Clover Question

[sstterry]

I have taken over our farm since my Dad passed away last summer. We have about 30 acres of hay fields and I would like to get some clover in them. Also, some of the pasture has been seriously ignored for several years. I have been doing my research and I was thinking that my best option is to sew some Medium Red Clover in the Hay Fields and some Ladino White in the pastures (I will also be overseeding Fescue in the pastures too.) I live in East Tennessee and was wondering if this would be a good plan or if there are better alternatives? Also, should I go with coated seed? What about coating on the Fescue? Is there any reason to get coated Fescue?

Edit: The Hay fields are primarily Fescue.

 

[kenny thomas]

No reason for coated fescue, yes on coated clover, and you have the right plan for this area with the clover. I'm spreading ladino clover on pastures this week. 150lb worth.

 

[turklilley]

The problem with red clover in hay fields, is red clover does not dry well. If conditions are not perfect, it extends drying time 2 days. Makes good feed if you get it before the rain.

 

[poorboy]

I'm in the process of doing the same thing. I'm still about a year of being ready for clover in my pastures though. I was too late to get the buttercup under control last spring and I need lime. So I'm getting ready to spray as soon as the ground dries and a little warmer. Going to lime this fall, I'll have to do a soil sample to find exactly where I'm at now with nutrients. I'll reseed clover once I can get rid of the weeds since most sprays knock it back or wipe it out.

 

[kenny thomas]

I'm in the process of doing the same thing. I'm still about a year of being ready for clover in my pastures though. I was too late to get the buttercup under control last spring and I need lime. So I'm getting ready to spray as soon as the ground dries and a little warmer. Going to lime this fall, I'll have to do a soil sample to find exactly where I'm at now with nutrients. I'll reseed clover once I can get rid of the weeds since most sprays knock it back or wipe it out.

Good plan. Time is now for the butter cup in this area if you get the weather

 

[sstterry]

The problem with red clover in hay fields, is red clover does not dry well. If conditions are not perfect, it extends drying time 2 days. Makes good feed if you get it before the rain.

Is there another clover that would be better in the hay fields?

 

[ClinchValley]

Common red and common white are what I would do. The ditches are full of red. White seems to be everywhere. Honestly, no point in fighting nature.

Broadcast some red last fall and seems the majority came up.

Seems to be an excellent year for clover everywhere around here i've been.

My Pops and I took over this farm 3-4 years ago from my Papaw. It was in pretty rough shape. The two best things I did were to start rotating pasture fields, and run a disk through the hayfields (not real aggressive). When I disked the hayfields, i spread fescue seed pretty thick. To my surprise, had a flush of Orchard Grass and Red Clover. You might also be surprised what is laying in the seed bank, just waiting to get the chance to sprout. Make sure to spray. I wish i had earlier than i did.

Best of luck.

 

[sstterry]

Hay fields are in pretty good shape but I am planing on spraying as soon as it drys and warms up a little more. I am just going to go with 2,4-d this year because I want to get the clover in there to help with nitrogen. Spray first and then seed the clover. The reason I was going to go with medium red is that it is a biennial and I can get two years from it. I am going with white in the pastures.