Hey all - Wanted to get everyones thoughts on prepping a recently harvested(November) soybean fields for pasture.
Do in need to clean of the field before throwing seed? If so what’s the best implement? Landscape rake, Blade, Box blade?
Any other tips? I’ve been told I should rent a drill seeder to get the seed in the ground but were leaning towards just throwing seed in a spreader.
What climate zone are you in; what are you seeding? And what are the results of your soil test?
I did this 2 years ago in the fall. I’m in PA and seeded a pasture mix with annual rye cover. I didn’t have the equipment to drill so I spread. No other prep. Came in really nicely without any other intervention. If you can rent a drill I would, you will save $$ on your seed as the coverage rates will be lower. The bit of rough up from the harvesting actually “held” the seed nicely.
We have tried to do this to fill in places not only in our lawn but in our pasture. Failed every time.
But then, we have clay soil and clearly hungry birds.
The type of question you are asking are best answered by the local (familiar with your soil and conditions) agricultural rep.
I’m just outside of Chicago and working with the local feed and garden shop to figure out seeding. I guess i more wondering how much of the Soybean leftover do I really need to clean up.
I am not a fan of drillseeding, but that might be just my experience.
My pastures were recently-harvested bean/corn fields (alternating crops) when I bought 17yrs ago.
I had fencing put up, then had the smaller field - ~1ac - drillseeded & closed it off to horses.
Larger field - ~2ac - I handspread with a walk-behind spreader.
I did not keep horses off this field, figuring just the 2 would not impact greatly.
Both done with the same Pasture Mix seed from the local feedstore.
No huge difference in growth in either field.
Horses were turned out 24/7 on the larger field.
See if you can find out if fields were sprayed or spread with a weedkiller that targets grasses. Done to keep down growth of grass in the rows.
Not sure if you can borrow a disc, which is my favorite tool and requires the least amount of tractor horse power. Just lightly disc the field, making lines in the dirt, not returning field to dirt. Stubble left on it is fine, helps prevent washout in rain runoff.
Broadcast seeding works, just need a PTO on the tractor to throw the seed. I attach a chain harrow, teeth down, to follow the tractor. If ground is pretty firm. A couple old tires tied on the pulling bar will help hold the front teeth on the ground to spread dirt over the seed as you go.
This is the big broadcast unit that fits behind the tractor seat.
A seed drill will require a live hydraulics on the tractor to “drill” in the seed. Local rental grass drill need a 40hp tractor to run the drill.
A note on seed, is to spread the small seeds, then the bigger seed (like brome) by itself. Mixing your seed can cause clogging problems as various seeds all try to get thru the holes at once. You can waste small seeds as they run out like water! Not spread as thinly as seeding rates suggest. Then you have to buy more seed for the places not seeded. This does mean a few more trips across the field, spreading the seeds individually. Buy quality seed, perrenials, in the north. They come back every year.
Getting with your local Extension Service will give you local information on soil types in your area, seeds for pasture that are successful in those soils, planting dates.
As already mentioned, start with a soil test with your “crop” being grasses. Fertilizer adds nutrition to your grasses. You probably have plenty of nitrogen after a soybean crop, but need the other nutrients added. Tell the fertilizer folks you do NOT want urea as a nitrogen source, if you need nitrogen. Urea is not healthy for any hooved animals to be grazing on, they can founder. I use Ammonium Sulphate as my nitrogen source, has no issues for grazing animals.
Awesome - What you did with your 2 acre field is exactly what I want to do.
Great info - Thanks!
I highly recommend the Herd GT-77 seeder for broadcasting. it is powered by an electric motor and can be used behind a tractor, UTV, or ATV. It can also be used to broadcast fire ant bait.
I spread winter rye forage grass seed every year, and it works great. Before the Herd I was using my PTO powered cone fertilizerb spreader. It would grind the rye seeds into a paste like peanut butter that would eventually clog the spreader opening. The Herd used a vibrating agitator to drop the seed onto an impeller.
Herd also has larger spreaders for bigger farms.
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