University of Minnesota Extension bulletin. Freeze-thaw cycles then provide shallow coverage of the seed, which help shield from early spring rains. Available at: Undersander, D. 2006. By later cuttings the stands had recovered and all yielded well. In fact, planting should be delayed until about October 15 th in the Coastal Plain and Piedmont. Interseeding success depends a lot on paying attention to details, timeliness, careful management of sod completion, controlling seeding depth to no deeper than one-fourth to one-half inch, and a little bit of luck with weather. All of these forages can be used success-fully for hay. Although not always necessary, cattle (through tromping) or disking can improve soil-to-seed contact. For more information, refer to eOrganic's articles on organic certification. and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Frost seeding is a popular option to improve forage yield and quality of pasture and hay land. Invest in a soil analysis before planting. Frost seeding to improve pasture quality. He also says that overseeding in alfalfa, either with another forage or more alfalfa, is never a good idea. To increase this method's success, spread seed on the thinnest pasture sod areas first and on areas where bare soil has been exposed due to heavy grazing or disturbance. In general, frost seeding does not work as well with grasses. Overseeding of pasture or hay land with cool season annual legumes and grasses and with perennial legumes can be made much later in sod than in prepared seedbeds because the existing sod provides protection for the developing seedlings during the winter. 2001. A 60% to 70% frost seeding establishment rate has been reported by many farmers (Undersander, 2006). Freeze-thaw cycles then provide shallow coverage of the seed, which help shield from early spring rains. This timing works well in areas that receive good snow cover and do not experience prolonged winter thaws. Many farmers frost seed 25% of their acreage each year so that they are spreading their risk over different years. Thin, low-producing, grass sod might best be improved by interseeding a grass legume mixture. The spring growth is allowed to grow to the late boot/early heading stage and then harvested as hay. 2150 Beardshear Hall Available at: Rankin, M. 2011. Use a method (i.e. 22:51. Photo courtesy of Daniel Leonard. "When it's time to plant, drill the seed and wait for the rain. Frost seeding is a popular option to improve forage yield and quality of pasture and hay land. Ames, IA 50011-2031 Frost seeding works best with legumes and grasses that germinate fast and at cool temperatures. Reseeding can be necessary to increase nutritional value, eradicate weeds, fill in bare spots, and improve the stand after disease problems or poor management. Spring is always a busy season on the ranch, so it's best to plan for where you're headed and what you need to get done. Frost Seeding Red Clover in Hay Fields and Pastures By Dan Hudson / March 20, 2013 / Comments Off on Frost Seeding Red Clover in Hay Fields and Pastures Sugaring season is here, and that means that it is also time to frost-seed red clover in your pastures and hay fields if you have it in your mind to do it at all. Closely grazing or mowing pastures in the fall will also help to expose the soil. All rights reserved. When you get rain, you'll have grass. A no-till drill can also be used but this will increase the number of trips across the field. Welcome to the public website of eOrganic, the Organic Agriculture Community of eXtension, Funding for eOrganic is provided by USDA NIFA and other grant programs including Western SARE, http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/news/dairy/2011/01-01/dp_2011-01-01_1.html, http://extension.cropsci.illinois.edu/handbook/pdfs/chapter06.pdf, https://fyi.extension.wisc.edu/forage/frost-seeding-of-forages/. It is a good option for frost seeding, so in the next month, we can spread this seed on pastures or hay fields. The goal of frost seeding is to get seed on bare soil. One of the main hesitations growers have is a lack of information regarding overseeding cool-season forages into dormant grass/legume systems. Because ryegrass is longer-lived, a third application of 40 to 50 lbs. White Clover- This is a low-growing short lived perennial. Test your soil to determine pH and nutrient levels. Undersander, D.J., M.D. This is the best way to see where there has been winterkill, mold, bare spots, and dirt tunnels made by field mice while underneath the snow. The information The main advantage to frost seeding is the ability to establish desirable species into an undisturbed sod at a low per acre cost. Areas with bare or exposed soil across a field are ideal candidates for frost seeding. Those steps, seeding rates and guidelines are available in the ISU Extension and Outreach publication Improving Pasture by Frost Seeding. Although legumes are the most successful for this system, some grasses can also be successfully frost seeded. Available at: Morrison, J. ISU Extension and Outreach the author is required. Photo credit: Jon Zirkle, Michigan State University Extension. This is more effective and more safely done without snow cover. Frost seeding involves spreading forage seed on existing pastures during the late winter or very early spring while the ground is still frozen. To begin, fall grazing or mowing down to a 2-inch height will slow regrowth of the existing stand in the spring. Frost seeding of forages. Birdsfoot trefoil is less successful due to slow establishment. Crop Sciences Department, Urbana, IL. Traditionally, seeding is thought of as a spring activity. For example, if perennial weeds caused a significant reduction in the stand then the weeds must be controlled before reseeding. Ad apted from Penn State Aronomy Facts g #32 by Mavin H.Hall r and Patriia Comrford, Pennsylvc eania State University,1992. Of the grasses, perennial ryegrass and orchardgrass frost seed with the greatest success (Morrison, 2009); bromegrass has intermediate success; reed canary and timothy have the least success. If this article is to be used in any other manner, permission from Seed-to-soil contact is critical to the success of frost seeding. Stay away from Fescue in hayfield I only know of one horse person that has fescue on purpose. See ISU Extension and Outreach publication Interseeding and No-Till Pasture Renovation for more suggested seeding rates and guidelines. Hay and pasture. Clovers, alfalfa, birdsfoot trefoil have been successfully interseeded. Lack of moisture is no reason to put off fall pasture seeding, says Rob Kallenback, University of Missouri forage specialist. Therefore, seeding the species separately will result in a more even distribution of grasses and legumes. Frost seeding is an economical method of improving pasture and hay fields by broadcasting the seed on frozen ground. Interseeding involves using a no-till drill to aid in the incorporation of a legume or a more productive grass into an existing pasture sod. The best candidate for frost seeding is the “run out” field. Introduced University of Wisconsin Extension bulletin. Wheat (winter, spring) A x x x x x 75-150 0.5-1.5" 13000 cool 1 1-3 PERENNIAL WARM-SEASON GRASSES Big Bluestem P x x x x 10 M 140000 mod 5+ 3 Indiangrass P x x x x 10 M 185000 mod 5+ 2 Frost seeding. Interseeding is normally done from mid-March through early May, when soil moisture and temperature are more suitable for rapid seedling establishment. Hay. In southern states, seeding should be timed with the available moisture in the area. Equipment limitations for sod seeding implements sometimes are overcome by operator experience and home shop modifications. Subscribe to receive email alerts when new information is posted. You'd be better off waiting until spring for the alfalfa seed. The more efficient seed placement provided by a no-till drill allows many of our more productive perennial forage grasses to also be successfully established by interseeding. Opening of the grass sod, shallow seed placement, and seed coverage are required. Other legumes, such as white clover and birdsfoot trefoil, also can be frost seeded but with less success than red clover. The seeds will wait. If it is feasible to harvest the spring growth as hay, this is another option for allowing plants to develop a sufficient root system before grazing. Frost seeding involves spreading forage seed on existing pastures during the late winter or very early spring while the ground is still frozen. However, take care to avoid overgrazing which can result in young seedlings being consumed before adequate establishment. of N per acre should be applied in mid-winter to increase winter and spring forage production. Alfalfa does not frost seed well because its germination is variable at cool temperatures. Here are some spring jobs to think about. However, weather permitting, Tennessee farmer Cardin overseeds the bare spots in his fescue hay fields with more fescue and possibly wheat. of N per acre may be needed in early spring when ryegrass is used for late spring grazing, hay, or as a silage crop. Lone Spruce farm 3,729 views. There are several benefits to adding legumes to pastures including higher quality forage as well as nitrogen to support grass growth. Casler, and D.C. West. Here are some tips for pasture overseeding: * Walk fields as early in spring as possible. Madison, WI. However, be aware that rapid snow melt can cause the seed to be washed off the pasture. Red clover has been the Iowa forage species of choice for frost seeding. (800) 262-3804, Iowa State University After seeding, grazing or mowing the field when it is 6 to 8 inches tall will allow for better light penetration to the new seedlings. Frost seeding can be an effective and inexpensive method to improve the quality and quantity of forage. Spring is the perfect time for pasture improvement. Kill the old sod and reseed An alternative to improving the existing hay or pasture stands is to completely kill the existing sod and reseed. This has been an unusual end to the winter, so as soon as the snow melts, frost seeding can begin. The main advantage to frost seeding is the ability to establish desirable species into an undisturbed sod at a low per acre cost. without further permission if published as written and if credit is given to the author, Integrated Crop Management News, seed drill) that will place the seeds into the soil at a depth of approximately ¼” to ½”. Interseeding can be accomplished with relatively few field operations. Ryegrass and orchardgrass will contribute to forage yields in the seeding year while bromegrass will need a full season before plants become productive. The success of frost seeding establishment c… The best species to select depends on the goal one has for the field. Frost seeding does not work on sandy soils where there is no swelling and shrinking associated with the freeze-thaw cycle. Producers wanting to add to or improve the forage species in their existing pastures should typically consider using either the frost seeding method in February and early March, or interseeding later in the spring months. (Bonus points for finding lost shoes, fly masks and halters!) Wisconsin research showed the effects of autotoxicity to be greater in no-till fields than those moldboard plowed. Legumes interseeded into grass sod should increase pasture yield, improve forage quality, and eliminate or minimize need for nitrogen fertilizer. manent pasture or hayfield, producers have to decide which cool-season grass to use. Frost seeding clover with handheld broadcast seeder. Recommended species and seeding rates are shown in Table 1. Red and white clovers are the most effective for establishment (Callan, 2010). Frost seeding is the easiest method to add new forage legumes or grasses to pastures, and is likely the least expensive method, as well. A number of drills are available that can be used in sod-seeding efforts. This article was originally published on March 6, 2019. Copyright © 2020 Iowa State University of Science and Technology. Use only labeled herbicides for sod suppression, and follow label instructions. This is an eOrganic article and was reviewed for compliance with National Organic Program regulations by members of the eOrganic community. As shown, in the figure below, average first cutting yields of grasses the spring after late summer seeding, when harvested at the boot stage, ranged from 1.5 t/a for some grasses down to less than 0.5 t/a on first cutting depending on when they were sown the previous fall. When frost seeding with a broadcast seeder, make sure to first determine the effective seeding width to avoid possible overlap of seed. Callan, P. 2010. One common misconception about frost seeding is that spreading the seed on top of snow works best. Orchardgrass and tall fescue will provide the highest yields. Typically, ryegrasses will not overwinter in most northern areas, but can be overwintered in other regions; therefore, on these farms, ryegrasses should be seeded with the intent of meeting single season forage needs. Pasture and Hay for Horses’ 2002. This process for evaluating forage supply and ... spring, summer, fall or winter, depending on their management. Reducing competition from the existing stand will help the new seedlings establish. The optimum practice is to seed early in the spring after the snow is gone but while the ground is still frozen. I've done it like this with horse pastures: Mow it real short, then pull a spring tooth harrow across the field to open it up a little. Once the regrowth following hay harvest is 10-12 inches tall, grazing can begin. “I … This keeps the seed from germinating until there is a good moisture supply early in the spring. Links to this article are strongly encouraged, and this article may be republished ... An attempt to bring back an old hay field - Duration: 22:51. Although an annual, ranchers in the southeast U.S. depend on it for its reseeding ability, resulting in "volunteer" stands of annual ryegrass from year to year once the seed bank is established. Since grass seed is light, it will not throw as far as heavier legume seeds when broadcast. University of Illinois Extension & Outreach Illinois Agronomy Handbook Chapter 6. Periodic frost seeding will help maintain high quality forages. Close grazing in the fall or spring, ahead of interseeding, will help to reduce sod competition. Contact herbicides are sometimes also used to temporarily further reduce competition from plants present in the stand. Broadcast your seed, then roll it with a cultipacker (that's the roller w/o teeth)BTW, october is too late to plant alfalfa. 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