Advice for preparing field for pasture

[Tibbits]

I'm sitting at the house staring at a lot of work in a field.
I have about 7 acres that needs to become pasture. But, about 30% of it is bare where I had some trees removed with a dozer and the rest is weeds (mowed but not tended in 20+ years). Below is my intended approach, I'd appreciate any advice from those that have been through this!

First, I need to remove as much of the loose roots left by the dozer. Started on this already, but it's slow work. Using a root rake from a nice neighbor, I can make piles of roots but the piles also contain a fair amount of dirt. I use a pitch fork to get the roots in the bucket and haul to the trash pile.

Then discing and leveling with the box blade, ground moisture permitting. My fence installer has already started, so I try to keep a level, clean path ahead of him.

I am close to getting some free fill dirt, so leveling in some areas can't happen until the fill is in.

Need to plant some millet in the erosion prone areas to hold soil until fall when I plant a cool season.

Need to find a local farner who (in late summer) can spray to kill everything and then drill orchard grass in the pasture. And I need to prep and plant the areas outside the fence with KY31. Before all this, I would like to do some leveling with the boxblade for obvious reasons.

Oh yeah, I also have that full time job to deal with.

The work done so far looks good, but it can be a bit depressing looking at everything that needs to be done...and knowing how hot it will be in the weeks left before fall planting time. I'm going to the lake this weekend and try to forget about it. Between my job and the pasture, the last few weeks have been busy. I love to do this stuff, but that 6 foot boxblade and disc seem small parked over in the corner of that pasture. Think I'll have another cup of coffee and just think about it all!

 

[jdfire]

Oh yeah, I also have that full time job to deal with.

Well THERE'S the problem! :laughing:

 

[High Compression]

It sure sound like your on the right track. It probably does seem overwhelming. What I do in situations like that are to break up the job in little goals. i.e. daily, weekly, etc. If you just concentrate on the little goals, as you complete them you get a since of accomplishment and next thing you know, you run out of goals.
Another option though is to get some help from a friend or neighbor with a tractor. Makes things go a little faster.
Keep in mind you enjoy it though. Really, what else would you rather do, than play on your tractor???

 

[Western]

I agree with High C, Sounds like you have a good battle plan and when the war is over, you'll wish it was a 14 acre field:laughing:

One other thought. You may consider having your local Agriculture agent pay you a visit, they are free and pretty good at your local issues. Do it before they cut the budget too!!

 

[Egon]

Consider going over the areas that were treed with the box blade scarifiers down. Might pull some roots.

 

[Mike_Kanzer]

I would make sure the K31 is endophyte free. If the pasture is for horses, endophytes in fescue can cause problems in pregnant mares and slobbering in other horses. I know you are putting it outside the fence but some of its seed may get into the pasture with the orchard grass. Your plan sounds great! - Mike

 

[Tibbits]

thanks for all the inputs. it helps to know others agree with my approach - I don't mind sweating but I hate re-sweating! and the man is calling for 97 humid degrees today.

and I think I will go with orchard grass outside the fence. I had thought ky31 might establish a little better, but I think the orchard grass will do ok. mares are coming , and they need to birth gold nuggets to help 'grandaddy' out.

 

[flusher]

I have a 6 acre hayfield (10 acres total parcel) that I take care of with an old 6.5 ft Towner offset disc that I pull with my Mahindra 5525. Add about 500 lb of weight (4 buckets filled with concrete) and a home made drag to work the soil (it's thin and gravely).



The tire drag works OK, but the new drag (a piece of chain link fence with paver block weights) works better.

 

[AlanB]

Tibbits, I know the the feeling, and for me, the cup of coffee in the early morning, everyone else still asleep watching the chickens, ducks and Geese play in the ponds I dug make it all seem pretty good.

I am doing something similar on a smaller scale ( 1.5 acres I just bought) and as others said, you just have to break it into smaller pieces and keep picking at it.

My favorite saying around here is "How do you eat an elephant?" One bite at a time..........

It will all come around, just have to keep picking at it. Have fun and try and enjoy the ride.

 

[Tibbits]

I hear you AlanB. in the back of my mind, I know one day I'll miss having the big stuff to do.
and the place already looks so much better with the trees out. having trees pulled was more stressful than I thought - no going back with tree decisions!
the tractor continues to surprise me in a good way. it hasn't failed to do anything it was remotely designed to do. even the silly service reminder in the dash display came in handy as I was too busy to remember where the hour meter was.
in the past month, it's had heavy work with the disc, root rake, box blade, post hole digger and the usual mowing and general fel use. my fence help has fallen in orange love and are not as green as they once where.