New grass ley.

[Ali_Maxxum]

Hello all, hopefully put this in the right bit...

Been asked to do a total re-seed of a field we make hay on, current crop is old, tufty, patchy and coarse.

Owner wants new grass with a bit of life and clover, I've found some seed that's suitable so that's no problem. I've got someone to do the ploughing cos I don't do ploughing. I can get a power harrow and do that, then run over with the levelling harrows, broadcast the seed, harrow again then roll. Haven't tested soil PH yet so could be a bit of lime to go on after the plough.

Only couple of things I need some opinions on is; how long roughly should it take me to power harrow the 10 acres behind the plough? Shouldn't be particularly heavy ground, on a bit of a slope the one half and going up and across the field. 3m on 130hp.

And at the moment there's a bit too much grass on it, the owner doesn't want sheep on it to graze it down hard and only has about 10 or so goats.... unless I can convince them all I can think is flail it off or spray?

Any opinions, thoughts, ideas appreciated! Cheers!

 

[sticky]

roundup and dursban, harrow the hell out of it,spread some seed and roll or direct drill.

 

[Boysground]

Have to use dursban by end of march or will be illegal. Probably can't buy it now.

Bg

 

[Bury the Trash]

Hello all, hopefully put this in the right bit...

Been asked to do a total re-seed of a field we make hay on, current crop is old, tufty, patchy and coarse.

Owner wants new grass with a bit of life and clover, I've found some seed that's suitable so that's no problem. I've got someone to do the ploughing cos I don't do ploughing. I can get a power harrow and do that, then run over with the levelling harrows, broadcast the seed, harrow again then roll. Haven't tested soil PH yet so could be a bit of lime to go on after the plough.

Only couple of things I need some opinions on is; how long roughly should it take me to power harrow the 10 acres behind the plough? Shouldn't be particularly heavy ground, on a bit of a slope the one half and going up and across the field. 3m on 130hp.

And at the moment there's a bit too much grass on it, the owner doesn't want sheep on it to graze it down hard and only has about 10 or so goats.... unless I can convince them all I can think is flail it off or spray?

Any opinions, thoughts, ideas appreciated! Cheers!

So the only stock to go on it will be 10 goats?.and taking off hay........convince them to use sheep as a tool in whole process would be my advice.for sucessful reseed and future maintenance of nice new ley

 

[yellowbelly]

So the only stock to go on it will be 10 goats?.and taking off hay........convince them to use sheep as a tool in whole process would be my advice.for sucessful reseed and future maintenance of nice new ley

+1. 'cos if there's only 1 goat/acre, in a few years, you'll get to do it all again - it'll be "all tufty and patchy"

 

[Ali_Maxxum]

I know, I said to put a load of sheep on it, these are just some of the problems with dealing with 'non farmers' they reckon they'll have about 30 goats by the summer........ I'll have to see if I can convince them. Thanks muchly!

 

[Pan mixer]

I know, I said to put a load of sheep on it, these are just some of the problems with dealing with 'non farmers' they reckon they'll have about 30 goats by the summer........ I'll have to see if I can convince them. Thanks muchly!

Goats don't do so well on good grass, they browse, mostly eating the hedges.

I reckon to power harrow about 3 acres an hour with a 3m machine, unfortunately fresh ploughed land doesn't end up very level after a week or two - the power harrow pulls stuff into the wheel marks which are compact, the rest of the field slumps in the weather and the wheelmarks are taller - if you pwer harrow it before it settles.

 

[Ali_Maxxum]

I see. And thanks, bit of food for thought.... think I need a sit down with the customer just to see what they actually want to achieve and what they're willing to do to manage it. Did I mention they're Greek....