Rush Management Workshop and demo: Thursday 29th May at 1pm in Henblas, Llwyngwril, Abermaw, Gwynedd, LL37 2QA at the farm of Robert Pugh.
May 28, 2014
Rush Management Workshop and demo: Thursday 29th May at 1pm in Henblas, Llwyngwril, Abermaw, Gwynedd, LL37 2QA at the farm of Robert Pugh.
Farming Connect, which provides research, advisory and training services to the agricultural industry has teamed up with British manufacturer, Quad-X & Blaney Agri, to help show farmers why and how they should manage rushes. A special rush management workshop and demonstration has been arranged for Thursday 29th May at 1pm as part of a Farming Connect open day at one of their newest demonstration farms. Emyr Evans, a well know machinery dealership from north Wales and stockist of the Quad-X and Blaney Agri weed control machinery will be providing the demonstration equipment on the day.
The problem of rush infestation is not new, and with recent years of wet weather the problem is only getting worse. Rushes can quickly infest a field if not managed and use up the foods, space, light and moisture which should nourish profitable crops. They make harvesting difficult and reduce the grazing value of land. For rush control it is simple: Sort them out now before they take over.
Under the Single Payment Scheme, farmers are required to maintain land in Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition as part of Cross-Compliance. Failure to comply with this condition may result in a reduction in the Single Farm Payment. Where weeds are abundant they indicate that land is not being properly farmed and are evidence of a low level of grassland management.
The best and quickest way to control rush is to cut the rush as early as possible in the year when the frost can help kill up to 40% of what’s left without any chemical, which reduces your cost. Another advantage of cutting at this time of year is that the sap has dropped and the rush becomes more brittle and easier to cut, using less fuel. And surprisingly the advantage of cutting rushes is that they provide effective fertiliser as they contain 70% NPK value of farmyard manure. So the cut rushes can help put humus back into the land and help boost grass growth. However, with last winter’s heavy rainfall many landowners are only able to take action now, making this workshop very timely indeed.
The fastest return to pasture following cutting and shredding can come from weed wiping and applying herbicide to the new shoots that appear. Quad-X and Blaney Agri are machinery manufacturers based in Co Antrim with over 20 years experience and are pioneers of rush control equipment. Quad-X offers over 100 attachments for quads including the ATV Power Shredder for cutting and shredding rushes and the acclaimed ATV Wipeout weed wiper. These machines are ideal when access with a tractor is difficult due to wet ground or difficult terrain. Where access and ground conditions allow, the Blaney Agri range of rush control equipment is highly effective, which includes the Power Shredder mowers and the tractor mounted Wipeout weed wiper.
This Quad-X ATV Power Shredder machine has been specifically designed to cut heavy rushes and other dense vegetation. If you are sceptical, Quad-X encourages you to attend the workshop on 29th May and see the impressive Power Shredder in action for yourself. The Rush Power Shredder can make short work of weeds, bracken and can shred 5ft rushes which have been left to infest fields for years. Considerable investment has been made in the rotor design which rotates at a higher RPM than a tractor flail ensuring momentum and faster travel speed. With wet weather conditions these ATV machines equipped with floatation tyres can tread where tractor machines cannot. Blaney Agri offer 6 widths of Tractor Power Shredder from 1.3m/4’4 to 2.7m/9’. Although designed primarily to work in dense vegetation, they are also extremely effective for topping grassland areas, allowing you to work at faster travel speeds, saving valuable time. Compared to a flail mower, the Blaney Agri Power Shredder can be used with smaller HP tractors. A typical tractor flail mower requires a tractor of 120+ HP. But with most stock farmers using 80-90HP tractors, Blaney Agri have developed the Power Shredder range to ensure impressive capabilities with these smaller tractors which gives the added advantage of being lighter and causing less damage to the ground.
Blaney Agri and Quad-X have a unique range of weed wipers to cater for every application and budget. From 2.4m towed wipers to 5.7m tractor mounted models. The unique dual roller systems have been developed to give you maximum coverage and reduced chemical usage, saving you time and money. The 2 contra-rotating rollers help separate clumps of weeds and apply chemical to the sensitive underside for faster kill. The second roller can also absorb excess chemical to minimise drips. The Wipeout, which is patent technology, offers unrivalled features not available on any other machine on the market. It is equipped with an automatic weed detection system; removing human error that can occur through manual application systems. The Wipeout also gives better coverage; boasting a 100% kill rate while only using the optimal chemical required; reducing chemical costs. Come to the Farming Connect Open Day and Rush management workshop and find out how to SAVE up to 85% on chemical.
The rush management workshop and demonstration will be on Thursday 29th May at 1pm in Henblas, Llwyngwril, Abermaw, Gwynedd, LL37 2QA at the farm of Robert Pugh. As part of the Farming Connect Open Day other events following the demonstration include: Chris Dullar, Grassland Specialist – Maximising Grass performance on hill land; and HCC lamb selection competition & presentation on shelf life.
Sceptical? Come and see the Quad-X and Blaney Agri range in action and see the impressive results for yourself. Go on, you deserve a break! Take an afternoon to yourself and find out how to maximise your grazing potential.
For more details on the range of Quad-X ATV equipment or Blaney Agri tractor machinery visit www.quad-x.com or www.blaneyagri.com Tel: 028 2587 2800. Alternatively contact Emyr Evans www.emyrevans.co.uk Tel Anglesey: 01248 421900, Tel Denbigh: 01745 812333
To find out more about Farming Connect Tel: 01970 636 565 http://farmingconnect.menterabusnes.co.uk/farmingconnect