Maintaining existing hay fields

[vvanders]

The adjacent 5ac lot came up for sale recently, it's not like you get a chance to expand your lot often so we took a shot at it and looks like everything is going through (closing is next week).

Our lot and this one are both hay(alfafa) fields, we've deveoped our current lot pretty well but probably won't be doing anything serious with the land for about a year or so.

My question I bring is how to best keep the hay field in decent shape plant-wise. Was planning on just regular mowing(2-4 weeks depending on season) to keep the weeds from going to seed. That should be enough to keep the weeds from getting out of control before we can do something proper with the land? We may also hay it next year so appreciate any thoughts on anything that would help in upcoming season.

 

[AllDodge]

Many just cut it twice a year, and spray 24D or Crossbow when needed. If you cut it every 2 weeks there won't be to many weeds, every 4 weeks maybe a little more in time. The 24D take care of a lot of broad leaf and crossbow if you get things like briers and such growing

 

[atsah]

Cut it every three weeks and it should be fine.

 

[jeff9366]

Here are some germane threads from the T-B-N ARCHIVE:

Maintaining Alfalfa site:tractorbynet.com - Google Search

 

[buckeyefarmer]

The ** *** germans got nothing to do with it.

Buford T Justice

 

[Tennsawdust]

The ** *** germans got nothing to do with it.

Buford T Justice

:laughing::laughing::laughing:

 

[Tennsawdust]

If it is a decent field and there is someone near you needing hay they might cut it for you in exchange for the hay. Between my parents and their neighbor they have about 9 acres that a local farmer cuts 2-3 times per year for hay. It would save you a lot of hours of mowing.

 

[Wyobuckaroo]

Here in our part of the Great White North we have several pastures from reclaimed bush and forest. One was reclaimed, reseeded with a pasture blend of the time (about 20 years ago) and not well tended, essentially trying to return back into bush.

The cheapest, easiest plan we have used it to seed annual rye with a little alfalfa seed every year. Heavier in thin spots, lighter in more established parts. Then when everything is 20cm or so high brush hog it all off to about 10cm. Keep mowing every time it gets to about 20cm. Depending on the year that will take 1 to 3 mowing. We do rake up these cuttings for our small livestock.

Doing so over and over has improved the condition of the pasture a lot at lower costs and seat time. The alfalfa was small patches. It is now closing the gaps in the patches. The hay grasses do well when the weeds and inedible plants are kept mowed often and short.

Part of the "bush" that will try to reclaim a pasture are wild berries and Fire Weed. They make good jelly, but poor pasture. There is still enough of the wild edibles available other places to make more than enough jelly.

Your experience may vary.