Hayfield Renovation help

jacksonduper · Aug 22, 2021

I need some help! I have a alflafa grass hay field that was planted about 5 years ago. It needs to be rehabbed. I would normally have a neighbor I work with dig up the field and plant corn or beans on the field for a few years then replant into hay. However this is not an option as they want it to remain in hay as they don't want corn and beans planted. My question is there a way to renovate the hayfield without completely digging it up? I'm located in Southern Wisconsin and I have access to a no-till drill.

Any thoughts would be great.

SVcummins · Aug 22, 2021

I ran my power harrow over and old hay field then drilled alfalfa clover and grass seed back in

Loosehandle · Aug 22, 2021

Has it been fertilized any?

coonie minnie · Aug 22, 2021

The existing alfalfa would be toxic to new alfalfa planted in, so if you need to seed something in, some sort of grass or clover would be best. If you want to get back to alfalfa, it would be best to spray it off and rotate to something else for a year.

jacksonduper · Aug 22, 2021

It has not been fertilized in two years. I have been trying to get them to fertilize but they don't want to use commercial fertilizers.

Joe

Mark-Ia · Aug 22, 2021

Tear it up, sow oats with an alfalfa mix

MARK ROBKE · Aug 22, 2021

You have to plant it into something else for a year if you want to reseed back into alfalfa, just like coonie minnie said. If you don't/can't do that, burn down with round up, and reseed. But it sounds like your landlord would not allow that either. I have heard on here people say to mow the alfalfa and then disc the field and cut up the crowns, and they will rejuvenate. But I don't know about that.
You might want to talk to your local extension agent(as I explained in your post above), and ask his opinion. He may have another option to try. Or you may need a new landlord. Mark.

Timmycornpicker · Aug 22, 2021

I didn't realize this post and the others were related . . . so my alfalfa suggestion no good. If it were me, I'd walk. I've tried to please landowners like this before. They usually have an idealized vision of what organic is supposed to look like in their heads and when it doesn't turn out that way it'll be your fault. Just my two cents . . . your mileage may vary.

MJMJ · Aug 22, 2021

Walk away.

Hay hay hay · Aug 22, 2021

If they will not let you add commercial fertilizer, will they let you spray herbicides? Probably not. So the weeds will take over in a few years.

caterpillar guy · Aug 22, 2021

Have to get it out for a year, or burn it down with a burn down. Then replant next spring. Will still have some toxicity to it.

Texasmark · Aug 23, 2021

Hay King (brand) Pasture Renovator. Then just before a good rain, fertilize, then light discing. Or if planting a new crop Renovator and a couple of light discings then fertilize and drill and then chain linked, spike toothed harrow, maybe a multipactor/roller to firm up the ground if seed contact is a problem in your area.

showcrop · Aug 23, 2021

I agree with walk away. If you know of any organic operators in the area you may refer him to one of them.

Hayfield Renovation help

jacksonduper

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SVcummins

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Loosehandle

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coonie minnie

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jacksonduper

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Mark-Ia

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MARK ROBKE

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Timmycornpicker

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MJMJ

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Hay hay hay

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caterpillar guy

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Texasmark

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showcrop

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