Growing hay in Southwest Arkansas ?

I live on the family farm just west of Hot Springs . There is a little over 100 acres , half woods / half field . I have inherited the small herd of Herefords along with pasture management . My Great Aunt had the fields mowed once a year in the fall and she bought hay .

Long story short , I ain't a rancher . I have been mowing the fields for years and grass is starting to grow better . The 30 acre field has the top half dry , sunny , and thick Bermuda . The lower half is damp to muddy with scattered large hardwood trees . The small field on the other side of the creek is about 12 acres with half that stays wet until summer hits .

I have it cut short and raked smooth . I will finish building a boom sprayer this weekend and will spray for broad leaf weeds .

I think I want some area to grow and get hay cut and need areas for cool season grass / summer grass . The biggest question is can I grow shade tolerant grass in the low wet spots or will they take over the hay area ?

Any advise is welcome . I am on a tight budget especially till I grow my own hay and quit buying it .

Do it the correct way go to a local seed dealer and he will have the best advice talk to more than one for best results

Lots of video on utube about year round grazing

(quoted from post at 15:12:52 03/06/17) Do it the correct way go to a local seed dealer and he will have the best advice talk to more than one for best results

Click to expand...

I'll do that . I have learnt that like advice on fixing your tractor it is good to get a lot of opinions on the pros and cons. The guy selling seeds is probably honest but may push a higher profit item or think you should spend $1k for best results and his reputation . Sometimes they will not tell you the budget method unless you specifically ask certain questions . I have found there are lots of knowledgeable guys here .

Thanks , Ken

(quoted from post at 15:48:58 03/06/17) Lots of video on utube about year round grazing

Click to expand...

My internet is painfully slow but I will look it up . I am sure I will learn a lot . I added my location after reading other posts and finding out some stuff is basic and some is regional .

Thanks , Ken .

Thats why you talk to more seed dealers and compare then neighbors can be big help.

I'm at the opposite end of the state but I'll take a stab at your question. I've had a little experience at what you are wanting to do. In north AR we aren't generally as hot as you. If I understand you are wanting to expand the bermuda fields for hay and shady grass for grazing? What grass are you talking about as shade tolerant? Bermuda is pretty tough competition for any other grass as long as it's taken care of. Keeping the weeds sprayed is a good start. Bermuda also likes potash, a soil sample would be helpful. If you can get chicken litter that's a good bermuda fertilizer.
If you start to see other grasses in your bermuda there are a couple of things you can do. If possible the easiest is to graze it hard in the summer. Cattle will usually eat other grass before the bermuda and this gets rid of the competition. There are also a couple of herbicides that you can spray that kills most other grasses that grow in bermuda but they are pretty expensive.

If I understand you are wanting to expand the bermuda fields for hay and shady grass for grazing? What grass are you talking about as shade tolerant?
If you start to see other grasses in your bermuda there are a couple of things you can do. If possible the easiest is to graze it hard in the summer. Cattle will usually eat other grass before the bermuda and this gets rid of the competition. There are also a couple of herbicides that you can spray that kills most other grasses that grow in bermuda but they are pretty expensive.

Click to expand...

I am doing a lot of reading up on grasses . The guy at our local feed and seed had told me Bahia would be my best choice . There are a few types and one is good for the lower areas where it stays wet for extended periods . I don't know if the lower Bahia areas would take over the Bermuda or vise versa .

Arkansas has a pesticide license if you want to buy in bulk for agri use . The class was $10 and $45 for a 5 year license . I should get it in the mail this week . I think weed control is the biggest factor . I can build a 55 gallon 10 foot boom sprayer on a 3 pt frame for about $100 . 2-4d is about $40 for 2-1/2 gallons , Grazon is closer to $80 but works better .

I have watched a few YouTube's and need to watch some more . Seems there are dozens of right ways . Sometimes what works good in Michigan doesn't work well here so I thought I would throw this post out and catch any info I could . Last year I thought I was doing better with less weeds and more grass except all the grass is Sage grass which is the Ramen noodle of the grass world I hear . I recon I better get more than Bermuna going to get these gals fat and happy .

Thank for the input - Ken .

Here is an upcoming event that you might be interested in in Texarkana. Sometimes these conferences are worth your time. This one is put on by the UofA, LSU, Texas A&M and OK State

http://foragefax.tamu.edu/files/2016/09/4-States.pdf