The drought of 2012, pretty much wiped out some of my fescue. I got a good rain, that broke the drought, and just exploded crabgrass in the bare spots. It pretty much got me through, till fall. I had never really pursued crabgrass. I have planted red river, and either got a poor stand, or couldn't tell it from my volunteer. I started tinkering around, with promoting it. I do that, by burning down the field, and then running over it with a disc a few times. I then get busy, keeping broadleaves out. I don't know what level of success I have had, but the experiments have turned out better than my Bermuda grass experiments.
I rotate 5 horses, and follow them with about 1500 pounds of stockers. I started following the horses with stockers, because the horses would overgraze a spot, and not touch others. I get the horses off, before. They kill a spot, and then throw the calves on. They clean up the grass, that the horses ignore. The 5 horses, and 4 calves rotate through a shade over 4 acres. It's like 4.15. I included some pics, and a time line. It's all dependent on rain, and nitrogen. I have put very little N on these 4 acres. It got about 200 pounds of ammonia nitrate, just as crabgrass was making its appearance. I probably should do a soil test. I probably should do a lot of things I'll never get done to.
It's a little too labor intensive for me while I'm working to do this with my cow herd. I retire soon enough, and might give it a shot. Wish I had an area like this big enough to hold all my cows July and August. Just let the fescue sit and recover. Pipe dream, I know, but I've wanted a warm season grass to work for me for a long time now. Might as well pick one, that seeds itself, and grows on poor ground.
The firs are intermingled with some of my native bermuda, johnsonvrass, and crabgrass. 90% of the forage production is crabgrass, would be my guess.
I posted this, I guess I can stand any comment that comes my way.
ENJOY!
Last grazed June 2nd. Heading here with them tomorrow.
Pulled off this Sunday before church
Pulling off this tomorrow morning
I rotate 5 horses, and follow them with about 1500 pounds of stockers. I started following the horses with stockers, because the horses would overgraze a spot, and not touch others. I get the horses off, before. They kill a spot, and then throw the calves on. They clean up the grass, that the horses ignore. The 5 horses, and 4 calves rotate through a shade over 4 acres. It's like 4.15. I included some pics, and a time line. It's all dependent on rain, and nitrogen. I have put very little N on these 4 acres. It got about 200 pounds of ammonia nitrate, just as crabgrass was making its appearance. I probably should do a soil test. I probably should do a lot of things I'll never get done to.
It's a little too labor intensive for me while I'm working to do this with my cow herd. I retire soon enough, and might give it a shot. Wish I had an area like this big enough to hold all my cows July and August. Just let the fescue sit and recover. Pipe dream, I know, but I've wanted a warm season grass to work for me for a long time now. Might as well pick one, that seeds itself, and grows on poor ground.
The firs are intermingled with some of my native bermuda, johnsonvrass, and crabgrass. 90% of the forage production is crabgrass, would be my guess.
I posted this, I guess I can stand any comment that comes my way.
ENJOY!
Last grazed June 2nd. Heading here with them tomorrow.
Pulled off this Sunday before church
Pulling off this tomorrow morning