rennovating pastures ...

[motdaugrnds]

If this is not the appropriate forum for this, please feel free to move it....

This year one of my goals is to rennovate our 4 grazing/browsing pastures (2 in back and 2 in front). I have never done this and have not found clear information as to how to do so; thus, am hoping someone in here has had some experience in re-doing pastures and is willing to share it.

A little background on the acreage. It was full of trees when we purchased it back in 1994. We sold off most of the trees (for wood and wood pulp), using the money to have the entire 6 acres dozed. We kept only a few very nice old hardwoods in the back acreage and along the ne side along with a nice group of black walnuts up near the front of the homestead. We also kept all the cedars, which we used for fence posts; and we kept "all" the trees that bordered the spring-fed stream that separates our homestead from the adjoining one. We then had the soil tested and spread tons upon tons of agricultural lime all over the acreage surrounding the inner 2 knolls. (We placed our trailer and built our barn, buck house, tool shed, etc. on these knolls.) Since the land is "sandy loam" with some clay, we also fertilized it for some New Zealand grasses (endophyte free), which we spread by hand. (We placed New Zealand orchard grass on both the pastures in back; and New Zealand fescue on both the front pastures.) All the pastures grew beautifully and our animals reaped the results for over 10 yrs. (During these years, we added more ag lime twice; just not as much as we had the first time.) The last few years have seen a massive spread of "local" grasses (Fescue #31, which is "not" endophyte free) & some local weeds that have become troublesome (beggar lice & some sort of tall plant that winds up with black needle-like seeds that stick onto everything) and the goats will not eat those.

Back 2 acres: I can see a fairly nice stand of the orchard grass still existing on the back 2 acres, even though the weeds mentioned above are troublesome. Thus, I need to get rid of those plants without damaging the grass. (We also have lespedeza shrubs growing around the parameter back there I want to keep healthy.)

Front 2 acres: Since these are only about 100' from a state road (where they have fescue #31 growing), these are over run with that local grass; thus, we are thinking "all" plants growing on those 2 acres need to be killed off in order to re-plant some quality grass. (We want "cool-season" grass mostly; but having "some" "warm-season" grass would be nice as well.) We do have "Goldenrod" growing abundantly in these 2 areas and want to save/transplant/whatever these for medicinal purposes.

I realize this (dead of winter) is not the time to be actively engaged in rennovating pastures; however, I will need to save money to do whatever will need to be done; so I want to at least understand what I will be up against.

As soon as the ground warms enough (and we are over our colds), I will be digging down about a foot in various places all over the pastures so as to gather some soil samples; then will send them off to the appropriate lab for testing. I have little doubt we will need more agricultural lime and fertilizer; so will tend to that in a timely fashion.

We have no machinery to help us; everything that needs to be done will be done by hand. I personally used a wagon with bags of ag lime and a spade to spread "all" lime/fertilizer when it was done before; but if we time it right, perhaps we can get a truck to do it this time.

To rennovate the pasture "after" soil is treated: This is what we have to work with: We have a 4-gal back-pack sprayer I've been using to kill plants around out buildings, along fence lines and our drive. It would be difficult using it to kill off 2 acres because the terrain is unlevel; but it "can" be done if that is what is needed. Also, I've seen people around here burning off their acres. I have been reluctant to do this because we have forestry all around our property with people living within it & I didn't want to take a chance on harming our neighbors. So, if this is what we would need to do, I would appreciate knowing how to do so safely. These are the only 2 methods I can think of to wipe clean 2 acres; and am hoping some of you will either have experience with these or have even better ideas as to how to get this done.

Now, my questions:
1. What is the best/easiest way to get rid of the grasses now growing on the front 2 acres?
2. What do I need to do to clean out the unwanted plants from the back 2 acres?

[bruce2288]

It sure would be nice to know where you live. If you had a good stand after reseeding and have now lost that stand a couple of things could be the problem. Overgrazing? Consistently grazing before dormancy. Consistantly grazing too early at green-up. Grasses not suitable for your growing conditions, which lime and/fertilizer may help.
Burning will remove scrub and tree perennials not grass or annual weeds. If you want to total start over round up would kill everything. With only 4 acres total I would suggest frostseeding some legumes( this would help with a nitrogen boost to your grass) and grass seed. Spot spray the problem areas. If the fescue 31 is taking over the front pasture it is probably better adapted than what you plant or has less grazing pressure. The best herbicide in a pasture is a thick, vigorous stand. I would contact your extension service range and grazind specialist.

[motdaugrnds]

Bruce, that is helpful information. Thank you.

We live in zone 7 southern part of Virginia. Yes, we had an excellent stand for many years after our initial seeding. Overgrazing was definately not the problem in that we keep our herd down to only 3 does and 2 bucks who have free-run of the front for awhile; then the back for awhile; and we never let them stay out long during the first few weeks of green-up because they get loose stools if we do. Also, the grasses we used were ok'd by our local ag agent, even tested later for content with the lime and fertilizer administered as to that agent's suggestions.

Sounds like burning will not do what we need done in the front pastures; but that round-up would. Yes, frostseeding some legumes is what we have been doing for the last 7 yrs (mostly australian peas; some catjung; a small amount of lespedeza and some other type of winter pea once but don't remember its name). I can "spot spray" areas, albeit the "problem areas" are rather large; but I could probably just make a few swipes over that entire front portion, seed it; then next year make the swipes on the remaining portions. Yes Fescue 31 is the local grass used here; yet it is not healthy for our dairy goats as the endophytes in it causes hard knots in udders. Thus, it is not best suited for our purposes. That is part of our struggle, i.e. to keep it out as much as possible.