Old pasture reseed.

[Lazy-Farmer]

Got an old pasture to reseed after the hay is cut. We have no done much but changing away from sheep pasture to more fodder production.

Soil type - clay
Area - central Scotland
Future use - fodder production for horse market / aftermath grazing for sheep

My main question is about methods of reseed. It’s old pasture not been ploughed in at least 30+years. My go to plan is in with the dung then plough and then give it a bit of time to rot the grass, lime as needed, heavy roll, Harrow, land leveller etc untill flat and firm then seed with spring tine Harrow with seeder.

But then I got thinking about minimum tillage for crops and wondered if anyone has any other suggestions. Was thinking maybe sub soil to break pan and compaction then burn off then maybe something like disc, cultivator land leveller or something.

Basically is anyone doing anything other than plough that’s working for them and may work on my ground. Got a fair bit to do on ground we have taken on and don’t wanna fall into the “it’s hat we have always done” trap if people are doing something better and I never though to ask.

Also happy for suggestions on grass seed mix. Initial thoughts are mostly Timothy. Been busy with other jobs so no had a chance to get on to the grass seed rep yet.

 

[Hfd Cattle]

If it's mucked heavy then spray off ,plough , power harrow ,combination drill,roll... job done .

 

[Hfd Cattle]

...obviously spray before mucking !!!!

 

[dudders]

Not sure of myself here, but I believe you're not allowed to plough up permanent pasture without permission. I was planning to do the same until I came up against this, and found the hoops I had to jump through to get approval were just too much. So I just scratched it hard with the tine harrows and used a Vicon Varispreader to overseed. Can't say I've noticed any improvement - it's still the worst field on the place!

 

[milkloss]

Not sure of myself here, but I believe you're not allowed to plough up permanent pasture without permission. I was planning to do the same until I came up against this, and found the hoops I had to jump through to get approval were just too much. So I just scratched it hard with the tine harrows and used a Vicon Varispreader to overseed. Can't say I've noticed any improvement - it's still the worst field on the place!

Now it is improved pasture there is nothing to stop you ploughing it.

 

[deleted user 837354]

Not sure of myself here, but I believe you're not allowed to plough up permanent pasture without permission. I was planning to do the same until I came up against this, and found the hoops I had to jump through to get approval were just too much. So I just scratched it hard with the tine harrows and used a Vicon Varispreader to overseed. Can't say I've noticed any improvement - it's still the worst field on the place!

Fine then, spray off and DD brassica first?

 

[Hfd Cattle]

Not sure of myself here, but I believe you're not allowed to plough up permanent pasture without permission. I was planning to do the same until I came up against this, and found the hoops I had to jump through to get approval were just too much. So I just scratched it hard with the tine harrows and used a Vicon Varispreader to overseed. Can't say I've noticed any improvement - it's still the worst field on the place!

I thought that if you had a recommendation of your agronomist that the field had lost heart and re-seed was the best way forward then they could do nothing .

 

[Lazy-Farmer]

Not sure of myself here, but I believe you're not allowed to plough up permanent pasture without permission. I was planning to do the same until I came up against this, and found the hoops I had to jump through to get approval were just too much. So I just scratched it hard with the tine harrows and used a Vicon Varispreader to overseed. Can't say I've noticed any improvement - it's still the worst field on the place!

Think I’ll ask forgiveness is anyone asks. It’s not the first field we have done and didn’t have any issues last time.

 

[Lazy-Farmer]

I thought that if you had a recommendation of your agronomist that the field had lost heart and re-seed was the best way forward then they could do nothing .

it’s been over seeded a few times over the years and it’s very much past it’s best. Also got a few lumps and bumps to sort out plus did some drainage fixes in it in the spring so it’s past just doing a few extra turns with the harrows and flinging some seed at it. Is also due some lime.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Think I’ll ask forgiveness is anyone asks. It’s not the first field we have done and didn’t have any issues last time.

Do you have any stock if so you could direct drill turnips . Thats a fantastic way of cleaning land for an easy spring re Seed . Other option is spray now . Get rid of the excess grass and direct drill in early September
Timothy will do well on it's own, we grow a lot but can get very hard for hay if you miss the weather window . I would be inclined to put it in a mix , dont add clover if it's for horses . If you need advice on mixes give me a PM

Grass Seed Supplier | Hurrells Seeds | United Kingdom

Premium Grass Seed Supplier In The UK! Covering Lawn Seed, Amenity Grass Seed, Agricultural / Forage Grass Seed, Wildflower Seed, Game Cover Other Small Seeds & Wholesale To Retail Businesses. Independent seeds supplier. Yorkshire based family business (3rd generation). Defra Approved Certified...

www.hmseeds.co.uk

Have a look in there , few hay mixes or they can do you a special mix . I can find out if we have a rep in your area, not sure if your in mine , if not I will put you on to someone at Hurrells

Pictures of the fields are always helpful. Hard to give advice without seeing them

 

[Princess Pooper]

You said its a clay soil. Have you checked what it is like at plough depth. Some of our fields of PP at 4 inches deep are solid slabs of clay and we would never plough them because we would bury that lovely black organic matter that has built up at the top and bring that clay all to the surface.

 

[Lazy-Farmer]

You said its a clay soil. Have you checked what it is like at plough depth. Some of our fields of PP at 4 inches deep are solid slabs of clay and we would never plough them because we would bury that lovely black organic matter that has built up at the top and bring that clay all to the surface.

Ours is solid boulder clay for about 40m below but we have enough top soil to plough. It’s been ploughed meany times before but just before my time. Some bits of the farm you have to watch for bringing up the clay if you go to deep with the plough but the field I’m talking about here has enough soil to plough.

 

[Lazy-Farmer]

Do you have any stock if so you could direct drill turnips . Thats a fantastic way of cleaning land for an easy spring re Seed . Other option is spray now . Get rid of the excess grass and direct drill in early September
Timothy will do well on it's own, we grow a lot but can get very hard for hay if you miss the weather window . I would be inclined to put it in a mix , dont add clover if it's for horses . If you need advice on mixes give me a PM

Grass Seed Supplier | Hurrells Seeds | United Kingdom

Premium Grass Seed Supplier In The UK! Covering Lawn Seed, Amenity Grass Seed, Agricultural / Forage Grass Seed, Wildflower Seed, Game Cover Other Small Seeds & Wholesale To Retail Businesses. Independent seeds supplier. Yorkshire based family business (3rd generation). Defra Approved Certified...

www.hmseeds.co.uk

Have a look in there , few hay mixes or they can do you a special mix . I can find out if we have a rep in your area, not sure if your in mine , if not I will put you on to someone at Hurrells

Pictures of the fields are always helpful. Hard to give advice without seeing them

It’s not looking to hot just now. More buttercups than grass lol. We fired some fert on as the sheep didn’t need the extra grass so thought we would just take what we could for fodder but it’s not anything to get excited about. Once that’s cut I’ll get on it and start tarting it up. The sheep are seasonal let so don’t wanna put anything like neeps in as wont have anything to eat them in winter.

 

[steveR]

Think I’ll ask forgiveness is anyone asks. It’s not the first field we have done and didn’t have any issues last time.

Unless you have a snotty Inspector vist you....

Get a bit of paper as backup, showing you have improved the pasture... Fert, herbicides etc etc

Should be nothing in there but some PRG....

 

[Derrick Hughes]

It’s not looking to hot just now. More buttercups than grass lol. We fired some fert on as the sheep didn’t need the extra grass so thought we would just take what we could for fodder but it’s not anything to get excited about. Once that’s cut I’ll get on it and start tarting it up. The sheep are seasonal let so don’t wanna put anything like neeps in as wont have anything to eat them in winter.

Direct Drilling a Pure Stand of Timothy would cost about £57/acre , spray drilling and seed , spray then mow it short , then leave till 1st week of September , then go in with the drill . If it's a bit thin in the spring just stich a but more seed in , just make sure the PH is over 6

 

[betweenthelines]

If it's mucked heavy then spray off ,plough , power harrow ,combination drill,roll... job done .

And you'll get seasick every time you drive over it.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Main thing is you dont sow or drill to deep, despite what the experts say on here. [emoji3]

 

[Lazy-Farmer]

And you'll get seasick every time you drive over it.

I was thinking the same. Gonna spend a bit of time on getting it firm and level. Plan to crop it for 4-5 years then put it into grazing for about 5 more then reseed for crop again. Done wanna spend the next decade bouncing out the seat in the tractor.

 

[milkloss]

If it's mucked heavy then spray off ,plough , power harrow ,combination drill,roll... job done .

Add two rolling and two levelling operations to it if you're on our ground!

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Add two rolling and two levelling operations to it if you're on our ground!

Have the army been doing manoeuvres on it