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For hay, mow the field with a rotary mower to remove problem plants by cutting them before they set viable seed. Till to control tenacious, perennial weeds, such as bedstraw, and then seed. The best time to seed is in May or in the first three weeks of August, when seed will survive and compete with weeds better.
How do you prepare pasture for seeding?
Prepare pasture for planting: mow short or till/disc/cultipack. Prepare the pasture to be seeded. If overseeding: Overgraze or mow the pasture very close before seeding. The existing vegetation will shade out new seedlings, so it is important to minimize that competition for your best chance of success.
How do you grow hay fields?
Here are seven steps to help you produce a quality alfalfa yield: Choose an appropriate field. Plant the right seed variety. Scout regularly. Cut alfalfa at the best time. Set yourself up for drying success. Lean on moisture levels. Be smart about bale storage.
How do you turn a field into a hay field?
Steps to renovate an old hayfield: Assess the condition of the field, your goals and your resources. Get a soil test. Mow field with a rotary mower. Lime and fertilize. Remove rocks and stumps. Till (if necessary) and seed.
Should I let my pasture go to seed?
While grass has been headed out for a while, mowing pastures soon to remove seed heads is a great option if needed in our pastures. But grazing intensity will slow if they need to graze into the previously mowed stubble, especially in pastures with thick stemmed grass like fescue and orchardgrass.
When should you reseed a pasture?
Late winter/early spring- is the best time to seed legumes into an existing stand of grass that is productive. Seeding should take place in mid March to mid April depending on soil conditions and method of planting. An early seeding will aid in the competition with weeds and grasses.
Is hay profitable to grow?
Brown says using 2019 numbers, it costs about $400 an acre to plant corn on ground that may yield 150 bushels per acre. “If you are getting $125 per ton for quality hay, you are going to see a profit of $51 per ton, or $204 per acre. “The potential is there to make some pretty good money on hay.”Apr 8, 2019.
Can you plant alfalfa without tilling?
Conventionally seeded alfalfa can be seeded in both the spring and fall. With no-till, experience has shown that spring seedings are best. Sclerotinia crown rot can be a major problem with fall-seeded alfalfa, but its greatest potential for damage is with no- till alfalfa.
What is the easiest hay to grow?
Part 1 of 3: Depending on your needs, plant grass, alfalfa, or a mixture of the 2 for use as hay after growing. Grass hay is generally more nutritious than alfalfa hay for livestock, but alfalfa has more fiber. If you choose grass hay, timothy grass is ideal for growing and harvesting hay.
Does hay need a lot of water?
A ton of hay requires 4 to 5 inches of water pumped through the plant. Typically, in a three cut management system, 35-45% of the yield is produced during the first growth cycle, before July 1.
Is hay good for growing grass?
Hay helps grass seed grow in several ways. The hay helps hold the newly turned soil in place, preventing erosion so the seeds stay contact with the soil. Also, it adds nutrients to the soil as it decomposes, helping feed your grass as it grows.
Do you have to replant hay every year?
Some fields are always used to grow hay, and don’t require re-planting every year. In other cases, hay is a part of a crop rotation, where farmers plant different crops on the same field in different years. Hayseed can be a mixture of many types of seeds, with alfalfa, clover, and timothy being among the most common.
What do you plant hay with?
Grass: Hay can be made from many types of grass, with timothy, bermudagrass and orchardgrass being common choices. Legume: Alfalfa is the dominant member of the legume family when it comes to making hay, with clover another to consider and bird’s-foot trefoil a popular choice for hayfields containing more moisture.
When Should I spray my hay field?
should be treated before they begin to bolt (they are bolting now or very soon) and the smaller the better. (Late fall or early spring is really the best time to treat them.) And finally, control summer annual weeds as soon after they emerge as possible when they are most sensitive to chemical control.
Will a hayfield reseed itself?
Reseeding. Once the soil pH and nutrient qualities are under control, you can reseed the field with a hay grass that you prefer. This further helps stem the growth of weeds. Frost seeding can be done in the late winter or early spring, when natural processes help work the seeds into the ground, even without tilling.
How long does a hay field last?
Depending on the type of grasses and legumes planted, some hayfields that are properly managed will last five or six years before they need to be worked up and replanted. They also help keep valuable nutrients in the topsoil where they are available for future crop use.
