Preparing A Field

[MikePA]

We just purchased the 3 acre field next to us that we want to use as pasture for our horses. The previous owner has been leasing this field, as well as a 38 acre parcel across the street, to a local farmer for a number of years.

The farmer has planted various crops in these fields and currently has corn planted (which he has not harvested yet). He uses no-till (is that the right term?) and I can not recall this field ever being plowed. Prior to the field being leased, the owner just let the grasses/weeds grow and came out twice a summer and used a rotary mower on it. The first thing the farmer did was spray something that killed the grass and he has done this each year. Whatever he used killed several spots on our back yard this year when it rained soon after he sprayed.

My question is...how should this field be prepared to be a pasture for our horses?

The person we buy hay from has offered to plow, disc and seed in timothy. However this probably wont happen until next spring because it's getting too late this year to do this. Sound like a good plan?

Also, with my 25D how can I assist in this effort? Our hay farmer has several tractors, all with 40 - 60 hp. He has 2 seeders (large and very large /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif) that he pulls even though they have 3ph since they are so heavy.

I was thinking about buying a plow and a disk and trying to get something done yet this year after the corn is harvested. Is this worth it or should I just wait until next spring? Would it be worth it to mow what's left after the corn is harvested?

At a minimum, I was going to take several soil samples and get the local extension agent to analyze it to see what fertilizers it might need.

Any advice would be most welcome.

 

[Bird]

Mike, I think the soil samples and talking to your extension agent would be your best bet, unless someone in your area knows what to plant. My neighbors have just very recently planted wheat and oats for winter pasture. They plowed the ground, then disked, then broadcast the seed, mixed with fertilizer, then drug it, but the same thing might not work at all in your area.

Bird

 

[rf33]

Mike, I would first try to see what the farmer had sprayed on the field to kill the grass. Some of those agents are residual and you might have to plant a variety of grass which will tolerate the residual chemical. If he is growing corn right now, I believe that Sudan grass is a good following crop for corn, but if I remember right, it has some toxicity issues for horses and cattle. I think that I remember it being toxic early in the spring, but perhaps Cowboydoc could shed some light on this (Cowboydoc seems to have an endless supply of helpful information about forage and horses/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif and we on the boards are lucky to have his insight and knowledge). I think that you would find less use for the plow in your situation, and buying one might not be needed. Generally grass farmers, at least the ones in my area only use a disk and perhaps a chain harrow to prepare the seedbed. If you felt that you needed to plow for the first year, you would likely be better served by hiring this work out or renting a plow. Also, I think that you would have trouble pulling much more than a single bottom plow behind your 25D, and I think that would be a slow way to get through your fields. Just my .02

rf33

/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[cowboydoc]

Mike,
rf33 is right don't plan sudan, and thanks for the kind words rf33. You're getting late in the year to be planting much now. But depending on where you live you can go ahead and plant this year and then it will lay dormant over winter and come up in the spring. If it was me here is what I would do. I would wait until the corn is out. Then I would do as suggested and do a soil sample. Depending on what, if anything is needed I would get that applied. Then I would plow it and disc it. Now it would be ready to plant in the spring. If you neighbor has a seeder by all means use it. It's much much better than broadcasting and you will get way better germination. Next get an endophyte free fescue pasture mix. This will probably have some ryegrass to get everything started and will have a mix of timothy, kentucky bluegrass, orchard grass and some others that are good for your area. Different areas are a little different so get a mix formulated for your area. You will need to wait probably most of the summer before you put horses on it. Horses will pull out new grass as the roots need time to go down deep and establish. There is also a new bermuda grass out that is fantastic. It's pricey but from what I've seen of it it's worth it. You can graze twice as many cows or horses as normal grass and yields for hay are also much better. It would be worth your time to look into it, especially for only 3 acres. I will get you the website on monday when I am back at the office.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Timothy makes great hay, but as compared to other grasses, it has a weak root system that does not stand up well to horse's feet. Something else would likely better survive the stomping it will get in a pasture. Your local ag agent should know what grows best in your area.

 

[MikePA]

Thanks, cowboydoc, et. al.! I look forward to hearing about the Bermuda grass. That's the grass that turns brown after the first frost, correct?

Would my TC25D be able to pull a two bottom plow or should I get a one bottom? Can I disc the same day I plow or should I wait? I've never done any of this before so I can use all the advice I can get.

BTW, how many pounds of seed and fertilizer are we talking about to do 3 acres (actually, 2.65 acres)?

Thanks.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

<font color=blue>...Would my TC25D be able to pull a two bottom plow or should I get a one bottom? ...</font color=blue>

Mike,

Plowing is not for the weak...

I don't mean that facetiously... I have a Satoh 25 hp unit and tried my Dearborn 2 bottom plow on it... I was afraid, I'd break something in the rearend {hard clay!}

Hooked up to my Massey 135 with more horsey's is even a struggle, I wouldn't want to do for any extended period of time.

It sounds like you want to participate in your new 3 acre parcel... then use a smaller disc with weights and have at it...

You may be able to do something with a 1 bottom, but why abuse that TC25... it just wasn't designed for that sort of thing...

 

[jdkid]

Hi ya
good very good advice bout find out what the farmer used to kill the grass in fact find out as much info on what has been used fert,sprays etc etc some sprays could hang around for a year or so
catch ya
JD Kid

 

[Bird]

Mike, I don't know what kind of soil you have, but in this clay I have, you won't pull a two bottom plow. I can pull a one bottom plow OK with my B2710 if the moisture content is right. And there's no reason not to follow the plow with the disk the same day if you have time.

Bird

 

[ronjhall]

Mike
If you want to help prepare a field with your tractor, try renting a 3PH Rototiller from a local dealer. Most dealers around my area have one they rent out.