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Peter Wheeler
Peter Wheeler

Case Studies on Weed Management

Peter Wheeler

Pembrokshire


Farm characteristics
Farm size: 101 hectares (250 acres)
Farm type: mixed (cereal)
Altitude: 80 m (262
Rainfall: 940 mm (37
Soil type/aspect: sandy clay loam, on coastal strip, slopes to south
Basic rotation: quite loose, in cropped fields has cereals, which at about 6 inches are undersown with red/white clover grass mix which is left for 20 months then repeated
Enterprises: beef, sheep and cereals (feed). New woodland (8 ha (21 ac)), ancient hard wood (28 ha (70 ac)), permanent pasture (30 ha (75 ac)), set aside (10 ha (24 ac)), 10 ha (24 ac) cereals (oats and barley). Breeding cows (44) and followers. 100 sheep and followers. Has 1 livestock unit per acre
Prior land use: previously managed very low input with annual fertiliser only
Weeding equipment: Einbok grass harrow, topper and lazy dog tools. Uses ATV to get round farm and keep an eye on crops/weeds
Business: managed by retiring farm manager (deals with paperwork subsidies etc) and 1 contractor who works for half of production/outputs
Marketing: meat sold to organic meat market animals taken and butchered sold to London markets

Weed problems

Attitude to weeds


Comments

  1. Peter, are you sure your plant is Hemlock Water-dropwort? Oenanthe crocata. I think you are talking about Hemlock Conium maculatum. This latter is a weed of such habitats as you describe. O.crocata is a waterplant and unlikely to grow among arable or grass.
    Confusion translating names, I suspect.
    Pam
    - Pam Copson 8---0-2006

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