Aerating

[Hay Dude]

Been aerating some of my fields last few days.
Took a few photos.

 

[jonsstihl]

as a commercial operator do you honestly feel it makes a difference in the yield of the fields by the time you factor in fuel costs? or are you just doing it because customers are asking for it and you get paid so it is a win-win.

I have done my lawn a few times over the last 14 years and can't really say I noticed the difference but that was with no fertilizer applications. I always seem to think, atleast for northern climates, that the frost probably does more good than aerating but it certainly can't hurt.

 

[jonsstihl]

hook a drag on the back of that aerator and you wont even see the carrots left behind. (if the customer complains)

 

[Hay Dude]

as a commercial operator do you honestly feel it makes a difference in the yield of the fields by the time you factor in fuel costs? or are you just doing it because customers are asking for it and you get paid so it is a win-win.

I have done my lawn a few times over the last 14 years and can't really say I noticed the difference but that was with no fertilizer applications. I always seem to think, atleast for northern climates, that the frost probably does more good than aerating but it certainly can't hurt.

I’m in the process of rehabbing about 40 acres for a customer. The aerating was done to try to reverse a lot of years of neglect from previous farming practices.

 

[jonsstihl]

I just realised its a slice aerator not a core aerator.

 

[dieselscout80]

I’ve always wanted to aerate our plac, but I went to a county extension workshop on compact and the said that it doesn’t really help it just works the top few inches of a pasture.

They said that planting annual plants works good. The roots penetrate they break up hard pan and when they die they allow water to penetrate as well as adding organic material to the soil.

l’ve been planting annual rye for this reason.

 

[duffer]

I core aerate my 5 acres at least once, if not twice a year. Really helps with compaction, and getting nutrients down to the roots of the grass. Have a fair amount of clay, so compaction is a problem.

If I overseed with rye, then I have to mow it 2-3 times in winter. Not crazy about that, but to each his own.

 

[dieselscout80]

I core aerate my 5 acres at least once, if not twice a year. Really helps with compaction, and getting nutrients down to the roots of the grass. Have a fair amount of clay, so compaction is a problem.

If I overseed with rye, then I have to mow it 2-3 times in winter. Not crazy about that, but to each his own.

It’s winter forage for grazing and cuts down on hay purchases.

 

[duffer]

It’s winter forage for grazing and cuts down on hay purchases.

That makes a ton of sense then. My acres are all bermuda grass, as in a "lawn", not pasture.

 

[dirttoys]

Are you seeding now?

Best,

ed

 

[dieselscout80]

Are you seeding now?

Best,

ed

If your question was to me.

In South Carolina we can seed rye any time after the third week of September.

 

[Hay Dude]

Are you seeding now?

Best,

ed

We’re all done seeding for the year

 

[dirttoys]

We’re all done seeding for the year

I assumed so, curious if you slice then seed, or if you just slice?

Best,

ed

 

[dirttoys]

If your question was to me.

In South Carolina we can seed rye any time after the third week of September.

Thanks, was actually asking Haydude, his climate is a little more like mine. Plenty of winters I would like my climate to be more like yours

Best,

ed

 

[Hay Dude]

I would aerate first, but that field was aerated and not seeded.
We no-till drilled other fields.
Sorry if I wasn’t clear.

 

[dirttoys]

I would aerate first, but that field was aerated and not seeded.
We no-till drilled other fields.
Sorry if I wasn’t clear.

I think you are clear, I am just dense, do you have bermuda or some kind of spreading grass? In all my years we never did any work on brome or fescue without seeding.

Thanks,

ed

 

[Hay Dude]

I think you are clear, I am just dense, do you have bermuda or some kind of spreading grass? In all my years we never did any work on brome or fescue without seeding.

Thanks,

ed

I have disled-in timothy and no-till drilled it as well. Also, orchard grass and endophyte-free fescue.
One of my favorite grasses is reeds canary grass for a strong, spreading grass on tough ground or wet ground.

 

[LHF2019]

Interesting. Is this the first year you have done aerating? I have been comparing Aerway and Ranch Works for possible future purchase. On long term hay I believe it would be good to break the surface just unsure how much value vs cost it really provides.

Been aerating some of my fields last few days.
Took a few photos.

View attachment 768884
View attachment 768886

View attachment 768887

 

[Hay Dude]

Interesting. Is this the first year you have done aerating? I have been comparing Aerway and Ranch Works for possible future purchase. On long term hay I believe it would be good to break the surface just unsure how much value vs cost it really provides.

I have been doing it for about 10-12 years. The unit in the pic is a rental. It’s very cheap to rent. Never have felt the need to own one, but it was offered to me to buy.

 

[LHF2019]

I have been doing it for about 10-12 years. The unit in the pic is a rental. It’s very cheap to rent. Never have felt the need to own one, but it was offered to me to buy.

On an old hayfield what do you notice different the next year? Better drainage, yield, or both assuming aerating is the only thing you did to the field