Clover Galore

[ClinchValley86]

This season, thus far, has me blown away with the amount of clover that's came up. Haven't put a dent in the place in 4.5 weeks. Need more critters.

Size of the blooms has impressed me without a doubt.

 

[sstterry]

This season, thus far, has me blown away with the amount of clover that's came up. Haven't put a dent in the place in 4.5 weeks. Need more critters.

Size of the blooms has impressed me without a doubt.

It is the same here, I think it has something to do with the weather. I have clover everywhere even in my hay fields.

 

[ClinchValley86]

It is the same here, I think it has something to do with the weather. I have clover everywhere even in my hay fields.

Tis pretty dang awesome!

 

[kenny thomas]

Tis pretty dang awesome!

Im pretty sure you haven't sowed any so it would be great to know why the red clover has done so well. I have some white but not much red.
Ask your Ag Extension Agent out and get his or her ideas. They will be wanting to have a farm tour there.

 

[Ouachita]

Tis pretty dang awesome!

I have the same awesomeness happening here with the clover. Don't allow it to lead you into a sense of security.
Clip it and the other forage when they make seed. Turn the cows on it so they'll stomp it in. Pull them off in few days/weeks, depending on your situation.
You can wait out the drought and have grass coming on by late fall.

 

[chaded]

I have red clover that does well every year in my hayfield. I know people say it needs reseeded but that has not been my experience. I have had this place 7 years and it is still going strong and I would bet just about anything the previous owners haven't seeded it either.

 

[chevytaHOE5674]

Clover in my pastures is great.

Clover in my hay fields is miserable. Around here by the time the Clover is dry enough to bale the grass and trefoil in the field is so dry it disintegrates into a cloud of dust out the back of the baler.

 

[ClinchValley86]

Clover in my pastures is great.

Clover in my hay fields is miserable. Around here by the time the Clover is dry enough to bale the grass and trefoil in the field is so dry it disintegrates into a cloud of dust out the back of the baler.

I was tempted, very much so, to bale some. But have decided to just keep the rotation going and get to it when i get to it. Betting it'll be 100+ days rested by the time i get back to where I started. Could hit it now to be honest.

I hear it doesn't stockpile for sh*t, at least going into cold weather. We shall see how it goes.

 

[ClinchValley86]

Im pretty sure you haven't sowed any so it would be great to know why the red clover has done so well. I have some white but not much red.
Ask your Ag Extension Agent out and get his or her ideas. They will be wanting to have a farm tour there.

You know I be disliking people.

I would like to get some organic matter readings as well as some soil nutrient levels. Curious what the organic N would be with all this Clover. Based on thr color of the Clover, to my understanding, it is definitely fixing N.

 

[Little Joe]

You know I be disliking people.

I would like to get some organic matter readings as well as some soil nutrient levels. Curious what the organic N would be with all this Clover. Based on thr color of the Clover, to my understanding, it is definitely fixing N.

From my understanding it fixes the N as leaves or plants die off and decompose.

 

[kenny thomas]

Picture he sent me today. Cows standing in belly deep grass but still reaching under the fence to eat.

 

[chevytaHOE5674]

Fence charger isn't hot enough. Haha.

Things are turning green here. Be grazing before June this year it looks like.

 

[Mark Reynolds]

Picture he sent me today. Cows standing in belly deep grass but still reaching under the fence to eat.View attachment 44473

Don't ya know, the grass is ALWAYS greener on the other side of the fence.

 

[ClinchValley86]

Have been torn as to whether to cut some for hay or just let it stockpile til I can get animals to it. It's been so wet and I'm so behind on hay that it's going to stockpile til I get to it.

The last picture is 2.5 or 3 weeks of regrowth. Been waiting 3 years for a good spring, and we finally getting it!

I could make hay on the ground i grazed first of April now if weather would allow. It is primo.

 

[Mark Reynolds]

From my understanding it fixes the N as leaves or plants die off and decompose.

I don't want to get technical here. The N is released from the 'plant' as the plants die off, are cut back, or are grazed. The N has long since been fixed, not by the plant, but by the associated bacteria. What is happening is that the nodes of bacteria, which are full of the nitrogen and have been held 'captive' by the clover plant are 'released' by the clover plant and become available to other vegetation when the clover plant 'downsizes'.

 

[ClinchValley86]

My most favorite legume. My Papaw calls it "begger's lice." I like the name tick-trefoil. Has a leaf like a soybean. I've encouraged it since I got here and it sure has responded favorably with grazing. It's now everywhere.

 

[ClinchValley86]

Well, went to check on the pasture ground I planned to hay in the coming weeks. The clover has been laid down for at least 2 weeks and is rotting on bottom. 3 to 5 inch mat of the stuff, black and gooey. Was sad. Lol. It had been up level with the 4 wheeler seat.

What's yalls thoughts on that? Would you still try n bale it? It'll be at least 2 weeks til I can get to it.

Option 2 is an experiment... let it grow til December. Can't graze it properly because no water back there. Would have to give big chunks and fear they'd bloat and croak. It's half the dang farm.

 

[kenny thomas]

Bale it.

 

[Mark Reynolds]

Well, went to check on the pasture ground I planned to hay in the coming weeks. The clover has been laid down for at least 2 weeks and is rotting on bottom. 3 to 5 inch mat of the stuff, black and gooey. Was sad. Lol. It had been up level with the 4 wheeler seat.

What's yalls thoughts on that? Would you still try n bale it? It'll be at least 2 weeks til I can get to it.

Option 2 is an experiment... let it grow til December. Can't graze it properly because no water back there. Would have to give big chunks and fear they'd bloat and croak. It's half the dang farm.

That 3-5 inch mat of thatch is not good for the regrowth. Based on what you are saying, I'd be very afraid that the thatch is going to harden into an impenetrable mat and smother regrowth. I would guess the rotting clover isn't fit for consumption. However, either take it off (bale) or tedder it to keep it from forming a mat. Teddering it will keep the nutrients on the pasture for recycling. Neither option is economically profitable, but they are likely to save your hayfield from destruction.

 

[kenny thomas]

I think this has not been cut, the clover just got so tall and heavy it got down.