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Tavascarow
Joined: 06 Aug 2006 Posts: 8407 Location: South Cornwall
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Rob R
Joined: 28 Oct 2004 Posts: 31902 Location: York
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Mistress Rose
Joined: 21 Jul 2011 Posts: 15998
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Rob R
Joined: 28 Oct 2004 Posts: 31902 Location: York
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Tavascarow
Joined: 06 Aug 2006 Posts: 8407 Location: South Cornwall
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Rob R
Joined: 28 Oct 2004 Posts: 31902 Location: York
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Mistress Rose
Joined: 21 Jul 2011 Posts: 15998
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Posted: Sat May 16, 15 6:07 am Post subject: |
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I assumed the OSR was grown because it was something the farmers could sell. I didn't realise it was mainly as a break crop, because round here there is lots of it grown. We have found OSR useful for our bees because it builds them up in the spring, but whether all of it gets pollinated I don't know. The spring rape used to give us a good crop, but hardly any of that is grown here now. Pulses are not a bad alternative are they? Certainly peas and field beans add nitrogen to the soil, and field beans encourage pollinators, as the best honey I ever had was rape and field bean.
Clover is a good crop for cattle and for wildlife, but it depends on whether it is worth while for the farmer, and the particular place it is grown. If ground is to be used for livestock, then trying to re-establish the traditional pasture for that area is probably a good alternative.
Basically, it is a question of balance. We need some arable farming, some livestock and the whole as ecologically balanced as possible. You would not be able to do your type of farming where we are because it is dry and the natural pasture, although used for grazing in the valleys, is better suited for sheep on the hills. |
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Rob R
Joined: 28 Oct 2004 Posts: 31902 Location: York
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Falstaff
Joined: 27 May 2009 Posts: 1014
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Mistress Rose
Joined: 21 Jul 2011 Posts: 15998
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Rob R
Joined: 28 Oct 2004 Posts: 31902 Location: York
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Mistress Rose
Joined: 21 Jul 2011 Posts: 15998
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dpack
Joined: 02 Jul 2005 Posts: 46249 Location: yes
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Falstaff
Joined: 27 May 2009 Posts: 1014
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Mistress Rose
Joined: 21 Jul 2011 Posts: 15998
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