no fertilizer , (depending on your soil quality of course) , we used it very successfully back in the 70's and 80's through some very bad winters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
somerset warrener Posted April 4, 2020 Report Share Posted April 4, 2020 This is what we do on an Organic farm 3kgs / acre winter hardy Kale 3kgs sunflower - dwarf multi headed variety 3kgs triticale? 0.5kgs Mustard 0.5kgs Forage rape =10kgs / acre.(drill / broadcast April to mid June) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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