The Department of Agriculture’s new agricultural environment scheme GLAS has seen a sharp rise in business for those involved in the production of wildbird cover seed.

John Howard agent for Bright Seeds, says when the new GLAS scheme was announced last year he knew there would be a good uptake on the Wildbird Cover option.

Under the first tranche of the GLAS scheme alone 8,000ha of wild bird cover will be planted, providing up to 12,000 tonnes of seed for wild birds.

John who has over 10 years experience in trialling and experimenting with cover crops to suit Irish schemes and conditions says management of the crop is key to a successful outcome.

Advice

Weed control

According to John, if the land is coming from tillage, spraying is probably not necessary. However, if coming from Grass or heavy weeds, spraying is vital.

“Perennial weeds have to be killed before cultivating. I use Roundup at about 4L/Ha or use a similar herbicide,” he said.

Cultivating

Farmers should plough about two weeks after spraying, if conditions are suitable.

“Aim to sow in early May.

“Power harrowing or rotavating is necessary if not sowing with a One Pass Drill. A fine firm seedbed is essential for good establishment,” he said.

Sowing

John advises that farmers sow wildbird cover at a rate of 88kgs/Ha.

“The seed is available in .25Ha bag of 22 Kgs,” he said.

tillage

Glas Wildbird Cover Crop contains;

  • 75 kgs Triticale
  • 7.5 kgs Linseed
  • 5 kgs Mustard
  • .50 kgs Phacelia.

One Pass

John says if sowing with a One Pass, farmers can carry it out directly after ploughing.

“This fertilises, cultivates, sets, covers and firms all in one operation.

“After this close the gate and walk away. Just keep the corvids off it for a week or so,” he says.

Broadcasting

Other sowing options such as broadcasting or seed drills all work but the ground must be cultivated first, according to John and he says the seed must be covered with a light cultivating after sowing.

“Rolling is not necessary but would help to bury the seed if conditions are dry.

“Corvids need to be kept off for a week because some seeds will be visible after these methods,” he says.

Fertiliser

John says that Wildbird cover is not a hungry crop.

“If coming from grass or tillage no fertiliser is required in year one as the ground will be rich in nutrients.

“You need to keep this land fertile for when the scheme is finished and it is best to apply a certain amount every year.

Fertiliser, Origin

He says 150 kgs of a basic fertiliser such as 10.10.20/Ha would be fine and warns that too much fertiliser will only force the crop and cause lodging later.

Covering the seed

The GLAS seed needs a good covering with a power harrow or even a disc harrow post sowing.

Wildbird cover options

John’s Delight

One of these crops (John’s Delight) is grown all over Ireland by gun clubs and contains very good mix of seed-bearing plants that provide feeding all winter for small birds as well as pheasants.

johns delight

John’s Delight

Mix includes:

  • Triticale
  • Linseed
  • Gold of pleasure
  • Phacelia
  • Mustard
  • Cimson clover
  • Cornflower
  • Poppies.

It is a very colourful crop in the summer and autumn and draws a huge array of insect life as well as birds.

Then in the winter, it feeds hundreds of finches as well as holding game birds.

The varieties in this mix were chosen so that they do not attract vermin such as rats and crows in large numbers. John’s Delight sells at €85.00/.40Ha bag of 23kgs with free delivery to anywhere in Ireland.

It has been planted very successfully in both the REPS and the AEOS schemes.

GLAS Mix

This is a very affordable and good mix that contains the exact ratios and varieties of seeds recommended by the department of agriculture.

Simply called the GLAS Mix it contains 88 kgs of seed per Ha made up of Tititcale (75kgs), Linseed (7.5kgs), Mustard (5kgs) and Phacelia (.50kg) to give it colour and life as well as attracting bumble bees and butterflies.

The GLAS mixture on the left. Phacelia on right.

The GLAS mixture on the left. Phacelia on right.

It is packed in 22kg bags and the recommended rate is 4/ha. Priced at €50.00 for the first bag with free delivery €45.00 for all other bags purchased.

Contact

Howard has an online purchasing system on his website www.rathcormacgunclub.com for small lots with a two-day courier delivery service.

For more details contact John at Sunnyside Fruit Ltd, Rathcormac, Co. Cork. Phone: 025-36253

John says further discounts can be availed of for group purchasing or bulk deliveries.

Various other mixes such as a reasonably priced wildflower meadow mix available online also.