AB15

[nick...]

My ab15 been in close to a year and topped couple times last year as in the regs.reading through regs again it says to cut before end of March in year 2 but even though it all looks great and is growing away nicely none of it is more than 2/3 inches tall and my batwing mower won’t really touch it and it’s just a waste of time really.I’m waiting to hear agents answer but there must be others in the same position.any opinions
nick…

 

[yellow belly]

More resent rules allow for cutting to control blackgrass in the second year
depends on the rules when you started mid tier

cutting too soon does make the blackgrass tiller if it is cut before it flowers

 

[Punch]

 

[Punch]

In second year cut between 1st March & 15th May!
As above don’t cut too soon!

 

[nick...]

This is what I saw
nick...

 

[Punch]

We are 2021 start date and was using .gov website for AB15 Mid Tier guidance.
Which is your start date?

 

[Punch]

Looks like a clash between “recommended management” and “when to cut”.
I won’t tell if you don’t

 

[nick...]

We are 2021 start date and was using .gov website for AB15 Mid Tier guidance.
Which is your start date?

We started jan 23.all got drilled April 23.will stay till next August,25 and then get re drilled
nick...

 

[Ousizems]

basket random​

My ab15 been in close to a year and topped couple times last year as in the regs.reading through regs again it says to cut before end of March in year 2 but even though it all looks great and is growing away nicely none of it is more than 2/3 inches tall and my batwing mower won’t really touch it and it’s just a waste of time really.I’m waiting to hear agents answer but there must be others in the same position.any opinions
nick…

If your ab15 is only 2/3 inches tall and not suitable for cutting with your batwing mower, it's understandable to question the necessity of cutting it before the end of March as per the regulations.

 

[yellow belly]

More rescent mid tier years and Sfi is more concerned by achieving the aims

take pictures of blackgrass before cutting and legume in flower with pollinators in it after cutting proving you met the aims

pollinators need a constant regular supply of flowers so having varied cutting times helps achieve this
if some bits need cutting for blackgrass and flower later this builds resilience into the area

having all the ab15 flowering at the same time is not as good as a variation

with the nector mix plots in stewardship they used to say cut half at different time to achieve this

we all know variation is the spice of life

 

[Punch]

We started jan 23.all got drilled April 23.will stay till next August,25 and then get re drilled
nick...

I know it’s daft but you’re sort of still in the first year not the second.
You’ve established in spring when they thought it would be September 2023 (in first year of agreement) making 2024 your first year of establishment.
Your second year will be 2025! Then two more years until end date in 2027.

 

[Punch]

Agree with @yellow belly take plenty photos and then you can justify what you’ve done and the outcomes you achieve.
Post some on here as a lasting record.

 

[Grass And Grain]

I know it’s daft but you’re sort of still in the first year not the second.
You’ve established in spring when they thought it would be September 2023 (in first year of agreement) making 2024 your first year of establishment.
Your second year will be 2025! Then two more years until end date in 2027.

I was thinking same as above @nick...

Make sure you destroy in the correct year!