Frost/Snow Overseeing

[clarkmorefarm]

I'm sure this is a regional thing like most topics covered on this site, but has anyone ever had any luck overseeing pastures during frost or over snow?

I can remember my granddad doing it on a hayfield during a snow one year with red clover and it came in really well.

I know clovers do well with with it, didn't know if any species of grass would do well?

 

[kenny thomas]

I have done both fescue and clover. Dark moon of February is perfect if the snow hits too.

 

[clarkmorefarm]

I have done both fescue and clover. Dark moon of February is perfect if the snow hits too.

IF the forecast holds, we have snow coming this weekend.

I was considering sewing some fescue and clover on pastures that I'm resting and that I've got the cows in.

Maybe on the hay ground I rent next door too.

 

[RDFF]

I'm sure this is a regional thing like most topics covered on this site, but has anyone ever had any luck overseeing pastures during frost or over snow?

I can remember my granddad doing it on a hayfield during a snow one year with red clover and it came in really well.

I know clovers do well with with it, didn't know if any species of grass would do well?

I just posted this pic on one of the other threads here. I label it "A Perfect Planting Day", and I literally think that. All of my 400+ acres of rolling row crop land was seeded down this way, following both soybeans and untouched cornstalks, usually planted in early to mid-March. These are Deere 8300 regular old grain drills. Prefer to do it through a fresh 3-4" snow if I can, onto frozen ground. Easy to see your drill mark that way, and not have any skips. Last time I did it I used a 22 way blend. That was in 2022. The first was in 2018. All came in beautifully. I like to make hay on it for the first year (planting year). I would have put down winter rye in the fall with a NT drill, and then came back in the spring with a bushel and a half of oats as a carrier, with all of the other stuff blended right into the oats blend, including very small and heavier seeds, like alflafa, clover, and hairy vetch, etc. I blend them all together with a hammermill (don't use the mill of course)... I call it my "Handy Dandy Seed Tender Blender".

Running the cattle on it after seeding would be just that much more helpful to step the seed down onto the ground better. But get them off when things start growing, to give those tender young sprouts a good chance to get started. And THAT is why I prefer to make hay on it that first seeding year, instead of grazing it.

 

[kenny thomas]

IF the forecast holds, we have snow coming this weekend.

I was considering sewing some fescue and clover on pastures that I'm resting and that I've got the cows in.

Maybe on the hay ground I rent next door too.

It you have a chain drag or even a heavy disc that you can set to not very agressive it really helps too. Kinds scratch the soil a little. The snow or freeze and thaw takes the seed down just enough.

 

[RDFF]

I just posted this pic on one of the other threads here. I label it "A Perfect Planting Day", and I literally think that. All of my 400+ acres of rolling row crop land was seeded down this way, following both soybeans and untouched cornstalks, usually planted in early to mid-March. These are Deere 8300 regular old grain drills. Prefer to do it through a fresh 3-4" snow if I can, onto frozen ground. Easy to see your drill mark that way, and not have any skips. Last time I did it I used a 22 way blend. That was in 2022. The first was in 2018. All came in beautifully. I like to make hay on it for the first year (planting year). I would have put down winter rye in the fall with a NT drill, and then came back in the spring with a bushel and a half of oats as a carrier, with all of the other stuff blended right into the oats blend, including very small and heavier seeds, like alflafa, clover, and hairy vetch, etc. I blend them all together with a hammermill (don't use the mill of course)... I call it my "Handy Dandy Seed Tender Blender".

Running the cattle on it after seeding would be just that much more helpful to step the seed down onto the ground better. But get them off when things start growing, to give those tender young sprouts a good chance to get started. And THAT is why I prefer to make hay on it that first seeding year, instead of grazing it.

Right now, here in SE MN, would be the perfect time, IMO, to be getting out there. Yes, this IS a little bit earlier than I've ever done it before, but the conditions are "just right" here right now, and we've not had the kind of snow cover this year that we normally have gotten. I don't have any to seed down this spring, or I'd be out there. Wait for a nice 3-4" snow, and then go for it! I'd be loading up the drills already now, so that when I got that snow, I'd be fully ready to rumble.

Truly "A Perfect Planting Day"!

 

[kenny thomas]

I have done both fescue and clover. Dark moon of February is perfect if the snow hits too.

February 16th is the dark of the moon. Do it next weekend instead of taking the wife out for Valentines Day. Or better yet take her and seed it also.

 

[farmerjan]

February 16th is the dark of the moon. Do it next weekend instead of taking the wife out for Valentines Day. Or better yet take her and seed it also.

Except for us, we have "white snowcrete" out there... and it will take more than a day or two of 50 degrees to melt this..... the bird seed I threw out on the ground rolled/skidded across the frozen white crap for many feet.... because it was too slick for me to attempt to go get and fill the bird feeders... there is still some in them, but I put some extra out on the ground in hopes to get through a few more days until I can safely get to them to fill them.. It's been 2 weeks today since we started getting this crap... and it has shrunk down a little... but it is so hard that I can drive the F250 4wd truck across it and not break the crust ....

 

[Chuckie]

Except for us, we have "white snowcrete" out there... and it will take more than a day or two of 50 degrees to melt this..... the bird seed I threw out on the ground rolled/skidded across the frozen white crap for many feet.... because it was too slick for me to attempt to go get and fill the bird feeders... there is still some in them, but I put some extra out on the ground in hopes to get through a few more days until I can safely get to them to fill them.. It's been 2 weeks today since we started getting this crap... and it has shrunk down a little... but it is so hard that I can drive the F250 4wd truck across it and not break the crust ....

I have never seen snow like this before. I have had to catch my balance every day I went out to feed. Horribly slick on top.

I found these cleats that fit on the bottom of boots or shoes. They sell them on Amazon, and wish that I had a pair of them. A man came walking down my overly slick driveway and was walking normally. He showed me what he had on his feet, and it was something similar to these below.
They are called Ice Cleats or snow traction cleats. I just was never faced with this kind of snow before. I dreaded each day I went out, but these would have made a huge difference.
Some are smaller for women's feet, but they don't always look as sturdy as the mens. Then the mens cleats are too large.

I think I will get some that fit over my Muck boots which I have to buy a size larger.

 

[RDFF]

I gave a pair to my Dad, when he was getting "up there", but was still insisting on blowing the snow from his driveway himself (after having hip surgery!). They're great... common stuff up here. Don't walk into the house on your hardwood floors with them on though...

 

[sstterry]

I gave a pair to my Dad, when he was getting "up there", but was still insisting on blowing the snow from his driveway himself (after having hip surgery!). They're great... common stuff up here. Don't walk into the house on your hardwood floors with them on though...

I did the same for my dad when he was older and still insisted on feeding every day by himself.