Annual pasture-Marshall Rye + Crimson?

Shore Farming · #1 08/18/14, 07:33 PM

We have kept some land for annual pasture to help get through hot summer and late fall/early spring. We have pearl millet now and thinking about Marshall ryegrass. A friend suggested mixing in some crimson clover for nitrogen. Anyone tried this or the Marshall? Appreciate any input! We have some beefers.

haypoint · #2 08/19/14, 08:52 PM

Sort of Eastern Seaboard specific and also depends on soil type and fertility. Perhaps an University Extension could guide you?

kycrawler · #3 08/21/14, 10:21 AM

I plant cereal rye and wheat with turnips and graze it late fall and early spring

FarmerDavid · #4 08/21/14, 02:33 PM

Rye is considered a noxious weed by most farmers around here. I'm going to plant a mixture of triticale, crimson clover and turnips following corn. We'd considered field peas and hairy vetch also but wants to start with a simpler mix.

Shore Farming · #5 08/21/14, 07:50 PM

I've read some old threads where Agmantoo commented on this. Our extension advice is not readily available. I called about pastures and the agents had just graduated and told me they are not familiar with pastured animals. Sigh Seed is so expensive! But - hay is more so if this extends our grazing season - may be worth it. We ordered the seed...we will give it a try when the soil temps drop. Will have the soil checked and maybe add chicken manure if needed asap - can't believe summer is about done.

copperhead46 · #6 08/22/14, 11:56 AM

I put out some Marshall rye last year and was very pleased with it's performance. We had a brutal winter and it came through, giving me some early grazing. I have a couple of smaller paddocks that I am going to overseed this year with it. I would think the clover would just be a good addition to it's early grazing properties,

Shore Farming · #7 08/23/14, 06:58 AM

Copperhead - we are also thinking of overseeding some of our perennial pasture to lengthen our grazing time with the Marshall. How did you get good soil contact? Broadcast and rotate the cattle through? Thanks

agmantoo · #8 08/28/14, 08:43 AM

Shore Farming, I believe you will be pleased with the Marshall ryegrass. It is time to plant now. The earlier you get it in now the more grazing you will have for late Fall. Later planted Marshall rye will give Spring grazing and will last longer into Summer. As for the crimson clover it will give a Spring burst of clover but will taper off quick. I suggest that you plant a Ladino/Arrowleaf clover and a red clover mix and that choice should give you all Summer clover. What are you grazing along with the millet during the hottest Summer months?

Shore Farming · #9 08/28/14, 08:09 PM

We only have two heifer calves (fall 2013) grazing the millet - it has some clover in it but not much. We are hoping to find chicken manure to disc into the old millet pasture before planting the rye/clover. The rest of the girls are with a friends cattle visiting Bert the bull. We are moving the calves into another millet pasture which is 2 1/2 - 3 ft tall tomorrow. We should have probably planted something for nitrogen fixation but wasn't sure what. The calves are also getting corn stalks for roughage as they got a little loose. Agmantoo - we are waiting for seed which should get here in the next day or so. We are going to bush hog the millet, disc, broadcast both rye and clover, lightly disc it in and cultipack in the annual pasture. What do you suggest for overseeding the perennial - or isn't that a good idea? Broadcast and run animals through? Our girls should be coming back soon from summer camp with Bert. Thank you!

agmantoo · #10 08/29/14, 01:12 PM

Given the choice I had rather plant the seed with a sod drilled. But with the recommendation I am going to make you can broadcast at a heavy rate and cultipack provided you can get the work done soon. I know that there are lots of people that will disagree with me but I cannot fine a better grass that has a high nutrient content that will produce a quantity of forage and provide forage that can be stockpiled twice in most years. It will survive droughts, some flooding and persist year after year. I know of stands that are on marginal soils that have survived for 25 plus years. If you are going to plant the marshall ryegrass just add 20 lbs of 80 cents per lb KY31 tall fescue to the hopper.

Shore Farming · #11 08/29/14, 07:39 PM

If we are using our annual pasture this way, how about August with 90+ temps(not that we had these temps this year)? We have had no rain. Good black soil retains moisture pretty well but the rain has missed us for most of the summer. Even the pearl millet is dry - would we use the Marshall and KY31 exclusively, even in hot August? Our seed came today - thankful. Hoping for rain before we disc up one of the spent millet fields. Calves got a new field today. Our bred cows (their mommas) and 2 bred heifers will be back with us in a week or two. Perennial pasture got a haircut. Busy day

FarmerDavid · #12 08/29/14, 11:30 PM

How much was your crimson clover? I paid $75 for #50.

Shore Farming · #13 08/30/14, 05:50 AM

I paid more but can't remember how much. Closer to $90? I could only find the Marshall Rye at one place, so I ordered the clover as well. That is a good price, FD! Our friend has had great luck with it - reseeds abundantly each year.

FarmerDavid · #14 08/30/14, 11:32 AM

Glad it's a good price I didn't shop around at all just asked a seed rep if he could get it and ordered some. He usually treats me pretty good though. Able to get my order coming with another guys so I didn't have to pay any shipping either.

Shore Farming · #15 09/01/14, 07:38 AM

Agmantoo - how does the Marshall and KY31 hold up in August? Thank you for all of your help. We are planting this weekend, because we may finally get some rain this week.

FarmerDavid · #16 09/01/14, 09:39 AM

Are you asking hold up if its planted now or hold up after established? Personally I'd think its alittle early for the ky31 but about ideal for the rye. You being northern might make it late for the rye and ideal for the ky31. Here the ky31 is pretty much dorment in July and aug. It shouldn't die off but its a cool season grass so most of the growth is in the spring and fall. If you get good rainfall in the summer it'll still grow some.

Shore Farming · #17 09/01/14, 04:25 PM

I was wondering if he was suggesting we use the KY 31/rye/clover year round. It has helped us to have two rotating annual pastures during July/August. One of those is about to be the KY31/Marshall Rye/Clover mix in a few days. I knew the rye wouldn't do well in July/August but wasn't sure about the KY 31. I am thinking he is zone 7 near the hills of VA. We are flat, near the ocean, hot and sometimes arid in July - August. The millet works great planting one field in June and the other when we move the cows off the rye and perennial pasture to the June planted millet field. We then plant a second field of millet where the rye was which gets us through the summer when the perennial pasture is ready again. I wish I was a grass farmer = so much to learn. I am looking forward to trying this mix to see how far into winter we get and how early spring grazing can begin. It is good to keep the hay bill down.