Kings specialist crops catalogue 2016

Turn to Kings to improve your farmland habitat and soil vitality

Specialist Crops • Conservation • Game Cover • Green Cover • Forage

Conservation Crops p14-23 Improve the fortunes of farmland wildlife with scheme-friendly seed

Game Cover Crops p24-39 Benefit game and farmland birds with leading varieties and seed treatments

Green Cover Crops p40-43 Boost soil health to increase yields and make financial savings

Forage Crops p44-49

2016

Quality varieties to maximise the profitability of your herd, flock or forage production business

To place orders or for more information:

Tel: 0800 587 9797 or visit www.kingscrops.co.uk

Contents Expert advice and an exciting new catalogue

3

Stewardship update for England and Scotland

4

MyCompliance

6

The integrated approach

8

Quality through collaboration

10

Case study: Kings and the GWCT Allerton Project

12

Conservation Crops

14

Case study: Swinbrook Farms

15

Wild bird seed mixtures autumn sown

16

The need for supplementary feed

17

Wild bird seed mixtures spring sown

18

Expert advice and Talk to our team for expert advice on specialist crops

Pollen and nectar mixtures

20

Conservation grass mixtures

20

Wild flowers

22

From left to right:

Game cover crops

24

Neil Harris

Alan Johnson

Case study: Urrard Estate, Perthshire

25

Mob: 07342 055216 neil.harris@frontierag.co.uk

Mob: 07827 842107 alan.johnson@frontierag.co.uk

Game cover mixtures

26

Clive Wood

Meehal Grint

Perennials

28

Maize

30

Millet

32

Sorghum

32

Kale

34

Western Technical Advisor

Business Development Manager and Northern Technical Advisor Mob: 07970 097523 clive.wood@frontierag.co.uk

Lee Ward

Scotland Technical Advisor

Central Technical Advisor Mob: 07919 013520 meehal.grint@frontierag.co.uk

Rachel Hadingham

Western Technical Advisor

Customer Services and Administration Team Leader

Mob: 07967 553010 lee.ward@frontierag.co.uk

Tel: 01379 658107 rachel.hadingham@frontierag.co.uk

Richard Barnes

Marc Bull

Mob: 07795 427844 marc.bull@frontierag.co.uk

Kings Sales Manager

Southern Technical Advisor

Straights

36

Mob: 07834 098784 richard.barnes@frontierag.co.uk

Summer sown crops

38

Paul Brown

Rebecca Page

Green cover crops

40

Mob: 07970 220761 paul.brown@frontierag.co.uk

Tel: 01379 658109 rebecca.page@frontierag.co.uk

Charlotte Helliwell

Daisy Havers

Mob: 07825 193953 charlotte.helliwell@frontierag.co.uk

Tel: 01379 658127 daisy.havers@frontierag.co.uk

Eastern Technical Advisor

Administration Assistant

Case study: Consett, County Durham

41

Green cover crops

42

Forage crops

44

Case study: FC Garlick & Sons, Herefordshire

45

Keep in touch

Forage crops

46

Follow us on Twitter @kingscrops Sign up to our monthly e-newsletter at www.kingscrops.co.uk

General grass mixtures

50

Trees, shrubs and hedging plants

50

Eastern Technical Advisor

Regional offices and advisors

51

Easy ways to order

52

2

Administration Assistant

Look for these symbols Eligible for selected ELS, CFE, EFA and CS options; contact Kings for more details N Suitable for use in northern England and Scotland

an exciting new catalogue The farming, sporting and conservation industries are always evolving. With developing greening requirements and stewardship schemes, sporting expectations and the increasing focus on improving soil health, growers have a lot to consider whether they are managing a whole system or just part of it.

Our work with farmers, land and game managers across the UK and Europe continues to demonstrate that being able to appreciate and manage the complexity of farm business is an ongoing challenge. Kings’ expert team is committed to the ongoing development of products and services to help growers successfully establish and produce their specialist crops in this ever changing landscape.

This year’s catalogue has been designed to reflect these changes.

It brings together a broad range of innovative work that Kings

Kings focuses on integrating sporting, stewardship and farm business needs.

continues to undertake and support with key stakeholders across our industry to provide effective solutions for growers.

The catalogue is supported by the new Kings website, further

The catalogue includes individual sections for conservation,

developing our integrated approach to providing simple

game cover, green cover and forage crops, each with an

solutions for land managers. The new site is easy to navigate

associated case study to highlight how Kings’ products and

and provides a wealth of additional information across all our

expertise make a positive difference to businesses.

product areas. Regularly updated, it’s a useful tool to check for the latest news, to find your nearest Kings or Frontier event and access our invaluable reference material which will help support your crop selection and management needs.

Visit www.kingscrops.co.uk The website also features a fantastic new shopping facility which allows growers to purchase Kings’ products at a convenient time and place. The online shop links directly to Frontier’s iTrac system too, so you can add items to your Frontier account as well as paying by credit or debit card.

Combined with support from our expert technical team, it’s designed to provide everything you need to make your specialist crops a success.

For more regular updates on the latest news from the field, new product information and to keep in touch with the Kings advisory team, visit the website to sign up to Kings’ monthly newsletter and follow Kings on Twitter at @Kingscrops.

3

Stewardship update for After significant shifts in farming policy in 2015, driven primarily by European influence, the impact is now becoming evident on farms across the UK. With so many opportunities to benefit farm and shoot management, now is a great time to take notice and get involved.

Cross Compliance

EFA option product guide

The basic foundation of the farming support Fallow option Page system, cross compliance is a set of rules that Wild bird seed Basic Wild Bird Seed Mix or Campaign Mix 19 must be adhered to for farmers to claim their Nectar flower Annual Nectar Flower Mix or Basic Pollen and 21 annual Basic Payment. Elements of particular Nectar Mix interest to game managers include the need to Buffer Strip option maintain a two metre boundary from the centre Field corners/margins Basic Stewardship Grass Mix 21 of hedges and a one metre boundary from the Green Cover/Catch Crop option top of ditch banks to the worked area of land.

Green cover Radish/oat mix, oat/mustard mix or rye/vetch mix 43 For those with a wild game interest, this boundary protects the hedge and is critical in keeping the cultivator Countryside Stewardship (CS) out of the hedge bottoms that provide valuable areas of nesting cover.

Many Environmental Stewardship (ES) agreements, based

Ecological Focus Areas (EFAs) Farmers with over 15 hectares of arable land are required to implement EFAs. These can include areas of hedgerows, buffer strips, green cover crops and fallow land, and encourage the planting of legume crops, like peas or beans.

Growers should seriously consider the fallow option under EFA. This allows the planting of wild bird seed, containing the likes of triticale, linseed and millet, and nectar flower, containing plants such as phacelia, red clover and birdsfoot trefoil. Perennial crops, such as reed canary grass and chicory, can also be included. A farm’s EFA requirement can therefore also boost game habitat if planned carefully and more growers are successfully incorporating options that meet regulations and provide a host of other benefits too.

The fallow option also offers a great opportunity to introduce margins around the farm that can help with general shoot and farm management as well as benefitting farmland wildlife. With access required across farmland, travelling on margins is a common area of friction between farm and shoot. EFA rules currently allow fallow margins to be used for access, which is more appropriate than travelling on a stewardship margin.

Green cover crops are becoming increasingly common on arable land. Though they are an EFA option, they are such useful crops that many farmers grow them even outside of scheme requirements. Designed to be sown after harvest prior to spring planting, crops such as oil radish, mustard, oats and vetch are grown across large areas of farmland to retain nutrients and improve soil health. With careful consideration of sporting needs and location, green cover can create new drives and help with holding game too.

4

on Entry Level and Higher Level Stewardship (ELS/HLS), are still in place. When they reach their expiry date, the opportunity to move to the new CS system may become an option. CS is broken down into Mid Tier, which is similar to ELS and will apply to the broadest range of growers, and Higher Tier, similar to HLS, which will meet specific habitat or regional requirements.

As old ES agreements come to a conclusion, a significant reduction in the uptake of new schemes is anticipated as less funding is available for the new system. Take advice before applying to maximise your chances of success.

A key driver of the new ES system is to encourage applicants to embrace the Wild Pollinator and Farm Wildlife package. This bundle of management options has been put together to benefit pollinators including bees, butterflies, farmland birds and other wildlife, such as brown hare and rare arable plants.

Farmland conservation and profitable farming can work hand in hand.

or England & Scotland These features could potentially be shifted into a new CS agreement though, or at least used as EFA features.

Maintaining habitat is crucial; if current farmland habitat levels decline further, there is a real risk that the required EFA area may increase to 7% within the next two years, so whether or not a scheme Kings product suggestion Page is in place, it’s important to contribute where possible.

The options available fulfil nearly all requirements for creating perfect wild and reared game habitat while also receiving a payment, so it’s an attractive offer.

The table below shows the key options and associated payment received.

Option (option code)

Payment/ha

Summer Insects Nectar flower mix (AB1)

£511/ha

Grass Free Pollen and Nectar Mix

21

Legume and Herb Rich Swards (GS4)

£309/ha

Legume and Herb Rich Sward Mix

21

The integrated approach

With so much to gain, growers are encouraged to take time to understand the options.

Winter bird food (AB9) £640/ha Campaign Mix/Moir Mix 19 Working with an advisor with Supplementary bird feed in winter (AB12) £632/t Kings Supplementary Feed Options 17 expert knowledge on farm, Autumn sown Bumblebird mix (AB16) £550/ha Autumn Sown Bumblebird Mix 17 stewardship and sporting crops and scenarios will put you Scheme or no scheme? in a strong position to ensure that the decisions made are During this transitional period, growers may be tempted to beneficial for everyone involved. remove existing features as their schemes end, since putting land back into arable cropping may seem more profitable than keeping grass margins, field corners or wild bird seed mixes that are not being paid for through ELS. Flower rich margins and plots (AB8)

£539/ha

Species Rich and Wildflower Grass Mix

23

Winter Feed and Cover

Stewardship opportunities in Scotland The Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS) promotes land management practices which protect and enhance Scotland’s natural heritage, improve water quality, manage flood risk and mitigate and adapt to climate change.

Between 2015 and 2020, £350 million has been made available to fund a range of activities that help to maintain and enhance our rich and varied natural environment. Two key points are:

• To deliver the 2020 Challenge for Scotland’s Biodiversity by supporting appropriate management for vulnerable and iconic species and habitats,

strengthening ecological networks, controlling invasive non-native species and enhancing the condition of protected nature sites

• To meet obligations to improve water quality under the EU Water Framework Directive by reducing diffuse pollution.

A wide range of management options and capital items are available under the AECS. Rules and management requirements apply to each which must be followed over the course of the agreement contract.

Key options that benefit farmland wildlife and improve water quality include: Option

Payment/ha

Kings product suggestion

Page

Arable options Wild bird seed for farmland birds/Creation of wild bird seed for farmland birds

£322.63/ha & £232.24/ha

Moir Mix

19

Grass strips in arable fields/Creation of grass strips in arable fields

£495.62/ha & £333.51/ha

Species Rich and Wildflower Grass Mix

23

Stubbles followed by a green manure in an arable rotation/Creation of green manure

£498.49/ha & £278.16/ha

Kings Rye/Vetch Mix

43

For further details of how EFAs and the AECS can benefit your shoot or farm business, contact the Kings advisory team. For specific details on the AECS, visit www.ruralpayments.org.

5

Legislation in the farming industry continues to increase and, as the significant changes introduced by CAP reform have recently shown, there can be a minefield of information for growers to get to grips with. The MyCompliance advisory service removes the stress of making sure your business complies with this raft of regulations.

A member of our dedicated team of Frontier and Kings experts will visit your farm and advise on how to meet the necessary requirements so you’re ready for any inspections. As well as giving you peace of mind, this releases you from the office to be where you’re needed most, and avoids potential financial penalties too.

What’s at risk?

Failure to keep accurate records could affect payments under the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and stewardship schemes. Each breach incurs an individual fine and the total can soon mount up. For a small breach, the penalty may amount to 3-5% of the payments received, or up to 15% if the breach is intentional. For example, if a 300 acre farm claims £30,000 in BPS and £3,600 in Entry Level Stewardship (ELS), a 3% penalty would equate to £1,008 per breach and 15% would be £5,040. Repeated negligence can increase fines to 100%.

MyCompliance can help you to avoid these fines and prepare you for RPA and Farm Assurance inspections, which are expected to increase this

BPS payments are intrinsically linked to full compliance, so it’s vital to understand and fulfil every element. For growers to sufficiently meet Cross Compliance rules and pass inspection, all of the information below must be recorded.

• Four stage N plan for each crop in each field before application, including soil N reserves, N supplied from any organic manure, crop N needs and the balance that can be applied out of the bag

• Application of N fertilisers and justification for any applications above recommendations signed off by a FACTS advisor

• N Max for crops that have an N Max limit

• Crop yield per field to justify future use of N

• Manure import amounts, dates and source year. Five key services are available which can be tailored to meet the specific needs of your farm.

1. Cross Compliance Receive detailed advice on all current Cross Compliance legislation and

• Risk map of farm showing no spread zones (even if not in an NVZ area) and location of field heaps showing dates sites used

• Manure spreading dates and application rates

• Farm livestock manure N limit calculation

• Livestock numbers kept on farm for the previous calendar year as at 30th April

• Calculation of N produced by the total livestock on farm

• Slurry/manure storage calculation • Any slurry/manure exports. check your farm is meeting necessary regulations. Your expert advisor will also produce an up to date Nutrient Management Plan and Manure Management Plan for your farm.

2. Farm Assurance Schemes Growers signed up to farm assurance schemes, such as Red Tractor, Scottish Quality Cereals (SQC) or the Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC) will be assisted in meeting the high standards required. An Integrated Pest Management Plan and advice on vermin control will also be provided.

3. Greening and stewardship With specific advice and seed products to support the establishment and management of key habitat

6

Costs MyFarm Health Check

£150

- rebated if further MyCompliance services taken

Half Day £250

Full Day £500

Management Plan Package £1.30/per acre *

* includes IPMP, NMP & MMP, subject to £450 min charge

features, Kings advises on appropriate stewardship schemes helping growers to protect the natural environment in a way that suits their land.

The new Countryside Stewardship scheme has a range of aims, including improving biodiversity, water quality and natural flood management, mitigating climate change and providing education, but funding is limited.

Kings provides expert advice on which

features to implement on farm and how to make a successful application.

practices and compile a HSE risk assessment for your farm.

5. MyFarm Health Check Prepare for the inspectors with an audit to check your business conforms to Cross Compliance regulations.

We’ll also answer your queries on CAP, greening measures, including EFAs and BPS, and make sure you are meeting requirements.

4. Health and Safety Creating a safe environment is essential and strict regulations are now enforced by law. MyCompliance advisors will assess current business

COMPLIANCE

For more information on MyCompliance and to discuss how it can help your business, or to arrange a visit, please contact 0333 0044555 or email mycompliancehelpline@ frontierag.co.uk.

7

The integrated approach When growers buy seed from Kings, they get much more than the starting point for a new crop. Our whole farm approach takes each farm’s specific needs into consideration and, supported by our research and colleagues at Frontier and SOYL, Kings’ experienced technical team provides expert advice and guidance throughout the season to make your crops a success.

Innovation and demonstration Kings’ trials and demonstration network stretches across the UK, from the Black Isle in Inverness-shire to Blandford in Dorset. Under Frontier’s innovative 3D Thinking concept, which encompasses Discovery, Development and Demonstration phases, each site has a dedicated Kings demonstration area.

DISCOVERY, DEVELOPMENT AND

3D Thinking sites 2015/16

1

1

Muir of Ord

14

Walsham le Willows

2

Oldmeldrum

15

Birch

3

Fife

16

Wingham

4 Coldstream

17

Wrotham

5

18

Malshanger

6 Stokesley

19

Blandford Forum

7

Haywold

20

Ledbury

8

8

Aldbrough

21

Lamport

9

9

Alford

22

Ashbourne

10

Riseholme

23

Ruddington

2

3 4 5 6 7

These areas feature a range of stewardship, green cover and game cover options specific to the location, providing an excellent opportunity to illustrate the latest concepts and talk to growers about the opportunities and challenges that relate to their local area.

IN ACTION

DEMONSTRATION

24 22 23

25

21 13 11 12 14

20

15 17

18

Key Discovery site

10

Cockle Park

11 Holbeach (veg site) 24

Ormskirk

12 Honingham

Staunton in the Vale

25

13 Wansford

16

(Blackgrass)

19

Development site Demonstration site

Kings has a presence at each of Frontier’s 3Dthinking sites As well as the 3D Thinking sites, Kings co-ordinates a number of sites in England and Scotland, including demonstration farms investigating how sporting, farming and greening elements can be integrated and extensive field scale demonstration sites used for green cover work with key partners, such as the Campaign for the Farmed Environment andAnalysis Catchment Sensitive Farming.

Frontier Soil Report Broad Spectrum CEC 14.1 meq/100g Report No: 283537

ppm

Prepared For: White Bros

Ca

2065

B

1.3

Very Low

Low

Moderate

High

Very High

At Wilbraham, Cambridgeshire, David White is experimentingS with cover cropping and direct drilling to reduce 13.5 Na 10 Field Reference: 30 Sample Depth: 30 Sample Moisture: n/a cultivations. His 156ha farm includes a Kings green cover demonstration field, which is sown in blocks of Barracuda oil Mn 0.001 Observations radish, Kings Soil Structure Mix, a rye and vetch mix, a radish,Curye and2.3 black oat mix and a final diverse mix of radish, Fe 0.001 winter peas, rye, black oats, UK oats, Tillage radish and vetch.ZnLab analysis of the cover crop biomass was completed in 1.4 Mo 0.001 February and the results are a valuable addition to Kings’ database on cover crop performance over three years.

Previous Cropping

Soil Vitality Index

Soil Texture Class

(Based on Biological / Physical / Chemical Parameters)

Sand 54 % Moderate

Silt 23 % Clay 23 %

380 Microbial Activity Test Text 5 Moderate

growth (grams/cmᵌ)

30 Sample Analysis

8

pH 8.4

Index

ppm

P

1-

12.2

K

1-

65.8

Mg

1-

30.9

As this is the first year of this new approach, Frontier’s Shallow Deep soil report was carried out toActual establish a baseline of the Target BD 1.49 BD 1.62 health and content.

Completed in October 2015 1.697 CV 1.83 and CVsoil’s Bulk Density Bulk Density kg/cmᵌ kg/cmᵌ SP 39% SP 44% assisted by SOYL, the analysis involved nutrient mapping, bulk density and micronutrient testing with the addition of an electro conductivity survey. Soil samples were taken at Compaction Compaction Soil Porosity two depths, adjacent to a gateway Soil Porosity Vulnerability which receives heavy Vulnerability traffic and in the middle of the field. The data was then collated to form soilfor report.

Idealthe bulk densities plant Bulk densities that affect root Bulk densities that restrict

Very low

Low

< 1.60 Sands, loamy sands Extract from Mr White’s soil report

OM 3.9 Moderate

High

Very High

growth (grams/cmᵌ)

root growth (grams/cmᵌ)

1.69

> 1.80

Sandy loams, loams

< 1.40

1.63

> 1.80

Sandy clay loams

< 1.40

1.6

> 1.75

Silts, silt loams

< 1.40

1.6

> 1.75

Silt loams, silty clay loams

< 1.40

1.55

> 1.65

Sandy clays, silty clays

< 1.10

1.49

> 1.58

Clays (>45% clay)

< 1.10

1.39

> 1.47

Crop production support

Crop management

Working with our Frontier colleagues, Kings is in an unrivalled position to provide a comprehensive range of products and services to meet the needs of growers and land managers.

Our extensive replicated herbicide trial network includes game cover, stewardship and green cover crops and generates invaluable data to support new seed product development and support current management practices.

Soil analysis

Lime and fertiliser

Healthy soil is fundamental to a successful crop. Kings provides guidance on how to assess and understand your soil, from a basic analysis through to a Frontier soil report on a field by field basis, so that action can be taken where needed to help crops fulfil their potential.

Following assessment of soil conditions, lime requirements will need to be considered and appropriate fertiliser products selected.

Basic soil analysis identifies soil’s phosphate, potassium and pH levels and highlights trace element issues.

Fertiliser: With the support of an expert crop nutrition team, Kings can advise on the best fertiliser product for your soil and crop type. From starter fertilisers for maize to top dressing kale, we can offer the guidance and products required to give crops the best possible start.

Broad spectrum analysis is a comprehensive assessment of the soil’s pH levels, main nutrients and trace elements.

Lime raises the pH of acidic soils.

Kings supplies lime in convenient 25kg bags or 500kg bulk packs at competitive prices.

Crop inputs: Kings supplies a comprehensive range of fertiliser and crop protection products from Frontier’s network of regional distribution centres*. These are fully supported with technical advice from our own FACTS qualified advisors.

Foliar feeds: Applying a foliar feed to an establishing crop can often be the difference between success and failure, especially in challenging conditions.

Kings has a range of foliar feeds to meet specific needs, including Algifol, YaraVita Maize Boost and YaraVita Croplift.

CODE

PRODUCT

PACK SIZE

PRICE

KSOIL

Basic Soil Test

Per sample

£14.75 (inc. vat)

KBROADSOIL

Broad Spectrum Soil Test

Per sample

£25.00 (inc. vat)

KALGIFOL

Algifol

1 litre

£24.00 (inc. vat)

KLIME25

Granular Lime Our minimum order size is 10 packs (250kg)

25kg

£12.50 (inc. vat)

*We can deliver to your chosen location subject to you being appropriately qualified and able to receive and store goods safely and securely.

The report provides a snapshot of the soil, with valuable, comprehensive data for later comparisons, including soil density, porosity, texture, vigour, compaction vulnerability, nutrient content, microbial activity and organic matter levels. Results showed that the field was in reasonably good health, though as expected, the gateway samples showed signs of compaction. Testing will be repeated in the coming years to monitor the differences that the cover crops, cultivations and treatments make.

“Working with all three divisions is great,” says Mr White.

“Everybody understands each other’s roles and what we’re trying to achieve, which helps everything run smoothly.

It’s a good, joined up service that works really well.”

Mr White is also the vice chairman of storage co-operative Camgrain and findings are being shared with the Camgrain Conservation Farming Group. This allows local members to see crops first-hand and discuss results at meetings held throughout the growing season, with experts from Kings, SOYL and Frontier also available.

Kings’ dedicated technical helpline offers support for enquiries across the Kings product range and operates from 8.30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

Please call us on 0800 587 9797 for advice and guidance on your specific situation.

9

Quality through

To provide growers with innovative, quality seed products and the best advice, Kings continues to work closely with a number of organisations. From seed breeders in Holland to your local Frontier trials site, we carry out a great deal of research and development to bring growers practical solutions to help their crops succeed.

Operation Pollinator

total of 580ha of pollinator-friendly Kings

annuals, crimson clover, red clover and

Led by Syngenta with support from

seed was sold in the UK last year.

phacelia. It was designed to provide

Kings and the Campaign for the Farmed

Based on the calculation that 3 hectares

Environment (CFE), the Operation Pollinator initiative has proven popular with both wildlife and growers. 2015 was another successful year for the project, with hundreds of hectares of new habitat created with the Bees ‘n’ Seeds mix and the Annual Wildflower mix.

These mixes were developed by Kings to attract and help pollinating insects and farmland birds. Results to date have been fantastic. They include the spotting of one of the UK’s most important crop pollinating bee species, the Andrenanitida, on a farm in Lincolnshire last summer. In the first recorded sighting in the county for over a century, this solitary bee species visited an Operation Pollinator habitat area several times.

Including 250ha of the Bees ‘n’ Seeds mix and 213ha of Annual Wildflower mix, a

of land dedicated to wildlife will have a positive impact across 100 hectares, this could enhance biodiversity across more than 19,000ha.

Syngenta’s environmental manager, Belinda Bailey, explains, “Farmers have the power to create environments for pollinators to flourish by providing a range of foraging habitats with diverse, rich nectar and pollen nutrition alongside suitable areas for nesting. Operation Pollinator’s mixes help growers make a positive contribution to pollinators and support the recovery of bee populations.

“The initiative has been well received, with growers successfully creating valuable habitat in key locations around their farms.”

a prolonged flowering period and sustained supply of food, bridging the hungry gap in food availability for pollinating insects.

The one year Bees ‘n’ Seeds mix, containing phacelia, mustard, brown mustard, fodder radish, Gold of Pleasure, sunflower, kale rape and buckwheat, was launched last spring. It provides a wealth of valuable pollen and nectar through the late summer, as well as an abundance of seed for wild birds through the winter months. A range of seed sizes makes it attractive to as many birds as possible.

Operation Pollinator seed, provided by Kings, is not only available at a reduced cost; it comes with essential agronomic support too. The mixes can provide pollen, nectar and seed across several

The Operation Pollinator Annual

months, but careful management is

Wildflower mix contains cornfield

important to make sure they reach that potential. Managed effectively, a hectare of each mix planted adjacent to each other in a block or strip creates a one stop habitat feature that gives a seasonlong flowering habitat to boost food resources throughout the year.

Operation Pollinator Annual Wildflower mix.

10

collaboration

Operation Pollinator Bees ‘n’ Seeds mix.

The partnership between Syngenta and

These trials provide essential data which

Kings has made other environment-

helps to influence Kings’ product range

The Campaign for the Farmed Environment

friendly endeavours possible too. For

and the accompanying expert advice,

example, in one instance 100 hectares of

making sure our growers are only offered

As well as working together on Operation

a bespoke mix of green cover crops were

the very best. Most trials sites hold events

planted to support pollinators whilst also

and can also be visited by appointment,

meeting farm needs.

allowing growers to see how crops

With careful planning, the mixes can even help to meet the latest CAP regulations, further increasing their on-farm benefits.

Following their success, both mixes will be available in 2016 and additional options are also being explored. To request seed and find out more about how your farm can help wildlife, call

perform first-hand. Ask your local Kings or Frontier contact for available dates.

value of field margins.

Gamekeepers Association and with Natural England to help growers provide

and promote how establishment and

for wildlife on their land and fulfil the

management of conservation, game

requirements of stewardship schemes.

the fortunes of wild birds. Perhaps the

Specialist crop trials are conducted at 24

Allerton Project, based at Loddington,

of Frontier’s 3D Thinking demonstration

Leicestershire; see page 12.

prestigious James Hutton Institute’s

of green cover crops to maximising the

closely for many years to investigate

most significant collaboration is the

trials in Scotland, including one at the

conservation topics, from the benefits

Kings and the GWCT have worked

Trials

ordinates six independent green cover

share their joint expertise on a range of

We also work with National

cover and green cover crops can improve

to Blandford, Dorset. Kings also co-

regular growers’ events across the UK to

The Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust

Kings on 0800 587 9797.

sites, from Muir of Ord in Scotland

Pollinator, Kings and the CFE hold

Gamekeepers’ Organisation, Scottish

We look forward to developing this collaborative approach further in 2016, continuing to offer growers the best products and advice on the market.

With the partnership extended for a further three years in early 2016, both Kings and GWCT are looking forward to building on their research in the future.

Dundee farm.

11

Great results when you turn to Kings

CASE STUDY - Kings and the GWCT Allerton Project After a year of significant change in the farming industry, the GWCT’s Allerton Project in Leicestershire has become an even more valuable platform for demonstrating best practice.

As growers get to grips with Countryside Stewardship and Ecological Focus Areas, Kings and the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust continue to work together at the Allerton Project to develop and manage sporting, stewardship and greening elements with a constant focus on conservation. The project is a flagship for farmland conservation, soil and water protection as well as overall farm sustainability and is respected for its leading research and demonstration work.

2015 was another successful year, with

Strategy driving policy

over 3400 people visiting the site at

and industry to consider

Loddington, Leicestershire to learn about

pollinator habitats,

the important work being done and see

growers are being

crops first-hand. Seed for green cover,

encouraged by Natural

game cover and stewardship crops is

England to introduce

all supplied by Kings, accompanied by

nectar flower species

expert support and advice from the

to areas of established

technical team.

grassland, whether

Nectar flower and wild flower trials Work over the last twelve months has included the development of a long running pollen and nectar and wild flower establishment trial. This has brought together a range of existing stewardship features which is proactively managed with everyday farm equipment

a margin or a field corner. Being able to

Work continues on demonstrating nectar flower best practice.

take an area of land that has been in long

term stewardship and create flower rich

nectar mix. As its name suggests, it

areas with standard farm equipment

provides a wealth of valuable pollen and

and innovative techniques has been

nectar in late summer, and an abundance

invaluable to the farm and its visitors.

of seed for wild birds through the winter months. Containing phacelia, mustard,

but new seed and herbicide regimes. This

Bees ‘n’ Seeds

has continued to raise some interesting

Also new for 2015 was the introduction

points and is relevant to farmers, land

of a Bees ‘n’ Seeds mix. Working

managers and industry stakeholders

alongside Syngenta, the mix was planted

alike. With the National Pollinator

adjacent to a traditional pollen and

brown mustard, fodder radish, Gold of Pleasure, sunflower, kale rape and buckwheat, the mix presents a striking display which has been a great talking point for visitors as well as an additional

Growers and industry representatives at NFU’s soils day in summer 2015.

12

Kale based wild bird seed mixtures meet stewardship and sporting needs.

feed source for pollinators. Following last

one year to provide a break crop from

year’s success the mix will continue to

brassica species, as well as allowing an

be rotated throughout key areas around

opportunity to clear up any remaining

the farm, bringing benefits to pollinator

broad leaved weeds. The 2015 planted

species as well as visitors.

crops will be top dressed with nitrogen

Head of farming at the Allerton Project,

fertiliser in the spring and left to flourish

Phil Jarvis, explains “This year’s cover

for a second year.

crops and pollen and nectar plots have

Green cover

done really well. We’ve been especially

Green cover trials at the Allerton Project,

pleased with the Bees ‘n’ Seeds mix, which has done exactly what it says on the bag, continuing to provide flowering pollen and nectar sources right through to mid October.”

also supported by Kings, have expanded their focus on soil improvement. Results have already shown yield benefits where green cover crops have been followed by spring oats.

Wild bird seed

The inclusion of green cover helps

The two year kale based wild bird seed

to add to the whole farm approach,

mix sown in 2014 has proved a success in both its first and second years. Simple

demonstrating a variety of methods and techniques that growers can employ on

to manage with an agreed agronomy

their own land.

plan, it supplies valuable pollen and

“With new legislation in place, the

nectar in summer and abundant seed

expertise and advice from Kings’

and cover in winter to provide an

technical team has been especially

integrated approach to stewardship and

valuable this year,” says Jim Egan,

sporting management. The 2014 crops

GWCT’s head of development and

will be replaced with Campaign Mix for

training. “We’ve collaborated on how

to make really good, practical use of unproductive land for EFAs in particular and the results have been wonderful.

Working together, we’ve adopted an approach that shows how growers can provide great benefits to wildlife that are advantageous for the shoot and, vitally, still allow the farm manager to farm too.”

To learn more about the Allerton Project or arrange a visit, contact Kings or visit www.gwct.org.uk

13

CONSERVATION CROPS

CONSERVATION CROPS

Selecting and growing conservation crops to meet the specific needs of schemes requires specialist advice and products. Kings works closely with customers to identify and advise on the most appropriate seed to achieve success with their conservation projects and stewardship agreements.

Kingsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; key conservation partners

14

www.conservationgrade.org

www.operationturtledove.org

www.rspb.org.uk/farming

www.bumblebeeconservation.org

www.naturalengland.org.uk

www.gwct.org.uk

www.fwag.co.uk

www.suffolkfwag.co.uk

Grass free pollen and nectar mix.

Alongside 1000 ha of arable crops, Swinbrook Farms Partnership in Oxfordshire grows 14 ha of conservation crops. Farm manager Toby Hogsbjerg’s management approach is key to the crops’ success, taking into account weeds, pests and nutrition requirements and ultimately providing valuable habitat for farmland birds.

Swinbrook Farms Partnership has both ELS and HLS schemes which include 10 hectares of pollen and nectar and wild bird seed mixes. A further four hectares of conservation crops are grown voluntarily.

Crucially, the crops are treated as combinable crops, with thought given to establishment methods and timing as well as crop protection and nutrition.

Mr Hogsbjerg’s decision making is informed by expert advice from Kings’ southern technical advisor, Marc Bull, on how to establish the crops and enable them to fulfil their potential.

After initially discussing the farm’s needs with Mr Hogsbjerg, Marc liaised directly with Natural England to obtain a derogation to use a bespoke wild bird seed mix under HLS. Specially formulated by Kings, the mixture can be efficiently managed with herbicides to control weeds and pests more easily. It also means brassicas are not incorporated into every plot, giving the land an important rest.

“We wanted our crops to be as good as possible and to benefit the farm as well as the environment,” Mr Hogsbjerg explains. “Marc’s attention to detail is fantastic. He has worked hard to make sure we’re using the right seed for our soil types and we’ve put emphasis on fertilisers to make sure the nutrition is right too.

“Our focus is on getting the right mixes for the job that tick our HLS boxes too,” Mr Hogsbjerg continues. “Getting the derogation from Natural England was key to joining this up and that wouldn’t have happened without Marc. Being able to use bespoke HLS mixes means we can manage them properly, keeping them weed free and able to do the job they’re meant to be doing.”

As a result of this strategic approach, crops are now providing valuable habitat and Mr Hogsbjerg reports a huge uplift in the number of small birds on farm, including many that oversummered there when they would usually disappear. The target species

CONSERVATION CROPS

Great results when you turn to Kings

CASE STUDY - Swinbrook Farms, Oxfordshire

Toby Hogsbjerg

of corn bunting, yellowhammer and English partridge are all thriving and over 1000 linnets have been counted.

The crops are benefitting sporting interests too, providing extra food and cover which is holding game birds longer over the spring and summer.

Impressed with the results, Mr Hogsbjerg plans to increase the area sown this year. With more pollen and nectar and bespoke wild bird seed mixes, benefits to both birds and business will continue to grow.

Seed mixtures were specifically designed to support weed control.

www.kingscrops.co.uk 0800 587 9797

15

AUTUMN SOWN WILD BIRD SEED MIXTURES

Autumn sown wild bird seed mixtures offer an excellent opportunity to provide seed for farmland birds during winter as well as a source of insect rich habitat in the summer months.

Sown from late August to mid September, they can also help to overcome the challenges associated with spring planting, such as weed control and availability of machinery.

For further details on how autumn sown wild bird seed mixtures can fit into your system, please contact us.

CODE

PRODUCT

SEED RATE PACK SIZE

PRICE

N

KAUT1

Basic Autumn Sown Wild Bird Seed Mix (Seed-Life™ treated)

25kg/acre

1 acre (25kg) £50.00

N

KEAUT1

Enhanced Autumn Sown Wild Bird Seed Mix (Seed-Life™ treated)

20kg/acre

1 acre (20kg) £64.00

N

KBUMB

Autumn Sown Bumblebird Mix

12kg/acre

1 acre (12kg)

£98.00

We are able to supply species specific mixtures, including grey partridge, tree sparrow, corn buntings and finches, as required for the enhanced wild bird seed option within individual Higher Level or Countryside Stewardship agreements. For further details please contact us on 0800 587 9797.

16

Enhanced autumn sown wild bird seed mix.

Enhanced Autumn Sown Wild Bird Seed Mix

Autumn Sown Bumblebird Mix

••Suitable for locations where spring

••Designed to provide increased cover

••Meets the needs of option AB16

planting is either impractical or has previously been unsuccessful

benefits in addition to a food source from an autumn planting for game and farmland birds

••Autumn planting offers a potentially

••Has potential to provide several years’

higher seed yield and a stronger crop structure

••Contains: barley, fodder radish,

Kings kale rape (treated with SeedLife™), oilseed rape, triticale and wheat

••Qualifies as a mix to meet the Winter Bird Food option (AB9) within Countryside Stewardship.

••Provides a supply of small seeds

through the winter months along with a range of pollen and nectar rich plants between early and late summer

cover where appropriate

••Provides valuable brood rearing cover for game through the summer

within the new Countryside Stewardship scheme

••Contains: barley, Coleor kale (treated with Seed-Life™), fodder radish, forage rape, Gold of Pleasure, Kings kale rape (treated with Seed-Life™), linseed, phacelia, Stand and Deliver (perennial chicory), Vittasso brown mustard and triticale

••Contains: Triticale, barley, fodder

••Qualifies as a mix to meet the Winter

radish, crimson clover, bird’s-foot trefoil, Gold of Pleasure, Coleor kale (treated with Seed-Life™), phacelia, common vetch, common knapweed, wild carrot and ox-eye daisy.

Bird Food option (AB9) within Countryside Stewardship.

The need for supplementary feed The availability of winter food for farmland birds can vary, even with careful selection of the correct wild bird seed mix, considered management and good growing conditions.

© Peter Thompson GWCT

Other contributing factors may include small plot size, harsh weather or feeding pressure from non-target species, such as deer benefitting from the feed provided within a sown mixture. Such food sources are critical for small farmland birds from December to mid March and well sited, regularly fed locations can be a valuable lifeline.

Supplementary feeding options were introduced to Environmental Stewardship with great success, as many growers joined both ELS and HLS schemes, and are now a key option within Countryside Stewardship under code AB12. Many have also embraced supplementary feeding as a voluntary option, within the Campaign for the Farmed Environment or simply because they recognise the benefits, while game managers have been supplementary feeding for years.

To provide farmland birds with the seeds they need to survive winter in good condition, ready to breed again, Kings offers a range of straights and feed mixtures to meet your needs, as standard prescriptions and special blends. Our pre-mixtures of the likes of millet, sunflower seeds, sunflower hearts, mustard and canary seed are ready to add to your own home-saved wheat and oilseed rape. We can also provide complete

© Peter Thompson GWCT

AUTUMN SOWN WILD BIRD SEED MIXTURES

Basic Autumn Sown Wild Bird Seed Mix

mixtures that are ready to go in a range of sizes, from 25kg packs to 500kg bags.

Kings takes great care to use the highest quality seed. This is particularly important when it comes to the inclusion of millet seed, as this can potentially introduce rogue millets and other invasive species, such as amaranth and thorn apple. Kings therefore strongly advises growers to select mixtures that contain seed grade millet to help avoid the potential for contamination.

For advice and guidance on mixture selection and how and where to provide supplementary feed, please contact us.

www.kingscrops.co.uk 0800 587 9797

17

SPRING SOWN WILD BIRD SEED MIXTURES

Wild bird seed mixtures are becoming increasingly popular either as a voluntary option within the Campaign for the Farmed Environment to complement game cover crops, or to meet the needs of an existing Environmental Stewardship or new Countryside Stewardship agreement.

All the mixtures listed meet the needs of the AB9 Winter Bird Food option within Mid Tier Countryside Stewardship. For mixtures that meet the AB9 option within Higher Tier please contact us.

CODE

PRODUCT

SEED RATE PACK SIZE

PRICE

N

KBS1

Basic Wild Bird Seed Mix

8kg/acre

1 acre (8kg)

£28.00

N

KWM1FB

WM1 Wild Bird Seed Mix (Seed-Life™ and flea beetle treated)

20kg/acre

1 acre (20kg) £54.00

N

KCD1FB

Coveys Delight (Seed-Life™ and flea beetle treated)

4.5kg/acre

1 acre (4.5kg) £45.00

KSD1

Sunny Daze

10kg/acre

1 acre (10kg)

£44.00

N

K51

Wild Songbird Seed

10kg/acre

1 acre (10kg)

£38.00

N

K53FB

Wildlife Winter Holding Cover (Seed-Life™ and flea beetle treated)

10kg/acre

1 acre (10kg)

£46.00

N

KCAM1

Campaign Mix

20kg/acre

1 acre (20kg) £42.00

KCAM2

Campaign Mix South

20kg/acre

1 acre (20kg) £45.00

N

KHIGH

Highland Mix

25kg/acre

1 acre (25kg) £44.00

N

KMOIR1FB Moir Mix (Seed-Life™ and flea beetle treated)

8kg/acre

1 acre (8kg)

£53.00

We are able to supply species specific mixtures, including grey partridge, tree sparrow, corn buntings and finches, as required for the enhanced wild bird seed option within individual Higher Level Stewardship and Countryside Stewardship agreements. For further details please contact us on 0800 587 9797.

18

Moir Mix.

Coveys Delight

••A popular wild bird seed and game mixture that is easy to plant and establish

••This one year crop appeals to

••A blend of Coleor kale, Sandoval

Quinoa, Stand and Deliver (perennial chicory), phacelia and white millet

••Produces a winter hardy canopy

enabling the seed element to remain viable through the winter months

••Contains: fodder radish, mustard,

reed millet, Sandoval Quinoa and white millet.

WM1 Wild Bird Seed Mix ••Has the potential to provide two

years of feed and cover for game and farmland birds

••Combines the winter hardy canopy

of kale with prolonged seed provision from Sandoval Quinoa, triticale and wheat

••Contains: Coleor kale (with Seed-

Life™ and flea beetle treatment), Sandoval Quinoa, triticale and wheat.

••A very popular choice with the

potential for cover over two years

••Potential to provide cover for two

••Appeals to a broad spectrum of

••Coleor kale treated with Seed-Life™

••Coleor kale treated with Seed-Life™

seasons

numerous farmland bird species

Wildlife Winter Holding Cover

for growth promotion and flea beetle treatment as standard.

farmland bird species

for growth promotion with the option of flea beetle treatment

••Contains: buckwheat, Coleor kale,

Sunny Daze ••Creates a winter hardy canopy ••A visually striking crop that provides

mustard, phacelia, Sandoval Quinoa, Stand and Deliver (perennial chicory), sunflowers, Utopia and white millet.

large volumes of nutritious seed

••Contains: Kings Sorghum Mix, dwarf sunflowers, red millet and white millet.

Wild Songbird Seed ••An annual feed mix containing

buckwheat, Gold of Pleasure, Sandoval Quinoa, spring triticale, spring wheat, sunflowers and white millet

••Ideal where a source of varied seed is

required for a range of farmland birds

••Easy to establish.

Herbicide friendly mixtures

SPRING SOWN WILD BIRD SEED MIXTURES

Basic Wild Bird Seed Mix

Are weeds restricting your crops’ full potential?

These products have been carefully designed to meet game cover and wild bird seed mixture requirements as well as providing effective weed control opportunities.

For further advice on how these mixtures can help you manage weed control problems, please contact Kings on 0800 587 9797.

Campaign Mix

Highland Mix

Moir Mix

••This very popular mixture is a viable

••Designed to be used in upland regions

••Supplies winter hardy cover and

••Combines a wide range of seed

••Pre and post emergence herbicide

companion for maize and sorghum or as a replacement for existing game cover

••Suitable for all regions, this is a

useful break crop that provides weed control opportunities where kale has previously been used

••Contains: barley, red, white and reed

or where a robust broad leaved weed control programme is required bearing plants that can be planted from late April onwards

••Contains: triticale, barley, oats, wheat and linseed.

millet, triticale, linseed and wheat.

Campaign Mix South

OUR ADVICE

••Suitable for sowing in southern regions (south of the Humber)

••Contains: dwarf and intermediate

grain sorghum along with barley, red, white and reed millet, triticale, linseed and wheat.

season long feed for game and farmland birds

control options available. The pre emergence application is critical for effective weed control

••Contains: Coleor kale, Goldeneye kale,

1000 head kale (all treated with SeedLife™and flea beetle treatment), Kings kale rape (Seed-Life™treated), linseed, fodder radish, Gold of Pleasure, phacelia, and Utopia.

Controlling weeds can make a huge improvement to your crop establishment. These mixtures have matching agronomy plans which can help manage weed challenge.

www.kingscrops.co.uk 0800 587 9797

19

POLLEN AND NECTAR MIXTURES

A well managed pollen and nectar mix has the potential to deliver for farmland wildlife for several years. Each mix contains a carefully formulated blend of legume and wild flower species designed to provide an extended range of nectar from mid spring to late autumn.

CODE

PRODUCT

SEED RATE

PACK SIZE

PRICE

N

KWM2gf

Grass Free Pollen and Nectar Mix

8-10kg/acre

1 acre (10kg)

£76.00

N

KWM2bs

Basic Pollen and Nectar Mix

6kg/acre

1 acre (6kg)

£48.00

N

KWM2AN

Annual Pollen and Nectar Mix

4kg/acre

1 acre (4kg)

£28.00

N

KBB1

Butterfly and Bumblebee Mix

4.5kg/acre

1 acre (4.5kg)

£48.00

N

KHERB

Herb Rich Sward Mix

20kg/ha

1 hectare (20kg)

£150.00

Where you have a specific prescription for an HLS or Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier agreement, please contact us and we will produce a bespoke mixture designed to meet your individual requirements.

CONSERVATION GRASS MIXTURES

Grass free pollen and nectar mix.

20

With the introduction of Countryside Stewardship and the ongoing requirement to create features to meet EFA needs, grass mixtures provide a great deal of flexibility.

They have potential to offer cover for nesting birds, will buffer watercourses from farm inputs, supply an over-winter sanctuary for invertebrates and have a role in limiting or preventing soil erosion.

CODE

PRODUCT

SEED RATE

PACK SIZE

PRICE

N

KSAN1

Kings Sanctuary Mix

6kg/acre

1 acre (6kg)

£75.00

N

KSR1

Kings Species Rich Grass Mix

20kg/hectare

1 hectare (20kg)

£79.00

N

KBG1

Kings Basic Stewardship Grass Mix

20kg/hectare

1 hectare (20kg)

£69.00

N

K26

Nesting Cover/Beetle Bank Mix

10kg/acre

1 acre (10kg)

£43.00

N

KLEG2

Two Year Ryegrass Legume Mix (AB15)

12kg/acre

1 acre (12kg)

£75.00

N

KDL1

Kings Deer Lawn Mix

13kg/acre

1 acre (13kg)

£82.00

Species rich grass and wild flower mix.

Annual Pollen and Nectar Mix

••Simple to establish and manage ••Grass weeds can be simply controlled

••Specifically designed as a one year

••Our most popular pollen and nectar mixture that meets the needs of the AB1 nectar flower mix option of Countryside Stewardship

••Comprises simple, easy to establish

••Contains: alsike clover, bird’s-foot

••Contains: Crimson clover, berseem

to help extend the life span of this mix

nectar flower mix to fit into the EFA fallow option and economical species

••Potential to last for a couple of years if required

trefoil, common vetch, fenugreek, lucerne, phacelia, red campion, red clover, sainfoin, sweet clover, white campion, black knapweed and yellow trefoil.

Herb Rich Sward Mix ••A general purpose grass and herbal

ley which can be used in grassland or arable situations

••Provides a vigorous sward that can be grazed by cattle and sheep

••Improves soil structure and creates a beneficial habitat for pollinators

••Contains: Red clover, early &

intermediate perennial ryegrass, timothy, meadow fescue, smooth stalked meadow grass, rough stalked meadow grass, bird’s-foot trefoil, alsike clover, yarrow, ribwort plantain, sheeps burnet, ox-eye daisy and chicory.

clover, white clover and red clover.

Butterfly and Bumblebee Mix

Basic Pollen and Nectar Mix ••A short to medium term mixture

••Designed to provide season long

pollen and nectar for a wide range of insect species

••Potential to last for up to three years,

providing an economical choice for challenging sites

••Great for use where general habitat

improvement is required, for example within the fallow option of an EFA

••Contains: alsike clover, bird’s-foot

making it a potential alternative to conventional pollen and nectar mixtures

••Easy to establish and very striking ••Contains: bird’s-foot trefoil, borage, phacelia and red clover.

trefoil, common vetch, red clover, sainfoin and yellow trefoil.

OUR ADVICE Nectar flower mixtures require regular topping for the first twelve months of establishment. This will help to suppress annual weed growth and encourage the sown species to tiller and create a tight sward.

Kings works closely with the Operation Turtle Dove project team and can supply mixtures designed to support this migratory farmland bird species.

For further details please contact us.

Basic Stewardship Grass Mix

••A grass and wild flower mixture

••Fine and tussocky grasses that

••Suitable for field corners, grass

••Suitable for planting within buffer

••Creates valuable insect rich habitat ••Contains: black knapweed, bird’s-foot

••Contains: cocksfoot, hard fescue,

designed to provide overhead protection for ground nesting birds

benefit a wide range of farmland species

margins and nectar flower areas

strips or field corners

trefoil, creeping red fescue, lucerne, ox-eye daisy, perennial chicory, reed canary grass, sainfoin, teasel, timothy and yarrow.

smooth stalked meadow grass, slender creeping red fescue, smooth stalked meadow grass, tall fescue and timothy.

Species Rich Grass Mix

Nesting Cover/Beetle Bank Mix

••A blend of finer grass species suitable

••A blend of tussock forming grasses,

for all soil types

••Can be used for buffer strips, field corners or arable reversion projects ••Consider adding our Basic Wild

Flower Mix (page 23) to create a floristically enhanced grass margin

••Contains: chewing fescue, common

bent, creeping red fescue, crested dogstail, hard fescue, rough stalked meadow grass and smooth stalked meadow grass.

suitable for beetle banks or two metre margins against watercourses or hedgerows

Two Year Ryegrass Legume Mix (AB15) ••Designed to meet the new

AB15 option within Countryside Stewardship

••Can help manage black-grass

populations by putting land into fallow for two years

••The species within the mix are easy

to manage and will benefit pollinator species

••Contains: Perennial ryegrass, red

clover, common vetch, bird’s-foot trefoil and common knapweed.

Deer Lawn Mix ••Combines an effective mix of grasses, herbs and legumes favoured by all deer species

••The tall structure of these grass

species will help to limit ingress of farm inputs into watercourses and hedgerows

••Contains: cocksfoot, creeping red fescue and timothy.

••Suited to areas favoured by deer for control or observation purposes

••Contains: tonic plantain, common

OUR ADVICE It is important to select the correct grass mixture for your particular requirements - take advice first.

www.kingscrops.co.uk 0800 587 9797

bent, creeping red fescue, fenugreek, lucerne, meadow fescue, meadow foxtail, perennial chicory, plantain, red clover, sainfoin, smooth stalked meadow grass, timothy, white clover and yellow trefoil.

CONSERVATION GRASS MIXTURES

Sanctuary Mix

POLLEN AND NECTAR MIXTURES

Grass Free Pollen and Nectar Mix

21

WILD FLOWERS

Kings is highly respected as a leading supplier of wild flowers of native provenance. We liaise with carefully selected growers and producers to ensure our seed is sourced appropriately and is of the highest possible quality.

We work closely with customers to understand their initial requirements and offer support and guidance from site preparation to mixture selection, along with the ongoing management required to make the project a success.

CODE

PRODUCT

SEED RATE

N

KBW1

Kings Basic Wild Flower Mix

1kg per hectare of a suitable grass mix or 4g/square metre when planted on its own

1 kg

£42.00 (inc. vat)

N

K55

Kings Legacy

4g/square metre

1 kg

£52.50 (inc. vat)

N

K54a

Kings Cornfield Annuals

1g/square metre

1 kg

£72.00 (inc. vat)

N

K54

Kings Wild Flower Meadow Mix

4g/square metre

1 kg

£40.00 (inc. vat)

N

KFRGMIX Flower Rich Grass Mix

20 kg

£168.00 (inc. vat)

20kg/ha

PACK SIZE

PRICE

In addition to our native seed we also supply seed of local provenance as specified for certain options within Higher Level and Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier agreements. For information on our site specific mixtures or for advice on bespoke mixtures formulated specifically for your individual requirements, please contact us on 0800 587 9797.

22

Floristically enhanced grass margin.

••A mix of native wild flower species

and agricultural legumes which is the perfect companion to stewardship grass mixtures

••Creates additional diversity and

nectar/flower benefit with minimum cost in grass margins or field corners

••Suitable for use within over-seeding options

••Contains: bird’s-foot trefoil, black knapweed, black medick, ladies bedstraw, musk mallow, ox-eye daisy, red campion, red clover, sainfoin, self heal, wild carrot, white campion and yarrow.

Kings Legacy ••This popular perennial mixture

contains a blend of 28 native wild flower species (20%) with a selection of non-competitive companion grasses (80%)

••Suitable for a wide range of situations ••Ideal for amenity areas, field corners

Kings Cornfield Annuals

Flower Rich Grass Mix

••A blend of native annual wild flowers ••Provides a striking display of colour

••Designed for use in EFA fallow areas

from late spring to early autumn

••Requires simple annual maintenance to ensure continuity of colour in following years

••Contains: common poppy, corn

chamomile, corn cockle, corn marigold, cornflower, red campion, scentless mayweed and white campion.

Kings Wild Flower Meadow Mix ••An economical perennial wild flower and grass mixture

••Contains: 16 native wild flower species (20%) and a selection of non-competitive companion grasses (80%) ••Ideal choice for larger planting areas ••A flexible mixture suitable for many applications.

or the Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier option AB8 (Flower rich margins and plots)

••Combines the grass element of Kings Species Rich Grass Mix (see page 21) with our Basic Wild Flower Mix

••90% grass and 10% wild flowers ••Contains: chewing fescue, common

bent, creeping red fescue, crested dogstail, hard fescue, rough stalked meadow grass, smooth stalked meadow grass with bird’s-foot trefoil, black knapweed, black medick, ladies bedstraw, musk mallow, ox-eye daisy, red campion, red clover, sainfoin, self heal, wild carrot, white campion and yarrow.

WILD FLOWERS

Kings Basic Wild Flower Mix

Kings is listed within the supplier directory of

or margins.

www.floralocale.org For specific details regarding wild flower sowing rates, visit www.kingscrops.co.uk or contact your local advisor.

www.kingscrops.co.uk

‘Promoting the restoration of wild plants and habitats for biodiversity, landscape and people.’

Cornfield annuals.

23

GAME COVER CROPS

GAME COVER CROPS

cover crops to any shoot and work hard with customers to provide the initial guidance, seed products and ongoing growing advice required.

To find out how we can help, call 0800 587 9797 to speak to one of our dedicated advisors.

Kingsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; key game management partners

24

We appreciate the importance of successful game

www.nationalgamekeepers.org.uk

www.gwct.org.uk

www.thegamekeeperswelfaretrust.com

www.basc.org.uk

www.scottishgamekeepers.co.uk

Campaign MIx and Poacher maize.

Urrard Estate covers 8000 acres near Killiecrankie in Perthshire.

Managing 100 acres of game cover crops is challenging at 1700 feet above sea level, but supported by Kings, keeper Jim Carter is pleased with their performance.

Great results when you turn to Kings

At such an elevation, Urrard Estate is a difficult area for growing cover crops. Though the soil itself is in good condition, it takes a tractor around forty minutes along steep, stony tracks to reach many of the game crop sites.

GAME COVER CROPS

CASE STUDY - Urrard Estate, Perthshire

However, with guidance from Kings’ technical advisor in Scotland, Alan Johnson, a combination of kale and Poacher Leave-it was sown last year to provide additional habitat for pheasants and partridges and create more drives.

Mr Carter was so pleased with crop performance that he plans to increase the game cover area considerably in 2016.

As the elevated site is so exposed to the elements and with regular snowfall in winter, kale was selected for its superior standing ability compared to, for example, a cereal mix. Relatively straightforward to grow when planned and managed carefully, it also has the potential to last for up to three years, making it worth the investment.

Placed alongside the kale, the reed canary grass and chicory elements of the Poacher Leave-it will provide a valuable windbreak in the second year.

As they mature, the seed produced by the kale will provide a natural food source for song birds too. The crops

Kale crops have provided excellent winter hardy holding and driving cover.

have established so well that the number of drives has increased by around fifty per cent.

“The crops have helped us to make more out of the estate we have here,” explains Mr Carter. “The habitat for the birds is greatly improved and it helps us to hold them where we want them.”

Mr Carter believes this is largely thanks to Alan’s input. It was Alan’s expert

advice on which game cover crops would perform most effectively at such a height that informed Mr Carter’s variety selection. Crops have also been managed in line with Alan’s guidance, including establishment techniques, fertiliser applications and regular monitoring.

“Working with Kings has made a big difference,” Mr Carter continues. Having worked with Kings for over a decade in previous roles, he was keen to have the team involved when he took on managing the shoot at Urrard Estate.

“They don’t just sell the seed and leave us to it, they stay in touch to make sure things are working the way they should be and give us advice on how to make any improvements that might be needed. If we want Alan to come out and look at the crops, we just give him a call and he visits us and gives us the best advice he can. That helps a lot.”

First year Poacher Leave-it has delivered a good canopy for game.

25

GAME COVER MIXTURES

Mixtures have the potential to generate a supplementary income when planted within the appropriate stewardship scheme option. Many of the following products qualify as wild bird seed mixtures within Environmental Stewardship, Countryside Stewardship and Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP) schemes, benefitting game and farmland birds.

Products that meet the requirements for these schemes are clearly marked below with the

icon.

To give the best possible start, all our kale and kale rape varieties are treated with Seed-Life™ growth promoter.

17 years’ data shows this exclusive treatment provides a significant boost to the performance of brassicas.

CODE

PRODUCT

SEED RATE PACK SIZE

N KCD1FB

Coveys Delight (Seed-Life™ and flea beetle treated)

4.5kg/acre

1 acre (4.5kg) £45.00

N K27FB

New Kingmix (Seed-Life™ and flea beetle treated)

2.5kg/acre

1 acre (2.5kg)

£36.00

Sunny Daze

10kg/acre

1 acre (10kg)

£44.00

N K51

Wild Songbird Seed

10kg/acre

1 acre (10kg)

£38.00

N K53FB

Wildlife Winter Holding Cover (Seed-Life™ and flea beetle treated) 10kg/acre

1 acre (10kg)

£46.00

N KCAM1

Campaign Mix

20kg/acre

1 acre (20kg)

£42.00

Campaign Mix South

20kg/acre

1 acre (20kg)

£45.00

Highland Mix

25kg/acre

1 acre (25kg)

£44.00

8kg/acre

1 acre (8kg)

£53.00

KSD1

KCAM2

N KHIGH

N KMOIR1FB Moir Mix (Seed-Life™ and flea beetle treated)

PRICE

Kings provides specialist advice and produces bespoke mixtures to meet individual requirements.

If you have a specific need that is not met by our standard mixtures, whether for a stewardship project or game cover situation, please contact us on 0800 587 9797.

26

Moir Mix.

Sunny Daze

••A blend of Coleor kale, Sandoval

••Creates a winter hardy canopy ••A visually striking crop that provides

••A very popular choice with the

••Suitable as a wild bird seed mixture

••Suitable as a wild bird seed mixture

••Contains: Kings Sorghum Mix, dwarf

••Appeals to a broad spectrum of

Quinoa, Stand and Deliver (perennial chicory), phacelia and white millet

••Suitable as a wild bird seed mixture for stewardship

large volumes of nutritious seed for stewardship

••Potential to provide cover for two seasons

sunflowers, red millet and white millet.

••Coleor kale treated with Seed-Life™

for growth promotion and flea beetle treatment as standard.

Wild Songbird Seed ••An annual feed mix containing

buckwheat, Gold of Pleasure, Sandoval Quinoa, spring triticale, spring wheat, sunflowers and white millet

New Kingmix ••An effective blend of Coleor kale

(treated with Seed-Life™ for growth promotion and flea beetle treatment) and Sandoval Quinoa

••Suitable as a wild bird seed mixture

Wildlife Winter Holding Cover potential for cover over two years for stewardship

farmland bird species

••Coleor kale treated with Seed-Life™ for growth promotion. Flea beetle treatment also available

••Contains: buckwheat, Coleor kale,

mustard, phacelia, Sandoval Quinoa, Stand and Deliver (perennial chicory), sunflowers, Utopia and white millet.

for stewardship

••Ideal where a source of varied seed is

required for a range of farmland birds

••Creates a winter hardy canopy with feed and cover for up to two years.

••Easy to establish.

GAME COVER MIXTURES

Coveys Delight

Herbicide friendly mixtures

Are weeds restricting your crops’ full potential?

These products have been carefully designed to meet game cover and wild bird seed mixture requirements as well as providing effective weed control opportunities.

For further advice on how these mixtures can help you manage weed control problems, please contact Kings on 0800 587 9797.

Campaign Mix

Campaign Mix South

Moir Mix

••This very popular mixture is a viable

••Suitable for sowing in southern

••Supplies winter hardy cover and

••Herbicide option available ••Provides a robust, winter hardy

••Pre and post emergence herbicide

companion for maize and sorghum or as a replacement for existing game cover crops

••Herbicide option available ••Suitable for all regions, this is a

canopy

useful break crop that provides weed control opportunities where kale has previously been used

••Contains: barley, red, white and reed millet, triticale, linseed and wheat

••Suitable as a wild bird seed mixture for stewardship.

regions (south of the Humber)

••Contains: dwarf and intermediate

grain sorghum along with barley, red, white and reed millet, triticale, linseed and wheat.

Highland Mix ••Designed to be used in upland regions or where a robust broad leaved weed control programme is required

season long feed for game and farmland birds

control options available. The pre emergence application is critical for effective weed control

••Contains: Coleor kale, Goldeneye kale, 1000 head kale and Kings kale rape (all treated with Seed-Life™ and flea beetle treatment), linseed, fodder radish, Gold of Pleasure, phacelia and Utopia

••Suitable as a wild bird seed mixture for stewardship.

••Combines a wide range of seed

bearing plants that can be planted from late April onwards

••An excellent partner in year one

where reed canary grass is being established

••Contains: triticale, barley, oats, wheat and linseed.

www.kingscrops.co.uk 0800 587 9797

OUR ADVICE Where weed control is required, consider rotating these mixtures to provide variation in the food and cover available.

27

PERENNIALS

Rather than relying on the re-establishment of all of your cover area each year, consider introducing some perennial crops. A third of the game cover area planted to perennials will help to reduce your workload, lower costs and most importantly, provide valuable year round habitat for a host of game and farmland wildlife species.

For details of the best option for your needs, contact Kings on 0800 587 9797.

28

CODE

PRODUCT

SEED RATE

PACK SIZE

PRICE

N

KPL1FB

Poacher Leave-it (Seed-Life™ and flea beetle treated)

4.5kg/acre

1 acre (4.5kg)

£62.00

N

K2

Artichokes

500kg/acre

25kg

£16.00

N

K40

Reed Canary Grass

2.5kg/acre

1 acre (2.5kg)

£52.00(inc. vat)

N

K58

Stand and Deliver

2kg/acre

1 acre (2kg)

£44.00 Reed canary grass.

TITLE PERENNIALS First year Poacher Leave-it in the foreground with a second year crop to the rear.

Poacher Leave-it

Reed Canary Grass

••An excellent choice where cover and

••A long term and reliable winter hardy

feed are required in year one while establishing a perennial crop for future years

cover that is good for weed prone locations

••Food provision from Gold of Pleasure

complements the Coleor kale, lucerne, phacelia, reed canary grass, Stand and Deliver, sweet clover and Utopia

••Coleor kale treated with Seed-Life™

for growth promotion and flea beetle treatment as standard.

Artichokes

windbreak or act as a corridor

For a useful table showing sowing times and period of use for each of Kings’ varieties, please visit www.kingscrops.co.uk.

••Planting in wide (36”) rows is important to allow continued access to game

••Consider Campaign Mix/Campaign

Mix South or our new Highland Mix (see page 27) as a nurse crop as cover from the reed canary grass is limited in the first year of planting.

When to Sow Chart Crops

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Maize Maize (except Poacher Maize) Poacher Maize

Kale Coleor Kale* Kale/Kale Blends* Kings Kale Rape Up N Away*

Millet Poacher Millet Tanka Millet Mix

Sorghum Sorghum and Sorghum Mixes

Straights Buckwheat Gold of Pleasure Linseed Phacelia Sandoval Quinoa Spring Triticale Sunflowers/Dwarf Sunflowers Sweet Clover* Tic Beans Winter Triticale

Perennials Artichokes (year 2 onwards)

Stand and Deliver

••Unlike other perennial crops,

artichokes will provide a beneficial canopy in year one

••A persistent chicory variety that

performs for several years as a winter hardy driving and holding crop

••Suitable for all sites other than those prone to waterlogged soils

••Produces a tangled canopy full of blue flowers from the summer of the second year onwards

••Our professionally grown tubers

are supplied ready for immediate planting. Stocks are limited, so order early to secure your supply

••Planting in wide (36”) rows is strongly recommended to allow continued access to game

••Minimum order size of 0.5 acre (250kg/10 packs)

••Please note that due to the bulky

••Plant in narrow strips to provide a

When to sow

Poacher Leave It (year 2 onwards) Reed Canary Grass (year 2 onwards) Stand and Deliver (year 2 onwards)

Game Cover Mixtures Campaign Mix Campaign Mix South Coveys Delight* New Kingmix* Kings Partridge Mix Moir Mix* Poacher Sun Maize Sunny Daze Wild Songbird Seed Wildlife Winter Holding Cover*

Summer Sown Crops Fodder Radish Forage Rape Kings Kale Rape Mustard Summer Blend* Stubble Turnips Stubbles Mixture Universal Mixture Utopia Vittasso Brown Mustard Winter Cover Mixture

Conservation Mixtures All Conservation Grass Mixtures (year 2 onwards) Enhanced and Basic Autumn Sown Wild Bird Seed Mixtures (following year) Basic Wild Bird Seed Mix Kings Deer Lawn Mix (year 2 onwards) Organic Wild Bird Seed Mix WM1 Wild Bird Seed Mix* All Pollen and Nectar Mixtures (year 2 onwards) Wild Flowers (year 2 onwards) Sow

Period of Use

*may last more than 1 season

••Excellent winter hardy cover

nature of this product, haulage will be charged at cost.

providing essential sanctuary from overhead predation

••Requires a nurse crop such as Summer Blend (page 39) in the first year.

OUR ADVICE Innovative management of reed canary grass, Stand and Deliver and Poacher Leave-it can provide a wide range of habitat types.

Try to include some form of perennial crop in every cover area.

www.kingscrops.co.uk 0800 587 9797

29

MAIZE

In recent years, periods of warmer and more settled weather have increased, allowing good crops of maize to be grown throughout the UK. Campaign Mix and Campaign Mix South (page 27) are a great partner to maize thanks to the ease of weed control and their significant appeal to game and farmland birds.

Introduce headland strips of sorghum or a perennial crop where possible, such as reed canary grass or Stand and Deliver perennial chicory. These will help to shelter maize crops during the establishment period and through the winter months, as well as providing year long cover areas.

30

CODE

PRODUCT

SEED RATE

PACK SIZE

PRICE

N

K20aSYN

Poacher Maize (Synergy treated)

45,000 seeds/acre

1 acre

£56.00

N

K20a

Poacher Maize

50,000 seeds/acre

1 acre

£50.00

K20e

Kings Late Cob Maize

50,000 seeds/acre

1 acre

£52.00

K20d

Kings Maize

50,000 seeds/acre

1 acre

£42.00

N

K20b

Poacher Maize Blend

50,000 seeds/acre

1 acre

£49.50

N

KPS1

Poacher Sun Maize

13kg/acre

1 acre (13kg)

£52.00 Poacher maize.

••A high performance maize variety

partnered with an innovative seed treatment to encourage and promote early growth

••Gives your crop the best possible start ••Combines Mesurol®, N, P, Zn and Seed-Life™ in one seed treatment

••Consistently performs well throughout the winter months

••Our most popular maize product.

Kings Late Cob Maize

Poacher Maize Blend

••Ideal for sites where badgers, deer,

••Contains three varieties of maize ••Creates a spread of feed provision

rooks or rats cause problems with standard maize varieties

••Produces relatively immature cobs

when sown from mid June onwards

••For early season feed value consider under-sowing with millet or triticale

••Treated with Mesurol®.

Poacher Sun Maize

••Treated with Mesurol®.

••A blend of Poacher Maize (Mesurol®

Kings Maize

••Supplies additional colour and varied

••A popular choice for many maize growers

Poacher Maize

due to a range of maturity dates

MAIZE

Poacher Maize with Synergy seed treatment

treated) and sunflowers seed

••Provides greater interest to game and farmland birds than maize alone.

••Ideal for growers who need to plant large areas

••A leading variety with a great all

••Supplies large volumes of food ••Treated with Mesurol®.

round performance

••Recommended for northern England and the Scottish Borders

OUR ADVICE

••Consistently performs well throughout the winter months

To get the most out of your maize, carefully plan the needs of the crop, including nutrient and agronomy requirements, well in advance of planting.

••Renowned for its excellent vigour and reliable establishment

••Treated with Mesurol®.

Poacher Maize with Synergy seed treatment.

Maize

Synergy – our market leading treatment

Kings’ exclusive and unique maize seed treatment, Synergy, continues to be a great success in helping the maize crop through the critical early establishment period.

Those who used the treatment over the last two years have seen improved results with their maize establishment.

This carefully formulated application contains:

• Seed-Life™ • Nitrogen, phosphorus and zinc • Mesurol® This targeted approach gives the plant an ideal start, providing a reserve of nutrients to draw upon.

The Synergy treatment is available exclusively on Poacher Maize so order early to secure your supply.

www.kingscrops.co.uk 0800 587 9797

31

MILLET

Use millet as a valuable food crop with maize or sorghum. It is a popular inclusion within many wild bird seed and game mixtures as it provides a significant volume of seed from late September onwards.

N

N

CODE

PRODUCT

SEED RATE

PACK SIZE

PRICE

K21d

Tanka Millet Mix

5kg/acre

1 acre (5kg)

£27.50 (inc. vat)

K21a

Poacher Millet Mix

5kg/acre

1 acre (5kg)

£13.50 (inc. vat)

K21c

Poacher White Millet

5kg/acre

1 acre (5kg)

£13.50 (inc. vat)

K21b

Poacher Red Millet

5kg/acre

1 acre (5kg)

£13.50 (inc. vat)

Kings takes great care in selecting seed that is free of potentially invasive rogue millet species.

We work with professional seed producers who understand the problems invasive grasses can cause.

All our seed is tested for purity and germination upon delivery to our warehouse to ensure the risk of exposure is minimised. For further information or to find out how to manage plots with grass weed problems, please contact us on 0800 587 9797.

SORGHUM

Tanka millet mix.

Sorghum is most suited to areas with a favourable climate in the southern half of the UK. After three good sorghum growing years of consistent warmth, growers are becoming increasingly confident in this excellent cover crop.

Wherever possible please consider adding a feed element such as millet, linseed or triticale to encourage game and provide a supplementary food source for farmland birds.

32

CODE

PRODUCT

SEED RATE

PACK SIZE

PRICE

K42e

Kings Sorghum Mix

10kg/acre

1 acre (10kg)

£39.00

K42a

Giant Sorghum

10kg/acre

1 acre (10kg)

£39.00

K42b

Kings Milo

10kg/acre

1 acre (10kg)

£39.00 Kings sorghum mix and Poacher maize.

MILLET

Tanka Millet Mix ••Provides a good combination of

food and cover and is a valuable alternative to sorghum

••Performs well in cooler growing conditions

••Red and white millet feeds game and farmland birds through the winter

••Japanese reed millet supplies winter hardy cover ••Provides an opportunity for weed control.

Poacher Millet Mix ••Contains red and white millet ••Provides copious amounts of seed through the winter months

Poacher Millet Mix.

••Also available in 25kg bags for larger

areas, please contact Kings for further details and prices.

Poacher Red Millet ••A visually striking feed producing crop ••Not as prolific as white millet but

Poacher White Millet

matures earlier

••Reliable source of nutritious seed ••Well worth planting on its own as an

••A good choice for northern England and Scottish Borders due to its early maturity

early season holding crop

••Also available in 25kg bags for larger

areas, please contact Kings for further details and prices.

••Also available in 25kg bags for larger

areas, please contact Kings for further details and prices.

OUR ADVICE Millet is a valuable food source and can be used in a wide range of situations, especially where a weed control plan is required.

SORGHUM

Kings Sorghum Mix ••A blend of dwarf and intermediate height sorghum varieties

••Creates a winter hardy holding and driving cover

••Particularly valuable where deer,

badgers, rats or corvids have created problems with maize

••Consider adding Poacher Millet Mix which will provide feed.

Giant Sorghum ••Provides a good screen and windbreak around plots on exposed sites

••Tends to break down as the season progresses but will still supply good cover

••An ideal choice for later season

sowing due to its quick growth.

Kings Sorghum Mix.

Kings Milo ••Our ever popular dwarf grain sorghum variety

OUR ADVICE

••Quickly creates an even stand of winter hardy cover

Sorghum requires a consistently warm seedbed for successful germination. Planting later in the season will generally bring better results than planting too early.

••Makes an excellent low level

windbreak when planted adjacent to other crops.

www.kingscrops.co.uk 0800 587 9797

33

KALE

TITLE

With the potential to provide two years of cover, kale can be a cost effective option and delivers a valuable continuity canopy during the spring.

Kale can be a challenging crop to grow so we work These flexible crops are hard to combine the best agronomy techniques available with leading varieties and innovative seed proving very popular. treatments to enable you to get the best results.

Kale seed continues to be available with a flea beetle treatment which, as part of an integrated management plan, can help keep this challenging plant pest at bay.

CODE

PRODUCT

SEED RATE

PACK SIZE

PRICE

N

K7FB

Coleor Kale

2kg/acre

1 acre (2kg)

£45.00

N

K7SYN

Coleor Kale (Synergy treated)*

2kg/acre

1 acre (2kg)

£47.00

N

K9FB

1000 Head Kale (Seed-Life™ and Flea beetle treated)*

2kg/acre

1 acre (2kg)

£42.00

N

K57FB

Up N Away (Seed-Life™ and Flea beetle treated)

2kg/acre

1 acre (2kg)

£42.00

N

KGE1FB

Goldeneye Kale (Seed-Life™ and Flea beetle treated)*

2kg/acre

1 acre (2kg)

£44.00

N

K10FB

Kings Kale Blend (Seed-Life™ and Flea beetle treated)*

2kg/acre

1 acre 2kg)

£44.00

N

KKR1

Kings Kale Rape (Seed-Life™ treated)

3kg/acre

1 acre (3kg)

£20.00

N

K6FB

Caledonian Kale (Seed-Life™ and Flea beetle treated)*

2kg/acre

1 acre (2kg)

£47.00

(Seed-Life™ and Flea beetle treated)*

We are able to offer Coleor kale as untreated re-cleaned only for organic use (derogation required) *Please note legislation dictates that we can only supply 1.49kg of flea beetle treated kale per acre so the balance contains Seed-Life™ treated only seed.

34

Coleor kale.

KALE Special kale mix containing Coleor kale, fodder radish, brown mustard, white mustard and Utopia.

Coleor Kale

Goldeneye Kale

••The leading game cover kale variety,

•• Highly tolerant to clubroot •• Combines a leafy canopy with a clear

exclusive to Kings

••A good selection for poorer, upland or exposed sites

••Excellent in the second year ••Wide planting window ••Available with Synergy kale treatment, flea beetle treatment and Seed-Life™.

1000 Head Kale ••A trusted variety renowned for its winter hardiness

••Combines a clear stem with leafy top growth

••Ideal for where second year crops are required

••Treated with Seed-Life™ for growth

promotion and flea beetle treatment.

Up N Away ••A blend of Coleor kale and Kings kale

rape that is well suited to upland sites with the potential to provide cover for two seasons

••Treated with Seed-Life™ for growth

promotion and flea beetle treatment (kale only)

••Subject to conditions can be sown

as late as early August for cover the same year.

stem providing good winter hardy cover

••Treated with Seed-Life™ for growth

promotion and flea beetle treatment.

Kings Kale Blend ••Our popular blend of three kale

varieties - Coleor, Goldeneye and 1000 Head Kale

••A good choice for difficult growing conditions

••Creates a varied canopy as each

variety has different characteristics

••Treated with Seed-Life™ for growth

promotion and flea beetle treatment.

Kings Kale Rape ••A trusted annual cover provider ••Can be planted from May to

September so provides a versatile, winter hardy choice

Kale requires significant effort to establish in year one, but with the potential to provide up to two years cover, it is a great investment.

Synergy – our market leading treatment

Maiz

We have combined the best game cover kale variety, Coleor, with a leading combination of seed treatments to provide the best possible start for your kale crops.

This carefully formulated application contains: • Seed-Life™ • Nitrogen, phosphorus and zinc • Cruiser SB® for flea beetle control This targeted approach gives the plant an ideal start, providing a reserve of nutrients to draw upon.

The Synergy Kale treatment continues to be an option available exclusively on Coleor kale so order early to secure your supply.

••Treated with Seed-Life™ to promote early root growth and plant development.

Caledonian Kale ••Resistant to clubroot disease (ideal

To give the best possible start all our kale varieties and Kings kale rape are treated with Seed-Life™ growth promoter.

••Creates a large leafed, winter

17 years’ data shows a significant boost to the performance of brassica crops.

••Treated with Seed-Life™ for growth

Contact the Kings team for further guidance on 0800 587 9797.

where a break crop is inappropriate)

OUR ADVICE

Kale

hardy canopy

promotion and flea beetle treatment.

www.kingscrops.co.uk

35

STRAIGHTS

Kings has a wide range of straight crops available, giving you a choice of seed types that can be grown on their own or in combination.

Straights can be particularly useful in supporting weed control as they often allow a dedicated herbicide strategy.

CODE

PRODUCT

SEED RATE

PACK SIZE

PRICE

N

K41

Sandoval Quinoa

4kg/acre

0.5 acre (2kg)

£26.00

N

K4

Buckwheat

50kg/acre

0.5 acre (25kg)

£58.00

N

K44a

Dwarf Sunflowers

5kg/acre

1 acre (5kg)

£36.00 (inc. vat)

N

KGOP1

Gold of Pleasure

5kg/acre

1 acre (5kg)

£29.00

N

K19

Linseed

50kg/acre

0.5 acre (25kg)

£55.00

N

K30

Phacelia

2.5kg/acre

1 acre (2.5kg)

£29.00

N

K44

Sunflowers

5kg/acre

2 acres (10kg)

£37.50 (inc. vat)

N

K45

Sweet Clover

5kg/acre

1 acre (5kg)

£34.00

N

K47

Tic Beans

100kg/acre

0.25 acre (25kg)

£35.00

N

K48a

Spring Triticale

50kg/acre

0.5 acre (25kg)

£24.00

N

K48

Winter Triticale

50kg/acre

0.5 acre (25kg)

£32.00

We are also able to supply varieties of spring barley, oats, wheat, triticale and tic beans in both 25kg and 500kg bags. Please call our team on 0800 587 9797 for further details.

36

Operation Pollinator Bees ‘n’ Seeds mix.

STRAIGHTS Buckwheat and phacelia mix.

Sandoval Quinoa

Linseed

Tic Beans

••Sandoval Quinoa provides a prolific

••Combines a strong, wiry stem with a

••The unique blend of six quinoa

••A good choice where growing

••Can be sown from mid April ••Produces large seeds which are of

source of nutritious seed

supply of nutritious seed

varieties gives a wide window of seed provision

••Creates a striking display of colour as the crop matures.

conditions may be challenging

••Please note that linseed is susceptible

to flea beetle attack so be prepared to manage accordingly.

Buckwheat

Phacelia

••Potential to produce large volumes of

••Provides a fabulous display of

••Makes a good companion to catch

••Phacelia is a good companion to

Dwarf Sunflowers

Sunflowers

••Excellent standing ability ••Creates additional structure and cover

••A great source of colour and interest

seed even when planted as late as the end of July crops, such as Utopia, Summer Blend, or Universal Mix, by adding feed value.

when planted with other crops.

brassica crops as it can discourage challenges from flea beetle.

throughout the summer

••Seed is attractive to both game and

soil fertility

••Also available in 500kg bulk bags for larger areas, please contact us for further details.

Triticale ••A versatile and increasingly popular seed producing crop

••Tolerant of poor growing conditions ••Unpalatable to deer, rabbits and hares ••Available as a spring variety for planting from April onwards and as a winter variety, for planting from September to April

••Also available in 500kg bulk bags,

farmland birds

Gold of Pleasure

please contact us for further details.

••Be ready to protect crops in the early stages of growth as they are popular with a wide range of crop pests.

••A prolific crop that produces large volumes of oil rich seed ••An excellent choice for poor soils or

Sweet Clover

challenging locations

••Can be planted in the spring or

purple flowers through the summer attracting many beneficial insects

particular benefit to pheasants

••Improves soil structure and increases

••Provides limited cover in the first year,

autumn with companion crops such as triticale, linseed or Kings kale rape.

but develops into a tangled canopy in the second year

••The flowering crop in year two is a

huge draw to many beneficial insects

••Good for poor soils where it can help both soil fertility and structure.

www.kingscrops.co.uk 0800 587 9797

OUR ADVICE Considering creating your own mixture with straights? Please contact us for advice on inclusion rates and mixture management.

37

SUMMER SOWN CROPS 38

Summer sown game crops provide a valuable extension to the standard spring sowing window.

Given the increasingly common pattern of mild autumn weather, these crops are commonly seen growing well into late October and beyond.

Helping to expand the holding and driving potential for many game managers, these crops are relatively low cost and often enhance existing areas of cover.

CODE

PRODUCT

SEED RATE

PACK SIZE

PRICE

N

KSUM1

Summer Blend (Seed-Life™ and flea beetle treated) 2.5kg/acre

1 acre (2.5kg)

£38.00

N

KSM1

Stubbles Mix

4kg/acre

1 acre (4kg)

£18.00

N

K50FB

Universal Mix (Seed-Life™ and flea beetle treated)

4.5kg/acre

1 acre (4.5kg)

£38.00

N

KWC1

Winter Cover Mix

4kg/acre

1 acre (4kg)

£30.00

N

K14

Fodder Radish

3kg/acre

1 acre (3kg)

£19.00

N

K15

Forage Rape

3kg/acre

1 acre (3kg)

£16.00

N

KKR1

Kings Kale Rape (Seed-Life™ treated)

3kg/acre

1 acre (3kg)

£20.00

N

K23

Mustard

Drill at 2kg/acre 10kg Broadcast at 4kg/acre

£28.00

N

K43

Stubble Turnips

3kg/acre

1 acre (3kg)

£15.00

N

KUT1

Utopia

2kg/acre

1 acre (2kg)

£29.00

N

KVITT1

Vittasso Brown Mustard

2kg/acre

1 hectare (5kg)

£52.00

Special mix of Coleor kale, fodder radish and brown mustard.

SUMMER SOWN CROPS Utopia.

Summer Blend

Stubbles Mix

Winter Cover Mix

••Combines the quick growing

••Creates early season holding and

••Ideal for creating new areas of cover

••Provides a varied, winter hardy

••A combination of forage rape, mustard and stubble turnips.

••Utopia provides additional winter

••Consider adding buckwheat for

Universal Mix

Ethiopian mustard varieties Utopia and Carbon with Coleor kale

driving cover

canopy from a summer sowing additional feed value

or patching up existing plots during the summer hardiness along with fodder radish, Kings kale rape (treated with SeedLife™), mustard, tyfon and Vitasso brown mustard

••A mid summer option combining

••Coleor kale supplied with Seed-Life™ and flea beetle treatment

Coleor kale and Kings kale rape, both treated with Seed-Life™, as well as fodder radish, mustard, Utopia and Vittasso brown mustard

••Given good establishment of the

Coleor kale, this mix can be carried through to a second year.

••Has the potential to provide cover

until the end of the shooting season.

••Coleor kale supplied with Seed-Life™ and flea beetle treatment.

Fodder Radish

Kings Kale Rape

Utopia

••Provides a leafy canopy and

••Produces rapid, winter hardy growth

••A quick growing brassica, perfect for

••Treated with Seed-Life™.

••Good, leafy canopy with a

a valuable pollen and nectar source along with robust seed pods that can supply seed throughout the winter

in good growing conditions

••Suitable for situations where a late

Mustard

Forage Rape

••An economical cover crop ••Also available in 25kg bags for larger

sowing is required.

••An economical cover option ••Can provide late season forage after shooting.

areas, please contact us for further details.

late season planting strong stem.

Vittasso Brown Mustard ••Quick growing and can withstand

prolonged periods of cold weather

••Sown from mid July to create a strong leafy canopy for game birds.

Stubble Turnips ••A low cost cover option that is ideal

OUR ADVICE

for large planting areas

••Also available in 25kg bags for larger areas, please contact us for further details.

Summer sown catch crops are a great asset for replanting or creating new covers. Timeliness is key for successful establishment, so keep a keen eye on the weather forecast and aim to plant immediately before or just after rainfall.

www.kingscrops.co.uk 0800 587 9797

39

GREEN COVER CROPS

GREEN COVER CROPS

Cover cropping has a vast range of benefits, especially in soil improvement. Crop and variety choice is important as different species perform different functions, but careful selection can make a great difference to the soil and to following crops, the environment and the farm business.

Key benefits include:

• Greater N efficiency; nitrogen is taken up by the cover crop and released to the following crop, this saves N that has been paid for and left behind by arable crops and reduces leaching into watercourses

• Improved soil structure, drainage and general soil health, including combatting the effects of compaction

• Increased organic matter and soil biota • Reduction of soil borne pests, such as beet cyst nematode (BCN)

• Reduced spring cultivations provide a direct drill opportunity

• Can help to meet greening requirements under CAP and attract payments under some environmental schemes

• Livestock grazing • Weed and disease suppression, including blackgrass reduction

• Improved financial returns from higher yielding cash crops, as well as more efficient use of nitrogen and lower diesel use due to better soil structure requiring reduced cultivations

• Potential to provide beneficial habitat for a wide range of farmland wildlife.

40

Oil radish.

On a mixed farm near Consett in County Durham, Edwin Taylor of Edwin Taylor & Son has seen a significant difference in soil health after growing green cover crops.

Great results when you turn to Kings

Green cover crops play an essential role in Mr Taylor’s arable rotation. The business manages 1300 ewes, a herd of 50 suckler cows and cereals and pulses over 700ha. With some crops struggling to reach their potential in the past due to soil with low organic matter levels and a tendency to become waterlogged, Mr Taylor was keen to see how green cover crops could make a difference. Around 90% of the wheat, beans, peas and oats sown in spring now follows green cover.

Mr Taylor grows several varieties, including oil radish, Tillage radish, phacelia, vetch and rye, supported by his Kings’ advisor Clive Wood and Frontier agronomist Andy Roy. “Clive really knows his stuff!” Mr Taylor exclaims. The two have worked together for many years on game cover, conservation and forage crops as well as green cover.

Farming between 60 and 1000 feet above sea level and with a late wheat harvest, the cover crops, particularly oil radish and phacelia, suit the altitude well. Having grown cover crops for three years, Mr Taylor now buys Kings straights to create his own mixes according to the farm’s needs.

“The results have been dramatic in terms of improved soil health.

By improving our soil, we should increase our yields and consistency too,” Mr Taylor explains.

“We’ve seen increased carbon above and below ground thanks to better root systems and above ground growth.

Organic matter levels and biological activity, from earthworms to beetles, have increased and the longer taproots of the radishes have split the sub soil, allowing better water infiltration.” This means waterlogged soils are no longer an issue and operations can be carried out when needed, rather than when the land allows.

Cover crops can catch up to 130kg/ ha of nitrogen that has been left in the soil by previous crops. Mr Taylor has been particularly impressed with the performance of his green cover crops in this respect.

“The roots trap nutrients, saving them in the plant and preventing leaching of nitrogen,” he continues. “This has been confirmed by deep N core testing that we’ve done with SOYL, which showed that nitrogen was stored in the plant

GREEN COVER CROPS

CASE STUDY - Consett, County Durham

Oil radish root profile.

and top 30cms of soil. When we’re in a nitrate vulnerable zone (NVZ) which determines how much nitrogen we can apply, this is really valuable.”

Green cover crops can bring benefits for soil health, farmland wildlife and your farm business.

41

GREEN COVER CROPS

Green cover crops have proven benefits for soil health.

Oil radish

Biofumigation crops

Cereals

Oil radish has rapid growth and is excellent at catching nitrogen. It produces high levels of organic matter and its strong, deep roots bust through compaction to improve soil structure. It is clubroot resistant, making it valuable in a rape rotation and is approved for use in Ecological Focus Areas under Countryside Stewardship in England and the SRDP in Scotland. Kings varieties include standard oil radish, nematode resistant oil radish and Tillage radish.

Biofumigation needs crops that mulch easily and have a high glucosinolate content that rapidly breaks down to produce biofumigant gas Isothiocyanates. Working closely with specialist breeders, Kings mixtures of mustards and radish are formulated to give high biofumigant gas production.

Cereals are easy to establish with high biomass production and good nutrient catching ability. Depending on variety selection, other benefits include fast growth and reduction of black-grass and free living nematodes. Kingsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; cereal options include forage rye, strigosa oats and common oats.

Mustard An economical option with rapid growth and high biomass, mustard has a long growing season and is suitable for late drilling. It is an efficient nitrogen catcher and winter hardy. Careful variety selection can provide biofumigant properties and proven reduction of Beet Cyst Nematode, but mustard can exacerbate clubroot and nematode issues, so be sure to take expert advice.

Kings varieties include basic white mustard, nitrogen catch with nematode resistant, brown mustard and Ethiopian mustard.

42

Vetch Vetch is a large seeded legume which fixes large volumes of atmospheric nitrogen. Available as winter and spring varieties, vetch can provide winter hardiness, deep roots and fast growth.

Kings varieties include common vetch and hairy vetch. Vetch is also a common partner in mixtures.

Grass Kings offers a number of grass based options designed to provide green cover benefits. These can range from short term Westerwolds to a three year Black-grass Buster mix based on a blend of festulolium and perennial rye grass.

Clover Clovers have a wide range of growth characteristics and levels of productivity, but all of Kingsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; varieties are effective at fixing atmospheric nitrogen. Options include berseem clover, crimson clover and red clover.

OUR ADVICE Be clear about your main aims before selecting your green cover crop. Take advice to consider the best options available for your soil type and rotation.

GREEN COVER CROPS Kings Soil Vitality mix.

Other species Other species with benefits in a green cover situation include winter linseed, Gold of Pleasure, phacelia, sticky nightshade and buckwheat. These crops can provide nitrogen catching, soil health improvement, fast growth, good rooting and nematode reduction; take expert advice to select the best crop for your specific needs.

Mixtures Mixtures can provide multiple benefits and often combine a deep rooting crop to retain fertility with a legume crop to trap atmospheric nitrogen. With careful selection, mixtures can provide increased organic matter and soil biodiversity, a rich improvement in soil humus, improved soil structure and a reduction in soil pests and diseases.

Kings’ range of standard mixtures suits most situations. Options include Kings Soil Structure Mix, which adds

large volumes of organic matter and has deep rooting species to improve soil structure and reduce the effects of compaction. Kings Soil Vitality Mix is designed to enhance the whole soil biota and Kings Greening Mix has been specially created for EFAs. Kings N Fix Mix and Kings Vetch and Forage Rye Mix are both excellent at catching and fixing nitrogen, while Kings Soil Biofumigation Mix produces a highly potent fumigation gas. Speak to your local advisor to determine which is the most appropriate mixture for your farm’s needs.

Talk to the people that work for the company that makes a difference.

AGRONO

Cover crops and catch crops are a key part of the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) as one of the five options available to growers within the Ecological Focus Area section (EFA).

CROP PRODUCTION SERVICE

GUIDE TO COVER CROPS The many benefits including: Improved nitrogen efficiency, soil condition and pest control

Custom mixtures Kings can provide advice and guidance on creating specific mixtures to suit soil type and cropping rotation. We produce all our own mixtures from a wide range of raw materials at our specialist plant and offer a range of bag sizes to suit individual needs.

COMPLETE

pages 4-13

Planning cover crops in your crop production programme pages 16-19

The many cover crops available pages 20-25

CAP reform page 27

1

To learn more about how growing cover crops can benefit your business and the options available, request a copy of MyGuide to Cover Crops, speak to your local advisor or call Kings on 0800 587 9797.

The use of cover crops and catch crops as an EFA is controlled by rules around mixtures, species, dates and areas. Taking advice is highly recommended to ensure compliance with these rules while also meeting the needs of the farm.

Kings has a range of standard mixtures that suit the EFA option and can also tailor make mixtures to individual needs. Options include: • Oil radish and oat • Mustard and oats • Rye and vetch • Radish and vetch (Scotland only)

www.kingscrops.co.uk 0800 587 9797

43

FORAGE CROPS

FORAGE CROPS Our selection of forage products has been carefully chosen to ensure it meets the needs of your farm business. With varieties at the cutting edge of plant breeding and innovative agronomy, we make sure that your crop delivers the best results.

Kings’ seed includes the best available treatments, such as GrowMax™, iSeed50® and Seed-Life™, to give the emerging crop the best possible start.

Crop management is essential to success. Whether you are growing a multiple cut, high volume silage crop or creating a winter long brassica grazing system, Kings’ comprehensive range of innovative crop nutrition advice and ongoing agronomy support, combined with top quality products, will maximise the profitability of your business Forage grass seed is sold in 20kg packs unless otherwise advised.

Grass ley planted for three years to bring rotational benefits and manage black-grass.

Westerwolds

Short term cutting and grazing 15-20kg/acre – 37-50kg/hectare

••Quick growing grass species ••In production 8 – 10 weeks from sowing ••Extremely high yields ••Suitable for both cutting and grazing.

Extra Cut

Conservation (1-2 years) 14kg/acre – 35kg/hectare

18% Perun Advanced Italian Ryegrass™ 21% Alamo Italian Ryegrass 29% Kigezi 1 Italian Ryegrass (T) 21% Citeliac Hybrid Ryegrass (T) 11% Tetragraze Hybrid Ryegrass (T)

••Approximate date at 67D 16th May

••Highly productive blend of Italian, hybrid and Advanced Italian Ryegrass™

••High sugar content for rapid fermentation ••Suitable for intensive cutting regimes – will reach 67D approximately 6 weeks after cutting

Catch Crop

Cutting, grazing and conservation (1-2 years) 15kg/acre or 37kg/hectare

50% Italian Ryegrass 50% Italian Ryegrass (T)

••Approximate date at 67D 12th/13th May ••Formulated to provide high yields in both years of production

••Rapid recovery after defoliation ensures reliable subsequent cuts.

Meat and Milk Cutting and grazing (5 years plus)

14kg/acre – 35kg/hectare

18% Boyne Intermediate Perennial Ryegrass 23% Catabi 1 Intermediate Perennial Ryegrass (T) 10% Cancan Late Perennial Ryegrass (MWWD) 13% Pastour Late Perennial Ryegrass (MWWD) 10% Twymax Late Perennial Ryegrass (T) (MWWD) 11% Alfonso Late Perennial Ryegrass (T) 8% Winnetou Timothy 7% Dual Purpose White Clover Blend

••Rapid recovery after defoliation ensures reliable subsequent

••Hardy and persistent for reliable production over several

••Suitable for high nitrogen input systems.

••Timothy included for winter hardiness, early spring growth

cuts

years

and good tolerance to wet and cold

••A good inclusion level of high fibre digestibility varieties helping to ensure good production levels from forage

44

••Dual purpose - cutting and grazing ••No clover option available.

F C Garlick and Sons is a mixed farm in Hereford. With a substantial number of livestock to feed, availability and quality of forage crops is vital. Kings’ vetch and rye mix plays an important role in fulfilling the livestock’s needs.

Great results when you turn to Kings

David Garlick grows several thousand acres of arable crops, finishes 1500 head of cattle, has a flock of 350 ewes and takes in up to 3000 tack sheep each year. At these volumes, it’s essential that forage crops contain sufficient nutritional value to maintain

FORAGE CROPS

CASE STUDY - Hereford, Herefordshire

livestock and that the crops sown establish successfully to provide a constant supply of feed during the required period.

A key element of Mr Garlick’s forage programme is 40 acres of Kings’ vetch and rye mix. This is particularly suitable as it provides high protein which helps to finish lambs, as well as offering an alternative to brassica based forage crops and reducing the risk of clubroot. Crucially, it provides food for the ewes and tack sheep through March and April, bridging the hungry gap when forage rape and stubble turnips have been eaten or are coming to the end of their life. Vigorous in early spring, the mix fits well into an extended grazing period before the land goes into forage maize.

Richard Garlick of FC Garlick and Sons.

“I saw trials plots of the mix at a Kings event in Gloucestershire last year,” Mr Garlick explains. “The data from the cut down analysis and the levels of protein and dry matter in the crop were impressive and I felt it would be a valuable addition to our rotation. I’m pleased with its performance so far; it wasn’t planted until early September, but helped by the warm growing conditions this autumn, establishment and growth have been superb.”

The decision was supported by expert advice from Frontier agronomist and Kings advisor Lee Ward, who has provided Mr Garlick’s agronomy for many years.

“We’ve worked with Lee for a long time and he understands our needs and how our business works,” Mr Garlick continues.

“We’ve got a good relationship with him and we trust his advice.”

Protein Plus 25% 40% 15% 20%

Cutting (3-4 years) 14kg/acre – 35kg/hectare

Bahial Hybrid Ryegrass (T) Citeliac Hybrid Ryegrass (T) Tetragraze Hybrid Ryegrass (T) Red Clover Blend

••Stress tolerant species will thrive in all soil types ••High quality multi cut mixture.

Flexicrop

Intensive Grazing

Grazing (5 years plus) 14kg/acre – 35kg/hectare

16% Solomon Intermediate Perennial Ryegrass (MWWD) 21% Boyne Intermediate Perennial Ryegrass (MWWD) 21% Cancan Late Perennial Ryegrass (MWWD) 19% Pastour Late Perennial Ryegrass (MWWD) 16% Twymax Late Perennial Ryegrass (T) (MWWD) 7% Grazing White Clover Blend

••Consistent growth and rapid recovery throughout the

Cutting and grazing (5 years plus) 14kg/acre – 35kg/hectare

21% Lofa Advanced Hybrid Ryegrass™ 14% Bahial Hybrid Ryegrass (T) 14% Solomon Intermediate Perennial Ryegrass (MWWD) 14% Catabi 1 Intermediate Perennial Ryegrass (T) 15% Pastour Late Perennial Ryegrass (MWWD) 17% Diams Late Perennial Ryegrass (T) 5% Dual Purpose White Clover Blend

••Lofa Advanced Hybrid Ryegrass™ included for persistency of yield and quality; an excellent stress tolerant variety

grazing season

••Proven UK late heading varieties combine persistence and yield

••Tetraploid and white clover content will improve palatability and stock performance ••Good, dense varieties which will minimise poaching and weed encroachment

••Late heading varieties will allow an occasional late cut of quality silage

••Excellent disease resistance ••No clover option available.

••Solomon intermediate perennial ryegrass included for increased ground cover and longevity ••High annual yield under both cutting and grazing ••Good sward density, disease resistance, winter hardiness and persistence

••Offers the benefit of later heading varieties with low stem to leaf numbers

••No clover option available.

Rye grass and red clover ley.

45

FORAGE CROPS Permanent Pasture

Cutting and grazing (permanent)

DroughtMax Dual Purpose

14kg/acre – 35kg/hectare 16% Solomon Intermediate Perennial Ryegrass (MWWD) 16% Premium Intermediate Perennial Ryegrass 16% Seagoe Intermediate Perennial Ryegrass (T) 11% Romark Late Perennial Ryegrass (MWWD) 10% Cancan Late Perennial Ryegrass (MWWD) 14% Diams Late Perennial Ryegrass (T) 10% Winnetou Timothy 7% Dual Purpose White Clover Blend

••A proven, hardwearing, long term mixture ••All varieties combine high yields, good winter hardiness and continuous production throughout the growing season

••Suitable for grazing with cattle or sheep plus the option for cutting if required

••Excellent early spring growth allows early turnout

••Timothy increases yield in cold, wet springs and will ensure good, palatable summer forage

••No clover option available.

All Stock

Cutting and grazing (5 years) 14kg/acre – 35kg/hectare

20% Premium Intermediate Perennial Ryegrass 24% Orion Intermediate Perennial Ryegrass (T) 20% Toddington Late Perennial Ryegrass 25% Diams Late Perennial Ryegrass (T) 7% Timothy Blend 4% Dual Purpose Clover Blend

••A versatile yet economical mixture ••Good springtime production for grazing animals ••Timothy gives early bite and yield while tolerating cold, wet soils

••High percentage of late perennials ensures a leafy sward ••Suitable for overseeding into during its later years of service ••No clover option available.

Cutting and grazing (3-5 years)

14kg/acre – 35kg/hectare 14% Perun Advanced Italian Ryegrass™ 14% Perseus Advanced Italian Ryegrass™ 28% Lofa Advanced Hybrid Ryegrass™ 15% Romark Late Perennial Ryegrass (MWWD) 17% Alfonso Late Perennial Ryegrass (T) 5% Red Clover Blend 7% Dual Purpose White Clover Blend

••Advanced Grasses™ are deep rooted and stress tolerant ••White clover adds protein, minerals and palatability ••Rapid regrowth and response to fertiliser ••Withstands dry summers.

HayMax Short Term 29% Perun 29% Perseus 42% Alamo

Cutting (2 years) 14kg/acre – 35kg/hectare

Advanced Italian Ryegrass™ Advanced Italian Ryegrass™ Italian Ryegrass

••Will provide high yield of hay or haylage ••Advanced Grasses™ give excellent stress tolerance ••Multi cut options: late May/early June ••Very good rapid regrowth ••Diploids to aid drying process ••Very responsive to fertiliser inputs.

HayMax Full Term

Cutting (3-5 years) 14kg/acre – 35kg/hectare

25% Genesis Early Perennial Ryegrass 15% Boyne Intermediate Perennial Ryegrass 32% Premium Intermediate Perennial Ryegrass 14% Toddington Late Perennial Ryegrass 14% Winnetou Timothy

••Excellent resistance to foliar diseases ••Outstanding yields for both hay and haylage with late season grazing

••Timothy improves summer palatability and colour of the mown sward ••Contains diploids for even conditioning.

46

Cutting (2-3 years) 14kg/acre – 35kg/hectare

GrassMax Dual Purpose Overseeding mixture Sow at 10kg/acre – 25kg/hectare

35% Perun Advanced Italian Ryegrass™ Organic 35% Hunter Italian Ryegrass (T) Organic 10% Lofa Advanced Hybrid Ryegrass™ 20% Red Clover Blend

30% Citeliac Hybrid Ryegrass (T) 30% Glenstal Intermediate Perennial Ryegrass (T) 30% Alfonso Late Perennial Ryegrass (T) 10% Dual Purpose White Clover Blend

••70% organically produced seed ••Excellent disease resistance provides good forage quality ••Erect growth habit allows clover to thrive and eases the

••Extends the cutting and grazing opportunity for existing

cutting process

••Improved yield, quality and stress tolerance with Perun Advanced Italian Ryegrass™

••Optimum date for first cut 16th – 19th May depending on site and situation.

Organic Dual Purpose

Cutting and grazing (4-6 years) 14kg/acre – 35kg/hectare

8% Solomon Intermediate Perennial Ryegrass 11% Premium Intermediate Perennial Ryegrass Organic 14% Calibra Intermediate Perennial Ryegrass (T) Organic 10% Magician Intermediate Perennial Ryegrass (T) Organic 10% Toddington Late Perennial Ryegrass 15% Pastour Late Perennial Ryegrass Organic 12% Polim Late Perennial Ryegrass (T) Organic 8% Dolina Timothy Organic 9% Dual Purpose White Clover Blend 3% Red Clover Blend

••70% organically produced seed ••Excellent disease resistance ••Good spring growth with impressive yields at 67D ••White clover for protein and assisted crop fertility ••Late varieties that exhibit low stem formation for maximum forage quality

••Features Calibra for high sugar ••Clovers selected for spring growth, minerals and protein.

GrassMax Cut

grass leys.

Meadow Mix Farmland conservation/grazing mix Sow at 14kg/acre – 35kg/hectare

40% Meadow Fescue 10% Creeping Red Fescue 21% Timothy 11% Smooth Stalked Meadow Grass 10% Rough Stalked Meadow Grass 7% Crested Dogstail 1% Meadow Foxtail

••Complements the need for both conservation requirements and productivity for grazing.

Horse Paddock Mix

Sow at 15-20kg/acre or 37-50kg/hectare

••A long term mixture designed with sward density in mind to support the demands horses place on grass

••Suitable for production of both hay and haylage ••No tetraploids as high sugar content can cause laminitis ••Perennial ryegrass combined with creeping red fescue and Timothy

••Easy to maintain.

Overseeding mixture Sow at 10kg/acre – 25kg/hectare

••High output blend designed to extend the productivity of a conservation ley.

Overseeding mixture Sow at 10kg/acre – 25kg/hectare

35% Lofa Advanced Hybrid Ryegrass™ 40% Citeliac Hybrid Ryegrass (T) 25% Red Clover Blend

••All the benefits of GrassMax Cut with an additional red clover blend.

GrassMax Graze

Specialist equestrian mixture 10kg pack size

35% Orantas Intermediate Perennial Ryegrass 20% Premium Intermediate Perennial Ryegrass 20% Toddington Late Perennial Ryegrass 15% Maxima Creeping Red Fescue 10% Timothy Blend

30% Lofa Advanced Hybrid Ryegrass™ 40% Citeliac Hybrid Ryegrass (T) 20% Glenstal Intermediate Perennial Ryegrass (T) 10% Cutting White Clover Blend

GrassMax Cut Red Clover

FORAGE CROPS

Organic Short Term

Overseeding mixture Sow at 10kg/acre – 25kg/hectare

20% Catabi 1 Intermediate Perennial Ryegrass (T) 30% Glenstal Intermediate Perennial Ryegrass (T) 20% Twymax Late Perennial Ryegrass (T) (MWWD) 20% Diams Late Perennial Ryegrass (T) 10% Grazing White Clover Blend

••Designed to maintain the output and productivity of

Pr Nitro

®

Biostimulants assist the seedling’s ability to take advantage of the soil’s own nutrient reserves.

This is done by stimulating the soil’s microflora, resulting in improved root growth and establishment.

All Kings forage grass mixtures, with the exception of the organic range, have GrowMax™ applied at no extra cost.

ProNitro treated seed improves the economical result in the grass field by providing:

• A more reliable and uniform establishment • Better sward and field appearance • Healthier grass plants • Higher yield and better stress tolerance • Reduced fertiliser need at establishment.

ProNitro enhances early growth and improves root development by placing the fertiliser exactly in the root zone. Such placement ensures only the emerging seedling is fed and not the surrounding weeds.

grazing leys.

www.kingscrops.co.uk 0800 587 9797

47

FORAGE CROPS

Turnip rape.

Kale

Forage rape

Main crop turnips

Kale can provide an abundant feed supply for grazing from mid summer to late winter. Kale is a versatile crop and offers the highest dry matter utilisation of all forage brassicas. The following key varieties are available treated as standard with Seed-Life™ nutrient treatment and Cruiser SB™ for flea beetle control where marked (*).

Forage rape is a quick growing, leafy brassica generally planted in the summer months to provide a complete grazing crop during late autumn and early winter. With fleshy growth, most of the plant is consumed, including leaf and stem, so there is little waste.

Main crop turnips provide a robust forage crop when planted in early summer and can provide a flexible grazing opportunity from late summer to the end of winter. Often mixed with a stubble turnip to spread the period of feed availability.

••Hobson – Excellent for finishing

••Green Globe – Late maturing variety

••Coleor* - High yielding, leafy, diploid

kale of short to medium height.

Renowned for high leaf to stem ratio.

Notable winter hardiness. Distinctive purple colouration.

••Caledonian* – High yielding, clubroot

resistant variety that can be grown on the same site where required. Often the highest yielding variety in trials.

Ideal for cattle.

••1000 Head* – Winter hardy. Long

stem and leafy canopy of high ‘D’ value.

••Maris Kestrel - Excellent leaf to stem

ratio. Long grazing utilisation period.

Available with Cruiser SB™ alone.

lambs. Good resistance to powdery mildew

••Emerald – Very palatable. Can be

grazed within 12–14 weeks of planting

••Sparta - Clubroot tolerant with good yield potential.

Turnip rape Turnip rape provides a useful alternative to traditional forage brassicas, combining a leafy top with a small root.

••Jupiter - Quick growing and winter

hardy, particularly suited to northern regions. Flexible sowing window, ideal for planting until end of September.

Kale rape The result of hybrid breeding between kale and forage rape, kale rape is quick growing and winter hardy, ideal for summer sowing and grazing through autumn and winter. Dry matter yields are above traditional forage rape crops.

••Interval - Great leaf to stem ratio.

Can be grazed within 10-12 weeks of planting

••Swift – High yielding. Can provide

notable regrowth after initial grazing period. Suits later sowings.

48

that can be grazed from between 90120 days of planting. Combines a leafy top with a substantial root.

Stubble turnips Stubble turnips are the most common forage crop, either broadcast into a standing cereal crop prior to harvest or drilled into the stubble immediately after the combine. Economical to grow, they provide a flexible late autumn and early winter forage opportunity.

••Samson – Fast growing tetraploid.

Produces large purple ‘tankard’ roots that encourage significant intake by livestock

••Delilah – Notably resistant to mildew, creates large white roots with plenty of grazing potential

••Barkant – Traditional stubble turnip.

High yielding. High leaf to root ratio

••Vollenda - High yielding, cost effective tetraploid. Good disease resistance

••Tyfon – Leafy type with a small bulb.

Winter hardy. Can be summer sown but also useful for late spring planting to provide grazing during dry periods when other forage opportunities may be limited.

FORAGE CROPS

Swedes Swedes provide a high energy winter feed that can be grazed or lifted as required. Where grazed they should be strip grazed to avoid wastage.

••Gowrie – Top yielding variety for

pre or post Christmas use. Good resistance to clubroot and powdery mildew

••Invitation – Ideal for late winter use.

Very hardy. Useful for sheep or cattle.

Fodder beet Fodder beet is grown to harvest the mature root for feeding during winter.

It will notably out-yield turnip and swede crops. It requires a precision drill for sowing and specialist harvesting equipment. Energy beet varieties for biogas use are also available.

••Blaze - Produces high dry matter

yields with a distinctive red root.

Has a medium dry matter percentage so can be fed whole or chopped

••Magnum – Can produce substantial

yields. Notably more frost tolerant than other varieties due to high dry matter

••Beretta - High dry matter. Good

disease resistance. Ideal for late lifting

••Blizzard – High dry matter yields. Ideal for lifting with sugar beet machinery

••Splendide - Excellent all round variety.

Good dry matter content. High beet yield. High root to leaf ratio.

Forage rye

Maize

Arable silage

Forage rye is excellent for early grazing where the window between other crops is short. It can be strip grazed for cattle or winter sheep and made into big bale silage as required.

Forage maize is grown to make silage from the immature plant. Best results come from harvesting when most grain sites have converted soluble sugars to starch. The target for harvest is to achieve 27-35% dry matter silage.

Available varieties include:

Most commonly combining legumes and cereals, these mixtures are an excellent way to create a high volume forage crop containing both starch and protein. Sown from March onwards, they can provide fresh cut material fed directly or be ensiled for winter use.

They also benefit following crops by helping to improve soil structure, retain nutrients and fix atmospheric nitrogen.

••Humbolt – Specially bred for forage production (not a grain type). Ideal for early ‘bite’ grazing as spring growth can be 3 weeks earlier than Italian ryegrass

••Protector – Grows quickly in low

temperatures. Provides good entry to a following forage maize crop.

Lucerne Lucerne provides palatable high protein forage. Drought tolerant, it has 5 years’ potential. Seed requires an innoculant.

••Marshall – Well adapted to the UK. Highly suited to silage or hay

••Daisy - Verticillium wilt resistance

••Augustus – Maturity rating 11. Ultra

early variety with yield potential 4-5% over Kentaurus

••Autens – Maturity rating 9. New for 2016. Oustanding yield in an early variety. High early plant vigour

••Kougar – Maturity rating 9. Early

maturing, high yielding and high quality. A well proven variety that suits the majority of situations

••Peas and oats – A simple combination of a legume and cereal

••Peas, triticale and wheat – Provides a

blend of energy, palatability and yield

••Bespoke mixtures – Contact Kings to discuss mixtures to suit specific needs.

••Ambrosinni – Maturity rating 6. Later maturing but unbeatable yields.

Suitable for high yielding sites in favourable locations. Ideal for AD.

avoids drying out of leaves and disappearance of plants. High protein content and high dry matter yields.

49

GENERAL GRASS MIXTURES

Kings offers a portfolio of proven, high quality grass products designed to cover a wide range of situations. Our mixtures contain the latest grass varieties, selected to ensure the best possible results for your equine needs, landscaping around farm buildings or creating the perfect lawn.

For more information on these products, please contact us on 0800 587 9797.

CODE

PRODUCT

SEED RATE

PACK SIZE

PRICE

K38

Rearing Pen Mix

13kg/acre

13kg (1 acre)

£62.00

KG3a/b*

KingsScape

25g-40g per square metre

10kg/20kg

£38.00/£73.00

KG4a/b*

KingsShade

50g per square metre

10kg/20kg

£53.00/£106.00

KG1a/b*

KingsFine

50g per square metre

10kg/20kg

£39.00/£76.00

KG2a/b*

KingsFine with Ryegrass

25g–50g per square metre

10kg/20kg

£42.00/£82.00

* For guidance on the amount of seed required for a particular area please call us on 0800 587 9797.

Rearing Pen Grass Mix

KingsScape

KingsFine

••A dedicated rearing field mixture ••Hard wearing, suited to either laying

••Suitable as a domestic lawn mix or for

••Formulated to be of interest to both

••Contains: amenity perennial ryegrass

••Will create a smart, ornamental lawn ••Contains: chewings fescue and strong

••Can be grazed ••Contains: amenity perennial ryegrass,

KingsShade

pens or rearing fields

poults and adult birds

bird’s-foot trefoil, creeping red fescue, meadow fescue, perennial ryegrass, tall fescue and white clover.

more extensive landscaped areas and strong creeping red fescue.

••Produces a quality lawn whilst tolerating shaded conditions

••Contains: browntop bent, chewings

TREES, SHRUBS & HEDGING

fescue, rough stalked meadow grass, sheeps fescue and slender creeping red fescue.

50

creeping red fescue.

KingsFine with Ryegrass ••A high quality yet robust lawn seed mixture

••Contains: chewings fescue, perennial ryegrass, slender creeping red fescue and strong creeping red fescue.

Woodland and hedgerow habitat improvement The Kings team offers guidance on the opportunities available through grant schemes and Environmental/Countryside Stewardship as well as on species selection to meet your needs.

We provide a wide range of hedge plants, trees and shrubs throughout the winter months. Whether you need to gap up an existing hedgerow or create a new area of

woodland, we will be pleased to help.

With many years of practical experience in this area we can advise on the design and species selection as required. Once agreed on the makeup of your project, we can supply the nursery stock and required protection at very competitive prices.

For further details of our extensive range and how we can help you please contact us on 0800 587 9797.

Kings Regional Advisors Paul Beazley

Claus Hansen

Ivor Ramage

Cornwall and Devon

Northern Ireland

T 01769 550223 M 07812 940064 F 01769 540844 E janebeazley@hotmail.com

Scandinavia T 0045 644 91918 M 0045 401 61918 F 0045 644 91916 E skyttecbh@gmail.com

David Cooper

Philip Kammer

Avril Egar

Derbyshire, Lancashire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire

Scotland

Ireland

T 01302 851692 M 07951 662064 F 01302 851692 E d.a.cooper@btinternet.com

T 01466 751350 M 07836 593800 E kammer.philip@gmail.com

T 02820 768484 M 07836 356253 E ivor.ramage@frontierag.co.uk

T 00353 596 481122 M 00353 872 522947 F 00353 596 482432 E avril.egar@redmills.ie

Harold Critchlow Staffordshire, Warwickshire and West Midlands T 01889 500250 M 07738 219463 E haroldcritchlow@yahoo.co.uk

Frontier Agriculture Regional Offices Andover

Diss

The Grain Silos, Weyhill Road, Andover, Hampshire SP10 3NT

Sandy Lane, Diss, Norfolk IP22 4HY

T 01264 388000 F 01264 337642

Berwick-upon-Tweed

Sandy

T 01379 642936

F 01522 866573

Perth

Georgetown Road, A1 Trunk Road, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 2UB T 01767 680351

F 01767 692412

Witham St Hughs

Windmill Way West, Ramparts Business Park, Berwick-upon-Tweed TD15 1TB

Jura Suite 3/1, King James VI Business Centre, Riverview Business Park, Friarton Road, Perth PH2 8DY

T 01289 330303 F 01289 308145

T 01738 500570

Cranswick

Ross-on-Wye

Beverley Road, Cranswick, Driffield, East Yorkshire YO25 9PF

Phocle Green, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire HR9 7XU

T 01377 270441 F 01377 271248

T 01989 780555

Delivery Details

Packaging

Terms and Conditions

Free delivery and handling on orders totalling £150 or more (mainland UK only Monday to Friday).

Kings uses top quality packaging.

Multiple product orders may be consolidated into an outer bag to minimise the risk of loss or damage during transportation. Please check for internal bags before reporting losses to the administration team.

Seed returned will only be credited if the packs remain unopened and can be resold during the same season. Special mixtures cannot be returned. You are responsible for the safe return of goods to our distribution centre. You will receive a full refund less 15% handling charge.

A £10 delivery and handling charge applies to orders totalling less than £150.

Orders being delivered outside mainland UK will be charged at cost, based on total weight and final destination.

Please contact us for more information.

We aim to dispatch standard products within three working days. Special mixtures, mixed to order could take longer; please contact us for more information. You will be informed if we are experiencing any delays or are unable to fulfil your order for any reason.

On receipt of your goods please check and report any concerns, damages or losses to the administration team on 0800 587 9797 within 24 hours. Failure to do so may affect our ability to process your claim or refund.

F 01522 866573

Camp Road, Witham St Hughs, Lincoln, Lincolnshire LN6 9TN T 01522 860000

F 01522 868244

F 01989 780510

Quality Kings only supplies the highest quality seed and related products, and will never compromise on quality, reliability or service.

We make every effort to provide and supply products as stated. Availability may vary subject to season and peaks of high demand, so we recommend you order well in advance of when the goods are required.

The advice and recommendations contained in this catalogue have been provided to the best of our ability.

No liability will be accepted for any actions taken by growers as a result of this information.

Frontier Agriculture’s standard terms and conditions apply. For further details refer to www.frontierag.co.uk

51

Easy Ways to Order Online: www.kingscrops.co.uk

We accept

for fast and efficient 24 hour online ordering.

Freephone: 0800 587 9797 Tel: +44 (0)1379 658135 (suitable for international callers)

Visa Mastercard Maestro

Solo

Delta

Our customer service team is available Monday to Friday 8.30am - 5.00pm.

Fax: +44 (0)1522 866529 Post: Kings, Sandy Lane, Diss, Norfolk, IP22 4HY. Remember to include any remittance. Cheques to be made payable to Kings.

Alternatively contact your local Kings or Frontier representative (see page 51).

Please let us know if you have an existing account with Frontier or SOYL

Your 2016

Specialist Crops

Catalogue GWENT 255

KSC3086 0216