Import Johnson grass

[shaz]

Hi there,
I'm new to the board but have been reading this forum for sometime. Lots of good ideas.

Question: I'm trying to import Johnson grass which grows really well in my hay field to one of my grazing pastures. The idea being drought insurance.
I started to unroll Johnson grass hay in this pasture to feed the cows (duh) and put seed on the ground.

Have any of you guys used hay unrolling with the intent of planting grass?

FYI: I have 40 commercial (mostly angus) cows in the mid Tenn area.

Thanks

 

[upfrombottom]

My experience with Johnsongrass is if its within 5 miles it will be there shortly whether you want it to be or not.

 

[kenny thomas]

Cows really like it so if grazing they will seek it out and you may never see it.
To get it started if you already have the seed just disturb the ground. Disk or chain harrow will make it open enough for it to get started.

 

[novatech]

Johnson grass is ok in the hay field and works well under managed conditions for pasture. If you are not set up to limit graze then I would not suggest using it. Johnson grass is like candy to a cow. They will eat it before anything else. When in a pasture they will eat it close and eventually kill it, usually during the first grazing season. It can also be toxic during drought and after frost as with many other cane type grasses.
I have had several grasses sprout from seed because of feeding it as hay. I have also had Tifton 85 sprout from cutting being fed as hay. Some of the seed that has sprouted as import; Bahia, common bermuda, blue stem, eastern gamma, Dallas, and various legumes. Plus a variety of weeds. Pretty much anything with a seed.

 

[Brute 23]

They will rip it right out of the groung... you will never see it.

 

[hillrancher]

I have used grazing to kill johnson grass. As prevous posts it is a first choice. They will kill it out. You need to have some growth before the first frost to keep it also. The frost makes sugar that goes down into the roots to keep it from freezing out.

 

[stocky]

All of the above posts are correct. By unrolling johnsongrass bales, you will sow alot of seed that will come up. If it is used as a hayfield, you will get alot and it will increase to a solid stand over time and it will make great hay and alot of it. The problem is pasturing it. If cows are left on it, they will graze it to death. If they are held out until it is big enough and then graze it down and take them out to let it recover each time, you run the risk of poisoning cattle when you turn back in on it. They love it, but when it is all said and done, hay is the best way to go with it.

 

[chippie]

My experience with Johnson grass is that it will grow where you don't want it and good luck getting rid of it.
It's in our garden and we've been fighting it for years.

You definitely do not want to let your cattle graze it after a frost nor do you want to bale Johnson grass that has been through a frost.

 

[shaz]

Thanks for the input guys. I'm starting to reconsider for a couple of reasons.
1: toxicity
2: The pasture is 40acres 1/6 of the farm.

Question: If not Johnson grass, what would be a good addtion to KY31? I'd rather not use Bermuda because the cows can't stand it.

Thanks again

 

[dun]

Red or white clover, maybe lespedeza but we've never had much luck with it

 

[novatech]

the cows can't stand it.

Tifton 85. If they don't like it shoot em because their not cows.