Cover Crops : Gamestay Range
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Gamestay Kale

Gamestay Kale is a blend of Kale varieties, which has an advantage over a single variety. There are a number of reasons why, such as disease resistance, weather conditions and soil type. We have noted from our trials some significant differences, and we have arrived at a blend that will cover most eventualities. The varieties included compliment each other well and will provide a decent canopy throughout the season. All seed will be ULTRASTRIKE or COMBICOAT treated against flea beetle and seedling diseases.

Gamestay Maize

Gamestay Maize has been specially selected for its qualities which include, early vigour and standing ability. Good quality seed is only one element in establishing a good stand of Maize. Attention must be paid to seedbed preparation, weed control and crop nutrition. Sowing date is another factor, it is important to have an adequate soil temperature of 10ºC +, generally you need not sow Maize for game cover until mid-May, waiting for the correct weather conditions is far more important than calendar date. Maize is a very fast growing plant and requires a high level of nutrients in a readily available form, our agronomists can offer expert advice on all aspects of Maize husbandry.

Gamestay Sorghum

Sorghum is proving to be a very useful addition to cover crops either in a mix or grown on its own. It combines well with Maize either grown on the outside or across the rows. Sorghum is tolerant to many of the herbicides used on Maize this also makes it an ideal partner. A note of caution, 2006 was an excellent year for Sorghum as it thrived in the
exceptional weather conditions we had. 2007, by contrast, was a very poor year for the crop. Don’t be tempted to plant too early, Sorghum requires good soil temperatures to establish, warmer even than for Maize.

Gamestay Mix √

Gamestay Mix is designed to give feed and cover throughout
the season, the species selected have a range of maturity to
achieve this. It is very attractive to game birds and will hold
them well. Weed control is not possible in this mix so a good
stale seedbed approach should be adopted, once established it is very competitive which will help suppress any later emerging weeds.

Gamestay Gold √

Gamestay Gold has been one of our most popular mixes and
is excellent value. Designed to stand for two seasons, which
means you only have the expense and worry of establishing a crop in the first. It is a careful blend to give the best balance for the two years. The inclusion of both spring and winter Triticale will provide both feed and cover each year. The Kale gives good cover in both years, Yellow Blossom Clover will contribute in the pre-Christmas period of year one, but will die back and re-grow in the spring. Yellow Clover flowers profusely in the summer attracting a vast amount of insect life. It also produces a large quantity of seed, it will give a tall canopy but is open at the bottom allowing good access for the birds, this also aids in producing a steady flush when driven.

Gamestay Yellow √

Gamestay Yellow is a popular mix of Maize & Sunflowers, attractive to both Pheasants and Partridge. It contains Dwarf Sunflowers which are a shorter stiff strawed hybrid. The maize seed is Thiram treated which will help improve establishment and standing. Maize and Sunflowers combine well together, the seed is of a similar size which makes drilling easier, both provide food for game birds and the Sunflowers are a valuable source of feed for song birds. Some weed control is possible with this mixture.

Gamestay Revival √

Gamestay Revival is best used where rapid establishment of a crop is required, such as replacement of a failed crop or as a late establishment option. It contains a balanced mix of fast growing brassicas and can produce useful cover within six to eight weeks. Revival should not be sown too early, it will provide feed and cover well into the winter.

√ = Eligible for Set - Aside

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