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Oliver Dowding
Oliver Dowding

Case Studies on Weed Management

Oliver Dowding

Somerset


Farm characteristics
Farm size: 445 hectares (1100 acres)
Farm type: mixed (cereal)
Altitude: 85 m (279
Rainfall: 912 mm (36
Soil type/aspect: soil type varies from limestone brash to clay loam, none of which has a depth over 8 inches, with the majority being closer to 6. 14ha (35 ac) cannot plough because of gradient
Basic rotation: two to five years of ley, depending on whether red or white clover and how close to the buildings, one to three years of crops, wheat triticale or beans or peas or spring barley, with up to three 'crops' after grass then reseeded
Enterprises: main enterprise is the 180 cow dairy unit, with 150 followers. Around 160 ha (350-400 ac) of arable crops. Have tried around 40 ha (100 ac) of vegetables, gave in within 4 years due to no infrastructure on the growing side and also storage and packing, and were unable to gain the yields and quality necessary to generate adequate return
Prior land use: the land was used for a similar enterprise (dairy and arable)
Weeding equipment: Einbok harrow comb 12 m. No hand held kit
Business: 7 full time employees. There is a heavy use of contractors for most field work
Marketing: milk to OMSCo. Cereals through a variety of merchants, principally buying up deals for reciprocal arrangements on feed for the dairy herd

Weed problems

Attitude to weeds


Comments

  1. He has now sold the cows and is building two new business
    firstly ocean grown uk and wheatgrass(tonic attack).
    - gilbert dowding(oliver's son) 4---0-2005

  2. Thanks, son! The wheatgrass is far more interesting in nutritional terms than farming!
    - Oliver Dowding 5---0-2006

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