Hi my name is Woody and I'm from central Michigan. Last fall I seeded an 8 acre field with a mix of orchardgrass alfalfa and clover. I used an old brillion seeder that I later found out didn't work all that well. The field is doing ok but there seem to be more weeds than I'd like and a few areas that are relatively thin. Yesterday I raked in new seed to a few of the bare spots and hopefully they'll start filling in as we get more rain. I guess my question is what's my next step from here? Should I sit back and wait or continue seeding over the field? Thank you.
- Thread starter Woody_60
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Not much you can do but wait. That's what most of farming is.
Where are you in mid Michigan? There's a bunch of us from around here on YT. Check out the map with the link.
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Where are you in mid Michigan? There's a bunch of us from around here on YT. Check out the map with the link.
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My experience is- in 2 or 3 years the orchard grass will choke out the weeds and most of the alfalfa. The
clover usually lasts 1 or 2 years at the most. There is a product you can spray on the field to kill broad
leaf weeds in your hay. You would have to check with your local farm supplier to see if it is OK to use in
your area. I cannot remember its name. Not Roundup. Wishing you good luck with your hay.
clover usually lasts 1 or 2 years at the most. There is a product you can spray on the field to kill broad
leaf weeds in your hay. You would have to check with your local farm supplier to see if it is OK to use in
your area. I cannot remember its name. Not Roundup. Wishing you good luck with your hay.
The first year none of your seedlings grow fast or well, it is just their nature. Weeds are terrible and you need to mow them to keep from going
to seed.
The second year the alfalfa and clover should take over, and it will appear you have no grass.
By the 4th year the clover and alfalfa will be getting thin, and the grass will grow and sod in and take over, you won't see much alfalfa and
clover will conpme and go on random years.
You are aware of the allopathy of alfalfa. Once a year old or so alfalfa sends toxins into the ground that kill new alfalfa sprouts, so it is certainly
not worthwhile to keep seeding that crop anyhow.
The rest likely just take time, they are long term crops and establish slowly.
Paul
to seed.
The second year the alfalfa and clover should take over, and it will appear you have no grass.
By the 4th year the clover and alfalfa will be getting thin, and the grass will grow and sod in and take over, you won't see much alfalfa and
clover will conpme and go on random years.
You are aware of the allopathy of alfalfa. Once a year old or so alfalfa sends toxins into the ground that kill new alfalfa sprouts, so it is certainly
not worthwhile to keep seeding that crop anyhow.
The rest likely just take time, they are long term crops and establish slowly.
Paul
Years ago I disc up a 20 acre alf field to plant a mix just like you planted.. I disc the crud out of it ran a harrow
over it and I used a broadcast spreader pulled behind a garden tractor.. Old fart down the road came by and was
watching from road..made the comment that that was a pizz pour way to plant.. Well a year lator I saw him agian and he
said was best stand he'd ever seen...couldnt belive it..
I broadcast and dragged a chainlink fence over it.. Still haying that field today.. Great field..
Also I seeded in fall..which makes big diff then in spring.. in my opionion
over it and I used a broadcast spreader pulled behind a garden tractor.. Old fart down the road came by and was
watching from road..made the comment that that was a pizz pour way to plant.. Well a year lator I saw him agian and he
said was best stand he'd ever seen...couldnt belive it..
I broadcast and dragged a chainlink fence over it.. Still haying that field today.. Great field..
Also I seeded in fall..which makes big diff then in spring.. in my opionion
Growing up Dad had a Corn, Corn, Oats, Hogs crop rotation. We disked the second year corn stalks in the spring, disked 8 rows and left a marker row across the field to drive seeder wagon with IH #5 endgate seeder. Then disk the oats & alfalfa grass seed in and pull the peg tooth harrow over it so it was smooth. Neighbor helped disk the seed in and sowing and disking in and harrowing 20 acres took about 3-4 hours tops. We put in 40 acres most years, 20 acre hog pasture and 20 acres for hay for the cattle. Most days we sowed oats we started plowing that afternoon.
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