Farm update 279 Incorporating cover crops and preparing the soil for planting wheat next month.

The cover crops have done their job and so it’s time to incorporate them into the soil, repair the top 10” from the affects of the last years rain and get the fields ready to plant the next crop. However we had a job to find the best way to do this and tried different ways. Join us and see what Tom found was eventually successful.
Rueben is cultivating with a demo 6R 215, not that we can justify buying new kit but eventually we will have to replace the 14 yr old Case puma and 13 yr old JCB Fastrac.
Grandson Oscar also comes for the afternoon.
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#VintageTractorRun #Subsoiling #FarmVlog #Harvest2024 #MoleDraining #Moling #Drainage #CoverCrops #Phaselia #BuckWheat #Bees #Wildlife #Nature

[@robdavis5711]

Smashing update, love seeing combines working in the fields. Already been in one near Sleaford recently, a Claas 8800 with 40ft Convioflex header in spring barley, driven by Mr Bailey! It was so good to be in the cab, every time I see them I’m in awe and to operate them must take so much training and technical knowledge…

[@WardysWaffleAndrewWard]

Boys toys!

[@TheFrEaKiShfish]

When it comes to the Deeres, we had a 6195r, 7215r, 7250r and 8310r. We were amazed that the choice every time for us would have been the 8310 for almost any task. The balance in performance to price was noted. It seems like a significant jump at 100hp but we always thought it was worth it and the other three were parked up far more. The 8 series cab and size and power offered more than the 7. Great update again Andrew - your Simba tool always surprises me with the combination being disc-leg-packer-disc! I haven’t seen many like that around. I don’t think I’ve ever used one without the packer being at the back!

[@WardysWaffleAndrewWard]

Solo R had the packer at the back, our version does a better job because with the packer in front of the back discs means the soil is consolidated for the rear discs to bite into. Also you generally can’t or don’t tow a separate press behind with the Solo R.

[@roberthoward3723]

Like the farming content soil conditioning cover crop etc.- nice to see you cultivating the next generation.

[@ianmckay1780]

Andrew, that was a brilliant idea rolling then diamond digging, it chopped magnificently and buried a lot more. Well done with that thinking. Love it when a plan comes together... See you next time.

[@voxxag8054]

Fantastic organic matter right there. Always found fast discs like a carrier, joker or alike at 10-14kmh chops up cover crop really well. Speed is key!

[@bobcrawford2105]

Would be interesting to do a test dig in the field that it’s suspected to have buried ex airfield kit in it Maybe a starting point would be to have a ground penetration scanners run over it

[@MartinDowney-p1i]

Great video andrew. The contractor i work for hear in ireland we have four 215 tractors 🚜 great tractors

[@WardysWaffleAndrewWard]

Thanks for the tractor feed back

[@michaelsmith-dm3kb]

Brilliant video Andrew,thoroughly enjoyed that.There is so much attention to detail the way you farm,your fields are so level just like billiard tables.

[@jonstephens682]

Cracking update again Andrew. That cover crop is a bugger to chop and bury and must say the 8RX and the culti press on it looks a fair beast. Glad you’re manageing to get your fields ready for the drilling in September.

[@richardmorgan9918]

Great video Andrew …as usual very informative and generously sharing experience….. very interested in the cover crop management as am doing a trial in a cotton/wheat rotation in the Caspian basin ….

[@WardysWaffleAndrewWard]

Wow, thanks for interacting. 👍

[@stephenross1581]

Another great Sunday morning video, interesting and educational, what more could we ask for with out morning tea ❤

[@WardysWaffleAndrewWard]

👍😊

[@markyoull6744]

great stuff andrew will combine be going green

[@louthboy]

a 6R250 would be better, a big tractor can do a little tractor job whereas a little tractor cant do a big tractor job. You never know what HP you will need in the future. Tractors aren't replaced as often as they use to be so have to last more years & we don't know how we'll be farming in the future (if at all)

[@WardysWaffleAndrewWard]

You’re not the first to say that but conscious of the extra weight.

[@JohnnyMotel99]

I watched a US farm video, where they used a wheat harvester that just stripped the seed out of the ears and left the stalk standing. Then bean seed was planted inbetween the old wheat rows. Seemed like the wheat stalks forced the beans to grow up for the light.

[@WardysWaffleAndrewWard]

We have those stripper headers here too

[@petergarthwaite6805]

Great video your very busy 😮

[@peterwilson-qj2ds]

Good update Andrew , your doing a great job incorporating the cover crops. Lets hope we don't get a repeat of last autumn and the drills can get on.

[@user-mw1pl2ul5d]

I would be concerned the chopped up cover crop would get down the mole slits and block the mole drain. A small roller behind the mole leg would close the surface.

[@WardysWaffleAndrewWard]

It’s mixed in the soil really well and I don’t think short enough to go down the slot.

[@georgehay5929]

Another great video Andrew

[@Shaunalexander.99]

Thought incorporating the cover crop would be a challenge Andrew, lots of material. Hope it doesn't bug you right up to drilling ?

[@nickdent8783]

Hopefully you not got many bees on your phacelia when you are rolling.it's a shame to kill them.when I've topped similar I'd do it at night so no bees about.another good video by the way

[@richardmatthews3304]

I was thinking that, if you did it at night you would also squish some slugs

[@nickdent8783]

@@richardmatthews3304 never considered that but that's a good point.

[@bluefarmy]

Doing it steadily in daylight is much better for wildlife, bees can fly off if you go steady. If you do it at night you will squash ground nesting birds and mamals that can't see you coming

[@WardysWaffleAndrewWard]

There was alot of wildlife running around in the bottom so I think doing it in the day gave them chance to escape.

[@richardmatthews3304]

@@WardysWaffleAndrewWard good point,

[@gunton21]

Interesting video as always. 👌

[@richardbaker22]

Great video Andrew keep up the good work

[@andykeeble1]

Another fascinating video. Thanks Wardy.

[@nigelphillips9426]

Good video thanks

[@dalemarsh357]

Combines now chewing into wheat down here near Ely and further south in my old home area near Newmarket. Maybe they sprayed with roundup? Weather looks reasonable for a few days but after that, it's a bit iffy courtesy of that old Hurricane crossing the Atlantic. The usual exquisite timing!

[@WardysWaffleAndrewWard]

A few going round here, we might have a go st the s barley at the weekend.

[@Gearoid35]

Excellent video, hope ye get the weather for drilling in September.

[@alistairnelson3216]

Mental note about rolling the cover crop good idea one for the mental archive!! Thank you Think you need a bigger tractor!! also those weaving drills don't need much power to pull but are heavy and if you were contemplating putting it on that rather than the 8rx a 250r would be a better bet in jd world not sure of the difference except hp but a neighbour has a weaving and tried both and the 250r wagoned it better

[@WardysWaffleAndrewWard]

Depends how much heavier the 250 is.

[@PeterWhitehead-d2f]

Andrew. Can’t believe you have not got a disc drill. Would be perfect into those prepared seed beds !!! Regards Peter Whitehead Kent farmer

[@grandpaandlucas7054]

very good mr wardy 👍

[@brycekirby1567]

Very nice content

[@adrianlayen4119]

Great update Andrew, I liked how you overcome the issue of the long stalks when working the cover crop in. The John Deere looks good, if you was to change 2 tractors down to 1, what about any issues of breakdowns and you have no back up tractor on the farm? I set a piece of wild meadow mix at my Dads 2 years ago, I am going to increase the area this autumn, I get my mix from Boston seeds.

[@WardysWaffleAndrewWard]

Farols are only 10 mins away, I’d be relying heavily n them for back up.

[@ronaldlucas5360]

Great video 👌

[@laytonphillips6667]

Great update andrew, good to see the ground being got ready, wheres the xpress ? Wouldn't that break it up. Two tractors to one what happens if you have a break down.

[@WardysWaffleAndrewWard]

The solo is bringing up some clods and the cultipress breaks them better that the xpress, we will use it though at some point.

[@jamesmccambridge7457]

Wouldn't the plough have done a wonderful job there Andrew burying all that cover crop as it should be , great video as usual 👍

[@WardysWaffleAndrewWard]

🤯😦😦 Plough that land and it would need about 6 passes to knock it down to drill, we used to do that and that’s why we stopped ploughing in 2003!

[@Charliebill572]

Great video Andrew. I used to run a 6215R and found it was under powered for our work so now run a 6R250 and on top of the job. Looks like the 6R215 is struggling on the press.

[@WardysWaffleAndrewWard]

Interesting, how much more does the 250 weigh?

[@Charliebill572]

@@WardysWaffleAndrewWardnot 100% sure but it’s going to be two or three ton heavier. I pull a 3m mounted sumo trio comfortably at 10-11k as with the 215 I was always struggling at 8-9k. Big difference on output. Also pull a 3m Striptill machine with the 215 it in the heavy land it was struggling at 4-5k as the 250 pulls between 6-7k Hope this helps

[@WardysWaffleAndrewWard]

Thank you, great info.

[@user-od3lu1kd5g]

I am intrigued by the wear on items like the mole drainer with expanders and also things like the discs.. This lost metal is obviously left in the soil. Although small, is there a measurable quantity of metal in the soil? Presumably, year on year, this is increasing?

[@WardysWaffleAndrewWard]

It will be minute the amount of acres covered.

[@suresren]

Another good video. Have you tried a cultivator with a cutting roller on for your cover crops,

[@WardysWaffleAndrewWard]

We never have as many cover crops as we have this year,

[@tinnitus512]

Can I ask, when the field with bad black grass had 7 or 8 years of spring barley, did its yield drop and then recover like you mentioned the wheat did...?

[@WardysWaffleAndrewWard]

Not that I noticed

[@petergardner2334]

you could use fail it would chop it fine in long run it would abetter job just a thought

[@WardysWaffleAndrewWard]

We only have a 2.2 m one, would take ages!

[@grahamsandry313]

I wonder if a power harrow would chop it up.

[@philipmetcalfe6289]

Any nutrition for early drilled wheats or are indices ok ? Bit of moisture at the right time and they'll hit the ground running. Varietiey ? All in good time i expect ! Liked the cover crop destruction with existing machinery.

[@WardysWaffleAndrewWard]

Index is good I think

[@markmeredith5521]

Here is an interesting way to show people/school children how vulnerable our global food supply is: A man doing a talk held up an apple.He said,this represents the earth 🌎. He then took out his penknife and sliced a quarter off the apple. He then held up the big piece (3/4) and said this represents all the water on the planet....seas,lakes,rivers and steams...no food can be grown here. He then held up the small piece (1/4) and sliced a chunk off it....This represents all the mountains and deserts on the planet....no food can be grown here. He cut another chunk off ....This represents all the towns and cities, villages and hamlets, sports grounds and golf clubs....no food can be grown here. He was left with a tiny slither of apple. He then took his penknife and cut the skin off. He held it up and said.....This is where we grow our food. That’s how vulnerable our food supply is. Might be a good way to show non farmers in a simple visual way.

[@WardysWaffleAndrewWard]

Very interesting way, thank you.

[@SpudSlingsby]

Rolling looks effective giving the solo following. We find that spraying our cover crops off while still quite supple (as opposed to woody) then batwing topping reduces the cover crop to something resembling grass clippings. I'd be wary of dropping from 3 tractors to 2, you have many occasions outside of peak times when you use your Case and Fastrac on the same day. The flexibility of not needing to swap implements cannot be undervalued. You don't seem to use your MX135 much, could you swap the Puma and MX for a replacement and keep the Fastrac for the runabout tractor? (I guess it will be worth less than the Puma to trade in)

[@johnmullaney3445]

I would agree with keeping the fastrac. Too handy for the bowser and all the other odd jobs.

[@WardysWaffleAndrewWard]

The Fastrac is worth about £10k more than the puma! It needs a lot more thought yet! We still debating about getting a used hedge cutter, the MX would go on that,

[@SpudSlingsby]

@@WardysWaffleAndrewWard that surprises me tbh, Fastracs aren't known for big residual values. We've gone the other way in recent years, and have added second hand extra capacity rather than replaced tractors. It's certainly taken some pressure off, though admittedly with root crops we have more specific requirements than the average combinable only operation.

[@WardysWaffleAndrewWard]

It’s because it’s a 2170, they are getting into collectors territory and ours has only done just over 4,000 hours

[@geoffreymoore2204]

Would the cover crop not cause a huge slug problem if not cultivated in right,flail mower chop it any better,?

[@WardysWaffleAndrewWard]

We only have a 2.2m flail

[@Rob-zx8lm]

What was Ruben's opinion on the 6R 215 JD? Also how it compared with the Case Puma?

[@WardysWaffleAndrewWard]

He’s got green blood, say no more!!!

[@joewood7559]

Hi Andrew seeing as you are literally Mr simba, was wondering if you have any contacts of anyone with left over simba parts. Wanting a leveling board for my culti press ( complete frame work ) they did 2 types, and I want to swap mine to the other sort. Thanks

[@WardysWaffleAndrewWard]

I know someone in Yorks who has a lot of Simba kit he breaks and sells for spares. Our first cultipress had the wider, stiffer leaf springs but it worked in a funny way with the front edge and bar carrying the soil. I never did like it. Our second one has thinner springs with wear plates at the bottom and these are what does the levelling. I think it’s much better and doesn’t take so much pulling.

[@joewood7559]

@@WardysWaffleAndrewWardthat’s it, the front edge bulldozes more and tends to drag lumps out and makes holes, rather than gently raking the surface like the one on yours does. Would be very interested to hear if he’s got anything for a 6.6 metre. Thankyou

[@WardysWaffleAndrewWard]

He’s called Craig Avison. 07977 208205

[@raymondcarroll1670]

Would you not sell the old MX and keep the Puma?

[@WardysWaffleAndrewWard]

If we buy another hedge cutter, it’ll go on the MX.

[@raymondcarroll1670]

@WardysWaffleAndrewWard ok, thank you for taking the time to reply, have uiu no hedgecutter now? Great video by the way

[@WardysWaffleAndrewWard]

@raymondcarroll1670 No, we sold it at a local collective machinery sale, it had seen better days!

[@user-su5hb8gc7t]

why dont you use old double chop silage machine

[@WardysWaffleAndrewWard]

We don’t have one and we never have as many acres of cover crops as we have this year.

[@jfi368]

How many Bees and pollinators were killed during the phacelia incorporation 😢

[@WardysWaffleAndrewWard]

Going slow gave them chance to fly away and the field has to be got ready in plenty of time to allow the weather to work the soil.

[@jfi368]

@@WardysWaffleAndrewWard Sorry but that explanation simply won't wash.. 90 percent of Bees and pollinators were killed during that operation. Honestly is always the best policy !!

[@WardysWaffleAndrewWard]

So what about producing food? Do we forget about that? Should I put the whole farm into sfi? We have had 8m flower margins around every field since 2005 so I think I have given more consideration to bees than most.

[@jfi368]

@@WardysWaffleAndrewWard I and many others absolutely appreciate what you are doing !! Sadly there are not more farmers and growers amongst us currently doing what you trying to achieve in terms of biodiversity.. all I'm saying is your timing could well be better 😊

[@WardysWaffleAndrewWard]

@jfi368 All our cover crop fields haven’t had a crop on this harvest so we have lost a huge amount of income. So we’re trying to maximise yield for next harvest and our soil needs 6 weeks minimum for the wet and dry weathering to do its magic, and that takes us to the end of Sept to drill.