6 acres of farmland

[serrow]

Hi, I have 6 acres of farmland in Anglesey. The soil is quite heavy with quite a lot of rushes in one of the fields. The rushes problem will be solved by spraying. I intend to grow hay in all of the fields after re-seeding.
My questions are:
1. What seed type might be suitable for a decent crop of hay?
2. Should I grow hay for horses or just for sheep and cattle?
3. Should I graze it in winter and early spring with sheep as long as the ground is not too wet?

By the way, I will be looking to buy "old" machinery, tractor etc, so that I can complete the work myself.

Your thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[spin cycle]

like your thinking and welcome

first thought is...if it's growing rushes is it wet?.....will you be able to travel on it with a tractor without getting stuck?

 

[serrow]

Hi spin cycle, thanks for the reply. one of the fields does require some drainage work which will be attended to. The fields have been baled before with large bales and so is not too bad except in the extremes of wet winters and in certain patches. So that should not be an issue.

 

[serrow]

like your thinking and welcome

first thought is...if it's growing rushes is it wet?.....will you be able to travel on it with a tractor without getting stuck?

Hi spin cycle, thank you and thanks for the reply. one of the fields does require some drainage work which will be attended to. The fields have been baled before with large bales and so is not too bad except in the extremes of wet winters and in certain patches. So that should not be an issue.

 

[Tarw Coch]

Are you intending this to be a hobby you’ve got spare cash to throw at?
You will be able to buy hay cheaper than the cost of draining, reseeding and making the hay by time you’ve bought machinery, that doesn’t answer the question of what to do with the land of course.

 

[KMA]

Really depends on how much time/money you have to chuck at it. Drain, spray and Lime would be the starting point, then reseed in spring, lightly graze the reseed with sheep and if you're lucky maybe get a late cut of hay/haylage the first year. after that turn the sheep on and graze in blocks though to early spring and shut up for hay. Without knowing the soil, climate etc that's about as much as I can suggest.

 

[serrow]

Are you intending this to be a hobby you’ve got spare cash to throw at?
You will be able to buy hay cheaper than the cost of draining, reseeding and making the hay by time you’ve bought machinery, that doesn’t answer the question of what to do with the land of course.

Hi, Thanks for your reply. The draining aspect is a straightforward ditch cleaning/opening job which will cost little, as has been done in the neighbouring field, so that is not a major issue. Machinery will be second hand which I can source, or even borrow, as I know a few farmers locally. Re-seeding two acres only will give a better return and in a few years it will have all paid for itself. Well, hopefully, weather permitting and all that! At the moment I just rent the fields out to my farmer friend and he is happy to help out if needed. So quite lucky there.

 

[serrow]

Really depends on how much time/money you have to chuck at it. Drain, spray and Lime would be the starting point, then reseed in spring, lightly graze the reseed with sheep and if you're lucky maybe get a late cut of hay/haylage the first year. after that turn the sheep on and graze in blocks though to early spring and shut up for hay. Without knowing the soil, climate etc that's about as much as I can suggest.

Hi, thanks, yes much of what you suggest is part of the plan and as my reply to "Tarw Coch" says, I have farmers as friends so help is always at hand. Draining and spraying is already on the cards.

 

[Tarw Coch]

Hi, Thanks for your reply. The draining aspect is a straightforward ditch cleaning/opening job which will cost little, as has been done in the neighbouring field, so that is not a major issue. Machinery will be second hand which I can source, or even borrow, as I know a few farmers locally. Re-seeding two acres only will give a better return and in a few years it will have all paid for itself. Well, hopefully, weather permitting and all that! At the moment I just rent the fields out to my farmer friend and he is happy to help out if needed. So quite lucky there.

Sorry if my previous post seemed a bit negative, without knowing anything about your background, I didn’t want you to be under anillusion that there was a lot of money to be made in this way out of your ground.
Best of luck with your last plans, as you say, reseeding should soon pay for itself if the leys are poor and if you can borrow or barter for machinery from friends that will keep the costs right down.
Just remember to be fair when borrowing machinery, a quick way to lose friends is if they think someone is taking advantage of them.

 

[Still Farming]

Best lowland ryegrass hay you be getting 500- 1200 small bale worth £3 - £4 I guess minus every cost.
Something to go by?

 

[serrow]

Sorry if my previous post seemed a bit negative, without knowing anything about your background, I didn’t want you to be under anillusion that there was a lot of money to be made in this way out of your ground.
Best of luck with your last plans, as you say, reseeding should soon pay for itself if the leys are poor and if you can borrow or barter for machinery from friends that will keep the costs right down.
Just remember to be fair when borrowing machinery, a quick way to lose friends is if they think someone is taking advantage of them.

Hi Tarw coch, (Cymraeg?), I appreciated your reply, so no need to worry about that. It is always difficult to see the whole picture in a few sentences. I have a background in farming from when I was young and was going to make a career of it but plans changed in my early twenties! Anyway, been toying with the idea for a while now and as it happens I was at my friends place the other day and they agreed - suggesting - go for it! So I am going for it!! (at least while I still have the energy). I am not keen on borrowing things - last resort only. Used their tractor and trailer a couple of times but they are more than happy to help out - good people!

 

[serrow]

Best lowland ryegrass hay you be getting 500- 1200 small bale worth £3 - £4 I guess minus every cost.
Something to go by?

Hi, thanks. As it happens I was looking up ryegrass yesterday but some research suggests a bit of Timothgy grass thrown in?

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Put a late heading Ryegass Timothy mix on it .avoid early heading grasses

 

[serrow]

Put a late heading Ryegass Timothy mix on it .avoid early heading grasses

Thanks, I think I will follow your advice and that will be the mix.

 

[Still Farming]

Thanks, I think I will follow your advice and that will be the mix.

Check your soils and ph also.
Have they ever been Ploughed or rejuvenated?

 

[Danllan]

Hi Tarw coch, (Cymraeg?), I appreciated your reply, so no need to worry about that. It is always difficult to see the whole picture in a few sentences. I have a background in farming from when I was young and was going to make a career of it but plans changed in my early twenties! Anyway, been toying with the idea for a while now and as it happens I was at my friends place the other day and they agreed - suggesting - go for it! So I am going for it!! (at least while I still have the energy). I am not keen on borrowing things - last resort only. Used their tractor and trailer a couple of times but they are more than happy to help out - good people!

I'd not buy anything I didn't have to; meaning that if you have friends who will genuinely be happy to help out and / or lend kit, then take advantage of this and throw a bottle of whisky where appropriate. I lend stuff to people I like and trust and don't expect anything back, so it's a pleasant surprise if something comes back with the kit.

It doesn't do to skimp on grass seed if you do determine to reseed, but I'd get the rest sorted and do at least one cut (or better, one whole season) before I went down that road. Give it a chance and you may find that your 'permanent pasture' is better than you think; I get five to six big bales per acre off pasture that is very old and only gets a dose of 16-16-16 every other year or so - if I graze it really hard over the winter it means five bales to the acre, if I'm easy on it I get six.

You only want small measures of @Tarw Coch, too much and you won't get any rest.

 

[serrow]

I'd not buy anything I didn't have to; meaning that if you have friends who will genuinely be happy to help out and / or lend kit, then take advantage of this and throw a bottle of whisky where appropriate. I lend stuff to people I like and trust and don't expect anything back, so it's a pleasant surprise if something comes back with the kit.

It doesn't do to skimp on grass seed if you do determine to reseed, but I'd get the rest sorted and do at least one cut (or better, one whole season) before I went down that road. Give it a chance and you may find that your 'permanent pasture' is better than you think; I get five to six big bales per acre off pasture that is very old and only gets a dose of 16-16-16 every other year or so - if I graze it really hard over the winter it means five bales to the acre, if I'm easy on it I get six.

You only want small measures of @Tarw Coch, too much and you won't get any rest.

Thanks for the advice. Much appreciated. Not all will be reseeded though, just a few acres in one field.

 

[serrow]

Check your soils and ph also.
Have they ever been Ploughed or rejuvenated?

Thanks, I will do that. One field, about 3 acres, will be ploughed and reseeded as it is much needed.