Rough hay fields

[Rob30]

I am renint a new pasture this year, around 40 acres. The problem is the last guy who took hay off it wrecked it. I think he took the hay off when the pastures were really wet. They left tire grooves all over the place. Some almost stop the tractor when mowing. The hay I am getting is really nice though.
My question is is there a good way to fix the grooves? I am thinking about using some discs on the really bad spots. And maybe using a shovel and some fill on the deeper treads.

[uncle Will in In.]

Maybe take a moldboard plow and plow the tracks shut, then level them out with a narrow disc or spring tooth. A two bottom plow wouldn't leave such a wide tilled space in the hay field. You could sow some timothy or other grass on the fresh tilled soil, and have hay there next year.

[wwubben]

Farmers around here are using large rollers to roll their soybean fields before or after planting so they can combine close to the ground.You could try rolling the field when it was wet if you have access to a roller.A rear blade may help fill some of the tracks.I would try not to destroy any more seeding than possible.

[michiganfarmer]

I mght try a culli-packer right after the hay has been cuts, and baled.

th eonly sure way is to work it up, and replant it

[Darren]

Another idea might be to get small crush and run gravel almost like limestone sand to fill the deepest ruts with a loader. That will even things out somewhat. Grass will take root and grow through the crush and run. You can also run a disc over the area to fragment the high points.

[Harry Chickpea]

If you add dirt or even disk, won't you get more opportunistic weeds? If the hay is good, rolling it after rains or in the spring would seem to be a safe way to go.

[Ross]

What sort of soil?

[Bearfootfarm]

I'd use a disk on the ruts.
If you don't go any deeper than you have to, I doubt you'll turn up too many weed seeds.

If you use a turning plow, you'll still need to go over it again to level/smooth it

[Rob30]

The soil is a clay soil. I think I will run a disc over the bad spots, and use some fill to fill in what ever is left. I don't have access to a roller, or I would try it.