bahia grass

[heath]

How far north does Bahia grow well?

 

[JSCATTLE]

I'm not sure but if I was buying a new place it would be 20 miles north where it stops growing .

 

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure but if I was buying a new place it would be 20 miles north where it stops growing .

You may not like Bahia but south of the 32 degree line its a cow staple that thrives and does well.

 

[highgrit]

I like bahia grass for pastures. But it sure is hard to mow for hay.

 

[B&M Farms]

I'm not sure but if I was buying a new place it would be 20 miles north where it stops growing .

You may not like Bahia but south of the 32 degree line its a cow staple that thrives and does well.

Its a cow staple aroung here too if you don't mind low stocking rates and only getting 2 or 3 big bales to the acre.

 

[JSCATTLE]

I don't like it because it spreads so easy. I cut 2 fields yesterday . They were fertalized the same day 28 days ago . Bahia probably has 2 rolls to the acre . Bermuda will have 5 rolls to the acre . Bahia is also hard on a cows teeth .

 

[circlew]

Pastures here are all Bahia or common Bahia. I don't know of any coastal or Russel Bermuda pastures around here. Most of my hay fields are Bahia but I'm planning on moving toward Russell Bermuda. I like Bahia for pasture when its dry, because when you finally get a rain it takes off. But like js said you have to have a low stocking rate, especially for common Bahia like my pasture.

 

[Anonymous]

Most Pensacola Bahia fields here that are improved pastures will put out 4 4x6 rolls first cut, then 3 then 2 on following cuttings.

 

[TexasBred]

I like bahia grass for pastures. But it sure is hard to mow for hay.

Wait til it gets in your lawn. You don't cut it...you just twist it off and it will grow 3 inches overnight. I believe the damned stuff can germinate and grow on concrete.

 

[Anonymous]

It's all about the blade speed and most riders don't have the speed needed. Most zero turns do though.

 

[JSCATTLE]

My exmark will cut it but you have to go slow . But in 3 days there are seed heads 2 foot tall in patches . Sure makes a yard look bad . For pasture I like a mixture of Bahia and Bermuda . Bermuda seems to last longer into a drought and the Bahia will grow 6 inches on a inch of rain . If I could keep it out of my yard and my hay fields with out have to spray every year it wouldn't be so bad .

 

[novatech]

I use CIMARRON® Plus to get rid of Bahia and other weeds in my Bermuda hay. I always save a little for the yard.

 

[Caustic Burno]

I love Bahia . If you are only getting 2 roll's per acre you have got other problems.
I am upset when I get less than 4 rolls to the acre on a fertilized field. Does it roll out what coastal does no and never will.
Lot of different strains of bahia Paraquay, Paraguay 22, Argentine, Pensacola, Tifton 9 and I know i missed one or two.
As far as being hard on cow's teeth I agree it has wore some down on mine and they are in their mid teens.

 

[Post Oak]

I'm not sure but if I was buying a new place it would be 20 miles north where it stops growing .

You may not like Bahia but south of the 32 degree line its a cow staple that thrives and does well.

The 32 degree line must run north of my place.

 

[gabby]

Pastures here are all Bahia or common Bahia. I don't know of any coastal or Russel Bermuda pastures around here. Most of my hay fields are Bahia but I'm planning on moving toward Russell Bermuda. I like Bahia for pasture when its dry, because when you finally get a rain it takes off. But like js said you have to have a low stocking rate, especially for common Bahia like my pasture.

I have a few acres of Russell, but the cows don't seem to like it much for grazing. Makes a little more hay than Coastal but it bleaches out badly in the sun. I'm planting Tifton 85 for grazing, just planted 8 acres of T85 clippings last week since we're having a monsoon. Thinking about killing the Russell and replacing it with T85. Gonna stick with Coastal for hay because T85 gets so rank and stemmy it's hard to cure.

 

[B&M Farms]

Pastures here are all Bahia or common Bahia. I don't know of any coastal or Russel Bermuda pastures around here. Most of my hay fields are Bahia but I'm planning on moving toward Russell Bermuda. I like Bahia for pasture when its dry, because when you finally get a rain it takes off. But like js said you have to have a low stocking rate, especially for common Bahia like my pasture.

I have a few acres of Russell, but the cows don't seem to like it much for grazing. Makes a little more hay than Coastal but it bleaches out badly in the sun. I'm planting Tifton 85 for grazing, just planted 8 acres of T85 clippings last week since we're having a monsoon. Thinking about killing the Russell and replacing it with T85. Gonna stick with Coastal for hay because T85 gets so rank and stemmy it's hard to cure.

If you are getting the rain you have to cut the T85 pretty regular. 3 week intervals tops.

 

[Redhides]

I like that ole Bahia, particularly in dry hot weather. Most of my pastures are coastal, Tift 9 Bahia, dog fennel, Fescue, horse nettle, Johnson and Gamma Grass, and whatever ryegrass that went to seed from last year. I run about a pair for every 2 acres.

All of my fields are pastures and hayfields. I graze all of them and try to bush hog them once per year, the timing of which is determined by whether they are more predominantly fescue or summer grass heavy. I rotate my haying so that every pasture gets rolled once every three years. The more I do that, the more the coastal and Gamma/Johnson grass thrive (and to a lesser extent the Bahia), and it knocks the horse nettle back and is just wears out the dog fennel. I try to resist my urge to eradicate all weeds immediately :mad: .......and concentrate my efforts and capital on more cows, litter, lime, and lengthy rest periods. It seems to work fairly well, and has flipped the stand well, but is sure does frustrate me when I see a neighbors clean fields. :2cents:

Maybe when I retire from my day job, and have plenty of grandkid money, I'll go by myself a new cab tractor, a 30 ft spray rig, and plenty of Grazon. :tiphat:

 

[Brute 23]

Maybe when I retire from my day job, and have plenty of grandkid money, I'll go by myself a new cab tractor, a 30 ft spray rig, and plenty of Grazon. :tiphat:

I think if you do the math you will see Grazon is not as expensive as you think. I believe it was Dunn who posted a link that showed shredding costing around $20 an acre. I can have Grazon Next sprayed for $12. ;-)

 

[Redhides]

Thanks Brute. If you were to put out some of that knock it flat spray to the tune of $20 an acre around say the middle of April what all will it kill? See I'm already thinking of ways I can tinker...hahaha.

The weeds I see most are 1)Horse Nettle 2)Dog Fennel 3)Blackberry 4)Virginia Pepper weed.

Which as an aside......In September Doves will fly over a mowed cornfield to get to that stuff. Darndest thing.

 

[greybeard]

Doves thrive on goatweed too but you don't want any of that!!

I planted bahia in both pastures and yard, along with some pre-existing coastal and a little ww B-dahl in the pastures. Drought of 2011, the bahia turned brown like everything else, but it didn't die off. I won't say it does "great" in drought, but it sticks around. Got lots of bare areas that used to be common bermuda--2011 drought took it out.
For hay, my cows would rather eat bahia than coastal, but they probably aren't getting as much out of the bahia as they are the coastal.