Minimium Till before Summer Annuals ???

[Stocker Steve]

I have had very inconsistent results with no till into pastured "hay" fields. Some of the problems appear to be poor closing in high traffic areas that have hoof pan, and poor seed placement in areas that have heavy sod. Can you share any results from any minimum till prep like one or two passes with a field cultivator?

 

[fenceman]

I have had very inconsistent results with no till into pastured "hay" fields. Some of the problems appear to be poor closing in high traffic areas that have hoof pan, and poor seed placement in areas that have heavy sod. Can you share any results from any minimum till prep like one or two passes with a field cultivator?

This would be pretty much what I would expect with no till. We just chisel compacted areas. Let rain break up the clods.

 

[dun]

Unless it's bare ground or very short, no tiling into sod or closely growing grasses will always be a hit or miss deal. The established stuff will shade the new stuff and frequently keep it from growing much.
Rather then summer annuals I would prefer clover or lespedeza, it takes less work and will pretty much take care of itself along with the forage grasses.

 

[ddd75]

anything deeper planted should do pretty well even in established pastures. any small seeded stuff will always be hit and miss. best thing i've foudn for small seeded plants like rye grass, clovers, etc are to just broadcast after you mow/hay your field short. then i just pull a heavy cultipacker behind the spreader and do a couple passes.

 

[Stocker Steve]

I have been spraying out a to be renovated paddock after the spring flush, and then no tilling summer annuals. This year I do not plan to spray due to winter kill. Only the quack grass survived. Still have some compaction.

 

[Stocker Steve]

Rather then summer annuals I would prefer clover or lespedeza, it takes less work and will pretty much take care of itself along with the forage grasses.

Would broadcast then graze, or broadcast and then culti pack, usually work better?

 

[dun]

Rather then summer annuals I would prefer clover or lespedeza, it takes less work and will pretty much take care of itself along with the forage grasses.

Would broadcast then graze, or broadcast and then culti pack, usually work better?

If there is grass and not bare ground I would graze and hope for some decent rains to wash the seed down to the ground.

 

[ddd75]

for a new pasture w/ bare ground i'd use a brillion seeder.

 

[joeu235]

I've had good luck with a no till drill and larger seed like millet but my attempts no tilling bermuda and wwb-dahl have been hit or miss.

 

[Stocker Steve]

I tried a couple approaches for cool season:

no till into soybean ground - - looks great
no till into winter killed stems - - very slow to start but I am still hoping
press drill into mostly winter killed clumps after field cultivating about 2" deep - - if this works I will repeat with summer annuals.