I need to seed my pasture this fall.

Hannah90 · #1 01/31/13, 07:01 AM

Ok,

so here's the deal. Last spring my sister tried to reseed a pasture for her horses. Of course the drought hit and she didn't keep the animals off of it long enough, so all that grew was a LITTLE grass and a LOT of weeds.

So, it needs to be seeded again. It's going to be a tough year as it is. Yuck.

Anyway, the horse is out now and I am thinking of seeding specifically for dairy animals. It's about 4.5/5 acres. There will be a maximum of one dexter cow, 5 full size does and 2-3 nigerians on the pasture at any given time. I am thinking if I seed it with the right kind of grasses this should be enough space, under good management to last me through each summer. They will go over to fall/winter grazing in our hay field when it is done.

So, what do you think I should put down? Someone suggested timothy, rye, red clover and grazing alfalfa for the cow. Would that work for goats too, or should I add something else in?

wannabechef · #2 01/31/13, 07:42 AM

Not sure where you are located, but spring is usually not the best time to seed because of the weeds and lack of rain. If you can wait until fall that would be your best option.

Hannah90 · #3 01/31/13, 07:47 AM

Right, I forgot to add I am planning to do it in the fall, not spring. Hopefully I'll be able to get enough off my hay field to start feeding hay in august.

wannabechef · #4 01/31/13, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hannah90

Right, I forgot to add I am planning to do it in the fall, not spring. Hopefully I'll be able to get enough off my hay field to start feeding hay in august.

Good. You may consider spraying the entire area prior to seeding with roundup to kill existing vegetation.

Hannah90 · #5 01/31/13, 07:56 AM

Yes. we had thought about that. spraying in august and seedingin september. We are in southeast Iowa so it would give it about a month and a half to grow before frost.

Sherry in Iowa · #6 01/31/13, 08:07 AM

Hi Hannah. Well call be crazy

but why would you spray for weeds on a pasture that is going to have one dexter and goats on it? Dexters and goats love most weeds here. As a matter of fact, I am trying to find things other than just grass to grow in my pastures.

I mean we even keep a couple of clumps of thistle .. because lo and behold..don't know why..the Dexters and goats will eat it at certain stages. Don't know if they use it to medicate themselves or what. This place was over run with wild turnips. When they are young..the goats devour them. They don't like them as much after the plant gets mature. LOL..we are almost zero for wild turnips now. Our homestead was an abandoned type piece of ground..grown up so bad that you couldn't walk the fence lines. Not anymore.

We don't spray. That's just us.

Bret · #7 01/31/13, 08:18 AM

4 to 5 acras is small enough that you can frost seed walking it on. If you have animalls on it they will help to "step it in." Apply heavier for frost seeding than you would for drilling. Use cross wires if possible to manage the tracffric for a season. If you can use the animals to harvest the weed seed tops regularly, or mow instead, you will start to see a noticble improvement in a year or two. No matter what you seed, you will end up with what you mangage for.

o&itw · #8 01/31/13, 08:21 AM

Hannah,

While many other seeds need to be Fall planted. This is the perfect time to plant red clover. It is best broadcast right on top the snow.

Hannah90 · #9 01/31/13, 08:44 AM

*chuckle* I am so lost on this guys! Sherry, I guess I just figured weeds wouldnt be the best for dairy animals. Frost seeding? We are in negative weather right now. Plus the 4 new inches of snow. Guess I'll wait until it clears?

Working on limited funds and limited man power, I am looking for the best method, but broadcasting seems easy enough.

goateeman · #10 01/31/13, 09:10 AM

Hannah90, goats are not grazing animals, they are foragers. meaning that they eat weeds and honey suckle and things that grazers don't want. that's why it is good to have goats in the same area as cows and or horses. the goats help to keep your pastures clean and weed free.

punchiepal · #11 01/31/13, 11:16 AM

We haven't done too much to our pastures yet. We have picked up a bag or 2 of deer plot mix and thrown that around in the spring or fall though. It is on the list. LOL

wannabechef · #12 01/31/13, 12:18 PM

I see no reason to waste money on grass seed if you don't care about weeds...just till it and let crabgrass take over. If you plan to seed, do it right and try to get a stand of grass that's healthy enough to keep most weeds choked out...and about thistle, I don't care if people and goats eat it...it's nasty stuff and if you lived next to my pristine weed free pasture with thistle seeds blowing my way I would be ----ed! Weeds also rob nutrients and water from the turf allowing more weeds to take over.

Sherry in Iowa · #13 01/31/13, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wannabechef

I see no reason to waste money on grass seed if you don't care about weeds...just till it and let crabgrass take over. If you plan to seed, do it right and try to get a stand of grass that's healthy enough to keep most weeds choked out...and about thistle, I don't care if people and goats eat it...it's nasty stuff and if you lived next to my pristine weed free pasture with thistle seeds blowing my way I would be ----ed! Weeds also rob nutrients and water from the turf allowing more weeds to take over.

Sure glad you are not next to my property. I feel you're okay with that type of bluntness. I would guess I'd be as upset about the spray "drifting" my way from your place.

o&itw · #14 01/31/13, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hannah90

Frost seeding? We are in negative weather right now. Plus the 4 new inches of snow. Guess I'll wait until it clears?

Working on limited funds and limited man power, I am looking for the best method, but broadcasting seems easy enough.

Many people in the Midwest actually wait for a snow to plant red clover. It is often planted over wheat or other grain fields in March or April. If broadcast over and existing pasture (that hopefully has been eaten down by winter grazing) it will establish fairly well, but it will be the following year when it will be its best. It is probably the easiest way to get clover in your posture with out spending a lot of money to till. Yes, you won't get a heavy stand, but all you will have invested is your time and the price of the clover seed. BTW, you do not want to plant "mammoth" varieties.

JustinRobinsREO · #15 01/31/13, 01:32 PM

Why not mammoth varieties?

Hannah90 · #16 01/31/13, 03:19 PM

Hm. Well, I won't be doing anything until this fall anyway, so I guess the goats and cow will have a chance to work the pasture over this spring and summer a good bit. I guess I'll have to decide what to do when august rolls around.

wintrrwolf · #17 02/01/13, 07:48 AM

Midwest here! I have broadcasted my seed mix a couple times this winter, I have about 3 acres here that I have basically divided into separate areas plus a 3 acre plot across the road at neighbors that she lets me use. So I rotate.
I broadcasted first snow and then again a month later before a forecasted rain. When we moved here the pasture was pretty much overgrown. Goats are more browsers than grazers, yes, but they do graze. Having a nice pretty pasture is not going to work too well for your goats, but its fine for cows, horses, and sheep ;0
Goats will eat the majority of weeds (at certain stages) so it may take a season or two before you are weed free then you can worry about provided browse material for them.

mjgh06 · #18 02/01/13, 08:12 AM

We're talking about seeding for goats and a cow here right???

Goats love weeds and crabgrass! so I wouldn't spray the roundup. In the fall we seed our goat areas with deer mix which is mostly varieties of clover. I tried Rye because someone told me the goats would love it but they haven't touched it at all. I would say if you want to seed see if you can find crabgrass for spring planting and clover for fall planting. Alfalfa and Foxtail Millet are also great for goats/cows

Hannah90 · #19 02/01/13, 08:14 AM

Its almost as if I need a seperate pasture for the cow. I am concerned she wont get what she needs trying to run her with the goats. Hm.

o&itw · #20 02/01/13, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JustinRobinsREO

Why not mammoth varieties?

Mammoth varieties do not do well in this area of the country. It is not a knock on the varieties themselves but rather what areas of the country they do well in. In Missouri they actively campaign against its use because the don't want it to get in to "generic" red clover seed from the area.

Contacting the university extension service in your area will advise on varieties of many the plants that do well in the area.