Editor’s note:
The following exchange between Jeff and a New Farm reader
took place in late July but somehow slipped through the
editorial cracks. Since fall is just now upon us and Jeff’s
advice pertains to fall planting, we decided to dust it
off and let you have a look.
Dear Jeff,
In my efforts to find information regarding the best time
to plant hay, I stumbled upon the NewFarm website. Am I ever
glad. Your organic-based site is a wonderful source of environmental
concerns that are very near and dear to my heart. I am looking
forward to taking part in your action alerts.
My specific question is this: I need to reseed about 12 acres
of hay for horses. My soil does not grow alfalfa without a
great deal of treating. I have been quite happy with a timothy/birdsfoot
and fescue mix. We have suffered a very wet spring/summer
in the Northeast and have yet to plow due to the wet conditions.
The fields have been uncut, are full of weeds and it does
not look like we will be able to plow until well into August.
Have you any suggestions as to my best approach to get this
job done? (The pH of fields is 6.8.) Thanks for your time
and wonderful website.
Sincerely,
Susan Hopf
Dear Susan,
I'm so glad you stumbled onto New Farm. We're pleased you
find our site useful. Now to answer your question. Fall is
the perfect time of the year to start hay, especially timothy
or other grasses. If you can till the soil and start out with
a clean field, you stand a good chance of getting a good stand.
You might also consider getting a no-till drill and direct
seeding the hay into the field. This would be best if there
still is some old hay worth saving or if there is a chance
of soil erosion from tillage (if your pasture is on a steep
slope). You might contact your local extension office about
where you might borrow a no-till drill. Often the NRCS office
has access to one or knows of a custom operator who could
do the work for you at a reasonable rate.
At either rate you'll need to keep the animals off the pasture
early in spring to give the new grasses a chance to grow and
root well. Your Extension office will be able to supply you
with text on pasture renovation; you'll just need to substitute
‘organic’ practices for the chemical recommendations.
Without actually seeing the site, it is hard to make a better
recommendation. Please get back to me and let me know how
things work out, or email me with more questions.
Jeff
Dear Jeff,
Thanks for the quick response. One of my fields is really
just thin, so will look into no-till drilling for that. The
others are inundated with weeds so will have to plow, etc.
I thought fall to be the best time but have had more questions
than anwers when I asked the old-time farmers around here.
The horses do not graze these fields, but I think the no-till
idea will be of benefit when the pastures themselves need
seeding.
Thanks again and have a great day.
Susan Hopf
Have some questions to Ask Jeff? E-mail
him directly at jeff.moyer@rodaleinst.org.
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