Shredding

[MikeC]

Bush hogging to me is a sort of an "Instant Gratification" and makes me feel as though I've accomplished more than spraying.

Washing the tank and the spray rig is a pain too!

Spraying is probably much more efficient but I have a tendency to procrastinate it more efficiently also. ;-)

 

[ALACOWMAN]

When spraying or bushhogging to be effective it also has to do with timing. alot of weeds can be cut back when mowing like in the middle of august. i have seen this myself and im sure alot of you have to.

 

[dun]

Problem with spraying is the elimination of desirable stuff, like clover and forbes that you might want.

dun

 

[J]

I always kind of enjoy shredding at least for a while. 8)

 

[Arnold Ziffle]

I do too "J". But periodically something spoils my fun, usually when I'm shredding at a real slow speed and happen to hit a nest of bumble bees! :x Been popped too many times, almost always around the face, neck and temple area. That's why, no matter how hot it is, I have taken to wearing gloves, at least two white longsleeved shirts and a bee keeper's helmet with the wire mesh & drawstring whenever I shred.

 

[J]

I do too "J". But periodically something spoils my fun, usually when I'm shredding at a real slow speed and happen to hit a nest of bumble bees! :x Been popped too many times, almost always around the face, neck and temple area. That's why, no matter how hot it is, I have taken to wearing gloves, at least two white longsleeved shirts and a bee keeper's helmet with the wire mesh & drawstring whenever I shred.

Go down and buy one of those new tractors with the cab, a/c, radio, cushioned seat and all the bells and whistles. That will take care of those bees and it also makes the shredding alot more enjoyable

 

[Dusty Britches]

There's a saying I've heard - Shreddin' is spreadin' when it comes to weed control.

However, I did read an article my extension agent sent me last week - shreddin' is a good way to control 1 weed - silverleaf nightshade. But, you have to do it before they go to seed. My opinion is, might as well spray it, except the chemicals can get expensive. Its just that at the same time that it is good to shred the nightshade, the goat weed is developing seed. Since both are controlled with Grazon 2+4D....

Gosh - decisions, decisions....

 

[milesvb]

I usually shred around August if there is enough ground moisture. I do it right after I rotate the herd out of a pasture. It really seems to help in grazing the improved pastures evenly and knocks down the late summer weeds like croton (although there are always a few small ones that rebound after it rains). If I get everything shredded before the first pasture is ready for the cattle there are some native pastures I can put them in until the improved pastures have sufficient growth.

 

[alabama]

Mowing pastures is not a very good way to control weeds.

1. You are mowing the grass as well as the weeds.

2. You are not killing the weeds just cutting their tops off.

Spraying is the way to go. I can spray 2,4-D for about the same price as mowing and it actually kills the weeds. Did you know that for every pound of weeds that you kill a lb. of grass will grow in it's place and that you shouldn't fertilize UNLESS you have sprayed first. Otherwise you are growing both weeds and grass.

Now if the grass is getting too mature and you need to clip it to stimulate new growth then mowing should be done.

JDFarmer you are right on target. With over grown pastures the cows have limited themselves to small areas that they graze every day and keep those spots short and never graze the over grown bitter grass.
I try to bush hog on a rotating plan and set the mower at about 4 inches high. This knocks the tops out of the overgrown grass and allows new sweet grass to grow in its place. It also tends to thicken the stand. The cows will also eat the hay that this makes for a few days and clean up some of it.
If you want good pastures, it helps to clip them several times a year when you can.

 

[mbdear]

If you want good pastures, it helps to clip them several times a year when you can.

and if you want really good pastures, let the cattle do the grass clipping for you. If you set stock or continously graze, you have areas in the same pasture that are severely overgrazed and other areas that are severely under-utilized (over mature).

 

[dun]

If you want good pastures, it helps to clip them several times a year when you can.

and if you want really good pastures, let the cattle do the grass clipping for you. If you set stock or continously graze, you have areas in the same pasture that are severely overgrazed and other areas that are severely under-utilized (over mature).

In the same vein, if you move the water, minerals and salt to different areas they will utilize them better.

dun

 

[Bret]

I am slowly moving to MIG to make the most out of forage production that I have. It is very satisfy to groom a paddock after the cattle are rotated to level things off as high as I can. I put the tounge of the rotary mower on top of the draw bar rather than sandwhiched over and under as normal. I have a cylinder to rase and lower the back wheels to level pretty much. This lets me take off weed tops while staying above the desired things.

I can mow just above idle while moving forward at a pretty good clip. If I mow while the cattle are still in the same paddock the cows seem very amused and excited about the tractor and mower. It looks like a rodeo with the whole herd bucking and sprinting back and fourth.

Conclusion: I agree that it is satisfying and it looks better, but I don't think I'm slowing down the weeds significantly...yet.

 

[J. T.]

I have greatly reduced ragweed and summer cedar by bushhogging in late summer. The summer cedar doesn't have time to rebound before fall sets in and the root reserves can't replenish themselves causing the plant to die. Also, in my area, this seems to help the fescue to come out and dominate in the cool fall days.

 

[TLCfromARK]

It's always been brush hogging around here.

I don't mind it if everything is running well. As one poster said, at the end of the day you can see what you've got done. A lot of the stuff that I hog is pretty rough, was logged off a few years ago. I only have time to get to it once a year normally. Sweet gum & oak saplings 6 - 8 feet tall. You've got to pay attention or you're get on top of a hardwood stump and ( If you're lucky ) jar your guts out or ( if you're unluckly ) tear up your hog.

;-)

 

[Beefy]

or both.

 

[ollie]

I bush hogged some rough stuff today. 1st gear, dif. locked and still slide a little. I hate those steep spots. Nice way to ruin a tractor or an Ollie.

 

[Texan]

Nice way to ruin.......an Ollie.

And how would anybody be able to tell the difference? In other words, what are some of the characteristics of an ollie that isn't ruined?

 

[ollie]

They would be similiar to a Texan that isn't ruined. Difference being Ollies are more manly, better looking , braver, etc.

 

[Texan]

They would be similiar to a Texan that isn't ruined. Difference being Ollies are more manly, better looking , braver, etc.

Oh........

 

[flaboy]

I think it is shredding in the south. Here it is brush hogging. Other wise known as wastin' fuel. :)

Well, I'm about as far south as you can get I never heard the term shredding until your guys started a talking about it here. All I have ever heard down here was mowing or bush hogging.

Then again I never heard the term heiferett either. A man uses that term down here gets a strange look.