New Ley reseed.

[GAM]

If I reseed this coming spring with a Hay mix, when will it be ready for making hay?

I was told that if I reseed in the spring, I can't cut for hay until the following year, but if I had reseeded in the Autumn then I could cut for hay the following year!

All answers greatly appreciated..

This question is for a new neighbour who was ill-advised on a field they are hoping to make hay off next year...

 

[Great In Grass]

The information you have been given is correct.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Depends what mix you use , we cut a grass ley 3 times sowed in the spring for haylage , the problem is it's very hard to make hay with new seeds but not impossible, but very risky , why has in not got it in , soil temp in September was 12.50so plenty warm enough , some still putting grass in now, we've finished now but 1000 ft up and exposed here

 

[M-J-G]

Depends what mix you use , we cut a grass ley 3 times sowed in the spring for haylage , the problem is it's very hard to make hay with new seeds but not impossible, but very risky , why has in not got it in , soil temp in September was 12.50so plenty warm enough , some still putting grass in now, we've finished now but 1000 ft up and exposed here

Well south you might get away with sowing late at 1000ft but that doesn't apply to a lot of the country.

As for sowing in the spring and cutting for hay, it doesn't generally work.

Cutting 3 times after a spring reseed is not usually achieved (even by someone as brilliant as you) when using longer term species and tends to be an Italian or westerwolds base and you are prepared to resend again after a season or two, which isn't really economical unless it's part of an arable rotation (or you sell seed)

As @Great In Grass says, the OP is pretty much correct.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Well south you might get away with sowing late at 1000ft but that doesn't apply to a lot of the country.

As for sowing in the spring and cutting for hay, it doesn't generally work.

Cutting 3 times after a spring reseed is not usually achieved (even by someone as brilliant as you) when using longer term species and tends to be an Italian or westerwolds base and you are prepared to resend again after a season or two, which isn't really economical unless it's part of an arable rotation (or you sell seed)

As @Great In Grass says, the OP is pretty much correct.

He's further south than me , and I said it was risky ,
I'm not getting into an argument about sowing dates either as it's area related and depends on the season , last week of September would be cut of here for everything other than Westerwolds , weather has got milder in recent years so you can't always judge on what used to be done , but October don't work here
As for costs , I've grown short term leys for cutting for 50 years , replacement cost over 3 years is £29 acre so not massive for a crop that I have cut 3 times and now grazing , But as I did say you would struggle, but some do it

 

[Friesianfan]

Ok in October here

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Ok in October here

Seeding is a gamble whenever you do it as small seeds are less able to cope with dry conditions, we find September to be a wet month here so we get a rapid germination, worst thing for the seed is to be sitting in dry soil for weeks on end doing nothing , or partial germination which is worse ,we can also fit it in after 3rd cut so no production is lost , the main thing is to know your farm and look online for current soil temperatures
I think I could get away sowing this week , soil temp is well up and plenty of moisture ,but would not advise anyone to do that

 

[M-J-G]

He's further south than me , and I said it was risky ,
I'm not getting into an argument about sowing dates either as it's area related and depends on the season , last week of September would be cut of here for everything other than Westerwolds , weather has got milder in recent years so you can't always judge on what used to be done , but October don't work here
As for costs , I've grown short term leys for cutting for 50 years , replacement cost over 3 years is £29 acre so not massive for a crop that I have cut 3 times and now grazing , But as I did say you would struggle, but some do it

I've cut my lawn 11 times this year

Any costings on the £29 reseed cost

 

[Derrick Hughes]

I've cut my lawn 11 times this year

Any costings on the £29 reseed cost

Seed £46 Retail
Spray and spraying £14
Drilling £27
Total £87 ÷ 3= £29

 

[Wellytrack]

Seed £46 Retail
Spray and spraying £14
Drilling £27
Total £87 ÷ 3= £29

Think your missing some costs.

 

[Spencer]

Spring sown westerwolds will make very good hay. May take a while though..

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Think your missing some costs.

Such as
But no I'm not

 

[Cheesehead]

We tend to seed August-September if the moisture is there we have had success with westerwold sown in the spring but it just seems hit and miss here as it tends to go from freezing and waterlogged to bone dry within a week.

 

[Wellytrack]

Such as
But no I'm not

No lime, no fertiliser, no subsoiling, no drainage, no flailing back or cleaning the ditches. But if it works for you..

 

[Derrick Hughes]

No lime, no fertiliser, no subsoiling, no drainage, no flailing back or cleaning the ditches. But if it works for you

None of those I see as reseeding costs , hedges on all fields are cut every year, if we need to cut trees back they are cut back , seeding is nothing to do with it , ditches we try and keep clean as routine as well , I have never subsoiled in my life , we soil test on a regular basis , again we try and keep pH at optimum levels , makes no odds if reseeding or not

 

[Wellytrack]

None of those I see as reseeding costs , hedges on all fields are cut every year, if we need to cut trees back they are cut back , seeding is nothing to do with it , ditches we try and keep clean as routine as well , I have never subsoiled in my life , we soil test on a regular basis , again we try and keep pH at optimum levels , makes no odds if reseeding or not

Lucky for you that you don’t see them as a cost. If your on poor land and only have opportunity to get on it and improve it 8 weeks of the year those tasks will be carried out.

Ofcourse you could just leave it and not ‘reseed’ and let it go to blazus.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Lucky for you that you don’t see them as a cost. If your on poor land and only have opportunity to get on it and improve it 8 weeks of the year those tasks will be carried out.

Ofcourse you could just leave it and not ‘reseed’ and let it go to blazus.

I would not be putting short term Ryegrass on then would I
I was asked for costings for my short term silage leys ,that's all
If you are doing full field renovation then yes it will cost more