What to Plant for No-Mow Fallow Land?

[UpstateFarmer]

I am looking for advice on what to plant on about 30 acres of old hay and corn ground that I want to keep fallow for 2 years or so. We had been renting it to a local farmer, but they have just been running the land down, with no manure or fertilizer, and in the corn silage areas, there was severe erosion on the hilly sections, so we are taking it back over. We are slowly bringing small areas of the farm over to organic/sustainable practices. We put about 3 acres into an orchard this spring, and put some buckwheat as a cover on 10 acres. The problem is, we still run a small business with little time. We want to expand the farm as we get more time as retirement approaches, but don't have the time right now to handle so much land.

I want to put some type of cover crop on the land to build soil quality, but something that won't take too much time time maintain. I would prefer not to have to mow it more than once.

Any ideas on a cover crop that wouldn't grow too high, and would look good without a lot of maintanance? We live in central NY, so the weather is pretty close to Wis or Mich.

 

[Boeing]

IF cost is a factor....and it usually is....how about soy beans? Or orchard GRASS? Hay and Alfalfa are always marketable but take time.....
Good luck

 

[forgeblast]

Prairie Land Management Habitat Outlet: Wildflower & Food Plot Seeds, Trees, Feeders, Waterfowl Food Plots & Nests

has a lot of different grass mixes. Google crep seed, and you can see the different places that sell seed.

After two years will you be putting the acres back into production? what about a clover type crop then. It will stay smaller. You do want to watch out for weeds that will get in there and take over. burdocks and thistle, are just two that come to mind.

 

[UpstateFarmer]

Thanks Boeing and Forgeblast. I think white clover might be a good idea, perhaps with a grass. I don't want to harvest anything for hay or forage, just want to let it go and build up some organic matter. I would figure on mowing it once a season to help keep the weeks in check. Ideally, I am looking for low dense mat that wouldn't look overgrown and scruffy. As for future production, I am hoping in a few years we could slowly bring sections back into production of hay or grain as we get more free time from the business. I am trying to avoid labor intensive cover crops for now, that I would have to plow down each year.