I desperately need to overseed 2 of my fields. They are 3 acres each. I have in the past used my own mix of KY bluegrass, timothy, red clover, white clover, small amount of alfalfa, orchard grass and perennial rye. I worked well for a good while but with the last couple of summers being so dry and winter being so wet…my fields look terrible. I am going to be spreading liquid lime this week. Just wondering if anyone has a preferred mix they use in this area.
I’m near the MD border in central PA. I used a mix of warm season/cool season festolium hybrids I got from The Mill. Bit salty but so is any quality seed. It’s done really well for me. I’d get it down soon.
1 Like
What kind of white clover? Alsike clover can cause photosensitivity, lIver issues. It is ok for cattle, not equines. Red clover can cause slobbers, not recommended for horses. Festolium are also a legume, but causes no problems. The grass mix sounds Ok.
However you don’t mention getting soil testing done. Many times just adding lime is helpful, but without a soil test, the dirt may need other minerals as well. Lack of the minerals could be causing the plants to not flourish. Your soil needs to be in a constant state in renewing itself with help from you. Spreading manure, bedding, adds organic matter for the microscopic life to help open the soil. Do you ever disc the ground? That helps open the dirt, let’s air, seeds, organic matter, get down into the soil. You will get better seed germination with your mix.
Mowing high, 5 inches, often, gets better root development, which in turn allows better leaf production. Mowing prevents weeds producing seed.
You might want to read some information about forage production, to learn how all the parts work together to create the best big picture (good pasture) for grazing.
Are you east or west of I95? East is generally Sandy soil, west is red clay. Two very different media with different needs. I would definitely talk to your county extension agent for advice.
1 Like
Besides your ag ext office, because if they are like mine they just say go buy some grass seed from Southern States or Tractor Supply anything will grow around here… 🙄🙄. You can talk to your local Tractor Supply or Southern States of course. You also you can talk to people in the area that you get hay from and see what they recommend you put down. They would know the best as far as what grows really tall what grows really good what dies off fast that kind of thing.
Around here I have learned talking to the old timers that do hay or local farms are usually a better bet than my ag office. I asked them about testing my water in my creek, just to kind of see what normally is in it at different times of the year… they told me it’s Tennessee creekwater it’s fine let them drink it… I use it to soak my pony’s hay but I still cannot get them to drink it when I put it in the water trough lol.
Not all East TN ag agents are created equal. Most are cattle guys (gender notation intended) and really don’t know much about equines and since the equine world is shrinking around here there’s not much incentive to learn.
But you can get the numbers of guys like Dr. Gary Bates at UT and they will talk to you as they are available. Extension also has an wide selection of publications available from fence construction through pasture maintenance to barn construction to steps to help control erosion on a place where you can get 4" of rain in 24 hours (like yesterday around my place). Extension and the UT Vet. Hosp. put on several seminars per year on horse care issues in East TN, Contact them and get on the mailing list.
Sitting on my desk, right now, is the “Forage and Field Crop Seeding Guide for Tennessee,” Pub. PB378. It’s a “summary” treatment of about 40 different cops and forages common here. Worth getting a copy for your future reference.
By all means ask locals what works. But be aware that many in this state are afflicted with the “daddydiditthataway” syndrome. Just because it worked 40 years does not mean it will work now for any number of reasons.
Where does you creek come from? This is very important to know if you’re going to be using the water for livestock. I have three year 'round and four seasonal. One comes from a subdivision, one from my spring house, and one rises in a field adjacent to my property line. I have NO issues with the spring house creek or the water from my neighbor. I’m a bit more skeptical of the subdivision as people who move to the country and live in subdivisions sometimes forget that just dumping stuff on the back of your lot is not a good practice. Some years back we caught a guy with new house and a wildly substandard septic system. The waste went from the house, into a 55 gal. drum filled with rock, and then into a tributary of the main creek across my farm. I had a contractor who saw and told me about it. He said he’d all the State for me if I wanted so that there would not be any potential “neighbor” issues. I said OK. He did and within two days there was a backhoe putting in a proper septic system.
I allow my stock to water from the creeks, directly. In 25 years there have been not issues. But I do pay attention to water quality. And we have a regular deworming program.
East TN is not No. VA. Or Ocala. Or Tryon. Or other such “high tone” places. And it need not be to successfully mange an equine herd. 
G.
Omg the rain was horrible. I am biting the bullet and getting gutters this month on the barn. 6 Inch heavy duty ones!
The creek is partially springfed and partially run off from the fields and my neighbors property behind mine, hay fields n then his cattle field. It is 3 season. I think once I get the spring vegetation that has grown rampant cleared out more they will drink the water better, I pick my fields daily so no manure run off to contaminate it, and the field is fenced off a good 10ft or so from the creek with good grass between them.
I will look up that book/summary tomorrow that you have, thanks for the ideas and helpful advice!
You’re quite welcome. Extension has a LOT of good publications available.
G.
I would not allow my animals, horses, cattle, sheep, to drink from a creek flowing thru their field. You have no idea what is in that water. Clarity of the water is NO INDICATION of purity! Examples would be mountain streams in the Rockies, not grazing lands. But hikers and riders are warned to carry purifying products for use in their drinking water. Several diseases, parasites that could be in that sparkling water, so you need to protect yourself in those situations!
If the animals prefer drinking from a tank over the creek, then they NEED to have tanks of fresh water available to them all the time. There is probably a lot more “yucky stuff” in that water than you would think possible. Fertilizer, cow poop in liquid form are entering the water system, along with things added to creek above your neighbors location.
And those foreign items could change along with the seasons. Water running across a grassy field is not a very good filter.
You might be interested (or horrified!) to know EXACTLY what is in the creek water by getting it tested a couple times over the season.
Our horses are fenced away from the drainage ditches to protect the banks holding water in, protect horses from mud or getting stuck in the ditches, any nasty thinge in the water coming to us.
We had two horses fall into a pretty little creek during a drive. Long story, young horse, skinny bridge. Anyway we got them out after their heads were under water. Friend at the drive called after we got home to advise getting a Vet call to clean eyes. She said creek ran along a lot of farm land, probably had fertilizer, cow poop, possible sewage, other unknowns in the water. We called Vet immediately and she came, cleaned eyes, gave meds for any inhaled water. Said call was a good idea because nasties might cause blindness and pneumonia. Vet repeated “Clear water does NOT mean it is PURE water.” Don’t trust your eyes looking at clear flowing water. Very few are not carrying something.
