docjon
Member
What would be the best type drill (cost effective) for overseading my pastures. I have approx 90-100 acres to do.
drill for overseading pastures
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Farmwithjunk
Super Member
Last time I needed to re-seed pastures, I rented a HAYBUSTER model 107 drill from our county AG extention agency. It worked like a charm! Prior to that, they had a Tye drill that was equally impressive. I'd start with a call to your county AG agent and see what they have to offer.
ScottOkla
Silver Member
Let us know what you end up doing. I am in the same county as you.
Renovator
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I use an Aitchison No till pasture drill. Works good but either have to kill sod or have it grazed short for the new seed to get ahead of the old grass.
Renovator.
Renovator.
two-socks
New member
Depends what you're planting. If it's a fine grass seed, I'd just broadcast and drag over it - a drill seeder will tend to plant too deep if it's fine seed.
I am looking at using some clover and rye. would broadcasting work well for this? I'm looking at 90 acres 40 of which was an old peanut patch and is poor condition. Govt, may reimburse me some if I plant native grasses that they provide which has clover and legumes in it. If I do use a drill does it have to be a no till drill
ScottOkla
Silver Member
I'll throw in a couple of things I have learned in the Tulsa area while trying 2 acres of crimson clover two falls ago, and then this past fall trying 5 acres crimson/hairy vetch combo and 10 acres white/red clover combo:
Just like the OSU people say, the clover really does need to be in good contact with the soil, but not soft soil like that from tilling.
My crimson clover areas that were on soft, tilled ground were thin and where there was much groundcover were thin, and lastly when I got some mist for a few hours followed by a few weeks of dry weather the clover didn't live much. Fortunately, I tried in a variety of conditions and on a variety of days to learn what I could before I plant the really large acreage this coming fall (maybe 50 acres).
I think the drill would help to get the clover seed into the soil to make it survive a dry stretch after germination. Three out of four years this may not be needed, but you never know.
If you don't use a drill, I think you just need to make sure there is LITTLE groundcover and that the ground is well scratched up before planting. Plus, do what you can to make sure you get at least a moderate rain soon after broadcasting, and that you get it seeded by Oct 15 at the latest (I suggest end of Sept).
A place in Collinsville is a really good place for getting clover seed. Can't remember the name right now.
Just like the OSU people say, the clover really does need to be in good contact with the soil, but not soft soil like that from tilling.
My crimson clover areas that were on soft, tilled ground were thin and where there was much groundcover were thin, and lastly when I got some mist for a few hours followed by a few weeks of dry weather the clover didn't live much. Fortunately, I tried in a variety of conditions and on a variety of days to learn what I could before I plant the really large acreage this coming fall (maybe 50 acres).
I think the drill would help to get the clover seed into the soil to make it survive a dry stretch after germination. Three out of four years this may not be needed, but you never know.
If you don't use a drill, I think you just need to make sure there is LITTLE groundcover and that the ground is well scratched up before planting. Plus, do what you can to make sure you get at least a moderate rain soon after broadcasting, and that you get it seeded by Oct 15 at the latest (I suggest end of Sept).
A place in Collinsville is a really good place for getting clover seed. Can't remember the name right now.
TwinWillows
Gold Member
I found an old 8ft JD FB-B drill @ a good price in a friend of a friends barn.. Cleaned it up & used it to drill Orchard Grass into my pastures & hay field last fall. The pastures/hayfield were graized pretty well down & even with the hard dry ground (we had a pretty bad drought this summer) the drill had no problem getting the seed @ the recommended 1/4" to 3/4" depth. We had rains @ the right time & I had a good take & growth before it went dormant this winter. THe FB-B is not a no till but for my conditions it worked well. Perhaps something similar will work for you if you are trying to plant grass.
For clover I used a cone shaped pto driven broadcast seeder late last winter (feb - mar) as recommended by UK & had a pretty good growth until our april freeze killed out almost all my clover - red or white...
For clover I used a cone shaped pto driven broadcast seeder late last winter (feb - mar) as recommended by UK & had a pretty good growth until our april freeze killed out almost all my clover - red or white...
Renovator
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docjon
The Aitchison will drill native grasses. It will seed shollow for small seeds. I am not a dealer for them. Just did a lot of research on after I bought a mistake the first time.
Renovator.
The Aitchison will drill native grasses. It will seed shollow for small seeds. I am not a dealer for them. Just did a lot of research on after I bought a mistake the first time.
Renovator.
two-socks
New member
For native seeds, use a drill-seeder as a lot of them are light & fluffy; however for rye or clover, i've had better luck just discing, then using a cone-type spreader to broadcast.
