Wholecrop
Why Wholecrop?
Wholecrop is rapidly gaining in popularity for a number of reasons:
- Livestock and dairy margins are tight, and the largest single cost on UK dairy and livestock farms is the bought-in feed costs. Feeding wholecrop reduces the need for supplementary feedstuffs, and saves large amounts of money.
- Wholecrop can be produced using on-farm skills and equipment. It is generally much cheaper to grow than maize, and can also be harvested in August, allowing an Autumn sowing to take place of either grass, winter cereals, or a winter forage like kale.
Wholecrop - Mixtures
Download below PDF's for more information on each mix, regarding agronomy, costs, yield & analysis etc.
| Wholecrop option | Mixtures | Status | Download document (PDF) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flexi Mix | Vetch & Triticale | New | Flexi Mix (187 kb) |
| Avon Mix | Spring Triticale & White Lupins | Well proven | Avon Mix (158 kb) |
| Trent Mix | Spring Wheat & White Lupins | Well proven | Trent Mix (149 kb) |
| Clyde Mix | Spring Triticale & Yellow Lupins | New | Clyde Mix (153 kb) |
| Cherwell Mix | Spring Oats & Blue Lupins | New/ experimental | Cherwell Mix (149 kb) |
| Hamble Mix | Spring Barley & Yellow Lupins | New | Hamble Mix (152 kb) |
| Humber Mix | Spring Barley & Peas | Well proven | Humber Mix (140 kb) |
[To view PDF 
documents you will need a version of Adobe Acrobat Reader.]
Wholecrop options - Straight cropping options
| Wholecrop option | Straight cropping |
|---|---|
| Logo Spring Triticale | A superior alternative to wholecrop spring wheat, barley, or oats. Read more about the Spring Triticale. |
| White Lupins | For most wholecrop situations where a straight Lupin silage is desired. |
| Yellow Lupins | A new option for wholecrop situations in the North where a straight Lupin silage is desired. |
| Blue Lupins | For wholecrop situations in the very North, where a straight Lupin silage is desired. |
| Peas for wholecrop | For those looking for a straight wholecrop pea |
Pre-inoculated Seed Exclusively from Soya UK
Soya UK have recently developed and introduced the process of pre-inoculating Lupin mixes. With successful trials over the last couple of years, and a large commercial area grown in the 2006 season, pre-inoculated seed has been available on a commercial scale since Spring 2007.
This system simplifies the drilling operation by avoiding the need for the grower to inoculate the seed in the drill with separate sachets, and will allow growers of larger areas to take seed in 500kg bags, ready to go into the drill.
Seed will still be available for growers who prefer to use sachets, and we will offer growers the choice. Pre-inoculated seed is available in either 500kg or 25kg bags.