When to cut
Ideally, when the cane is cut there will be little green left on the plant but in mild winters this may not be the case. The standing crop is unlikely to senesce more beyond the end of January so it should be cut as soon after this time as is possible, when ground conditions allow – compaction is our enemy!
As a rule of thumb cutting usually happens in January or early February. However, with the flooding we have seen, harvest timing will be dictated by field conditions. It’s critical to avoid damaging ruts and compaction as this is the factor that limits the productive life of a crop and if well managed the crop will perform for 20 years.
The self-propelled forager should be set to cut the canes to between 300mm and 450mm in length and leave the cane un-split lengthways.
Contact your contractor
Reach out to your contractor before harvest to discuss your options and ensure you’re on their schedule.
Drying
Miscanthus can be left for long periods in the swath to dry before baling. In an average spring, the sun and wind will naturally dry the swath without needing for it to be turned before baling. In a wet spring turning the swath will aid drying but it adds costs and increases harvest losses so it needs to be justified. If you think your crop needs turning please speak to us or your contractor.
Leaf mulch
While standing, the crop will have dropped most of its leaves onto the soil. Please do not be tempted to rake this up into the swath. The leaves contain high levels of silicon and chlorine that the power stations find undesirable. Also, the leaf mulch will be wet and may be contaminated with soil and stones which may lead to bale rejections. The leaf mulch should be left on the ground to suppress weeds and to return nutrients and organic matter back to the soil.
Baling
Baling should only be done when you are certain that there are no green stems left in the swath and the crops meet the moisture specifications. You or your contractor should check the moisture content of the first 4 or 5 bales, and aim for average moisture content of 14% or less.
For more information, please contact the Terravesta team on 01522 731873.
