How long to let a very over grazed pasture sit?

[Panik]

We haven't closed or taken possession, so this is the only photo I have currently, and it's pretty representative.

Plan, when ready, gonna take 'easy mode' and pick up 2 weened steers; but that isn't a rush.View attachment 881869

I know that 1/2/3 acres isn't gonna be enough to fully grass feed, and that's not the goal. Goal is grass, supplemented with hay and grain, to a light market weight, for personal use. Not trying to raise for profit, but also not trying to end up with $12/pound beef

Paul, I'm not a turf, ag, or livestock person... more animal ecology by trade, that said I am a FL expatriate. It darn sure looks like your property is sitting on exposed ancient sand dune... which kinda makes sense if the potential property is anywhere near the "spine" of Florida.

My very limited experience - some education, some experience, some observation is that land such as what you showed in the picture tends to be nutrient poor and is pretty delicate to disturbance in terms of supporting grasses and forms without extensive assistance. The other picture you posted somewhat supports this in that while there is plant material it's not exactly lush. That second picture actually looks almost exactly like the ground cover that existed on my neighbors property while I was growing up.

My point/suggestion as far as your plans is to second the idea of getting a soil test and before throwing a lot of time/effort/money at rehabilitating the land.... give some consideration to having some discussions with the folks over at IFAS and doing some research on your own about native plants/grasses that can exist in a xeric conditions, support grazing, and ideally develop a deep root structure.

My guess, knowing the amount of AG research that has occurred at the University of Florida, is that someone over there has developed a strain of pasture grass based on native species that would be best suited to your soon to be acquired property.

**Edit - Wish I could be more helpful. Like Lineman North Florida's posts, your pictures are making miss the Florida I grew up in. Plans changed, but I was supposed to be in Gainesville today, which would have been the first time I've been to FL in 12 years.

 

[paulsharvey]

I want to say I planned on doing soil samples, because I knew I needed too, but now I actually will.

So, I want to approach this new home and property with a more thought-out, methodical approach than our current place. That's not to say I half butted everything here; but we never had a master plan, and we kinda made things work. We moved our current homes garden area, then expanded, but if we had thought out shed/shop location, garden area, ect; we would had made much more efficient use of the property.

Once we take possession, and get moved, I do think I'll give the county extension office/IFAS a call. I never have because I'm not trying to waste their time on a 50x100 garden; but new property is going to be 7x larger than existing.

 

[Rockbadchild]

I want to say I planned on doing soil samples, because I knew I needed too, but now I actually will.

So, I want to approach this new home and property with a more thought-out, methodical approach than our current place. That's not to say I half butted everything here; but we never had a master plan, and we kinda made things work. We moved our current homes garden area, then expanded, but if we had thought out shed/shop location, garden area, ect; we would had made much more efficient use of the property.

Once we take possession, and get moved, I do think I'll give the county extension office/IFAS a call. I never have because I'm not trying to waste their time on a 50x100 garden; but new property is going to be 7x larger than existing.

do you mind explaining what is IFAS and what they will do for ya ?

 

[paulsharvey]

do you mind explaining what is IFAS and what they will do for ya ?

IFAS is a part of the Univ of FLa, which kinda bundles all of their ag education/research/out reach. They own some Massive research farms around FLa. They also have a weird marriage with the local counties ag extension offices, fairs, FFA, and 4-H. They actually run a butcher shop in Gainesville that sells meat to the public, as part of their butcher training and animal husbandry program. Never been, as it's only open on Fridays, during work hours. they actually own a 9,600 acre piece within 500 yards of my current place, but it's a pine lands preserve/conservation research facilty.

Edit: being a part of a very large, state university, they do have some pretty strong environmental undertones; but they also do active work on new strands od blueberry, low chill hour apples/pears/peaches. A contractor I worked for (I wasn't on these jobs), build 2 very large metal warehouses in Bell Glade (south south west FLa, hot swamp) on farms that did major work with corn, because it was so far from any corn farms they didn't have to worry about cross pollination

 

[WinterDeere]

IFAS is a part of the Univ of FLa, which kinda bundles all of their ag education/research/out reach. They own some Massive research farms around FLa. They also have a weird marriage with the local counties ag extension offices, fairs, FFA, and 4-H. They actually run a butcher shop in Gainesville that sells meat to the public, as part of their butcher training and animal husbandry program. Never been, as it's only open on Fridays, during work hours. they actually own a 9,600 acre piece within 500 yards of my current place, but it's a pine lands preserve/conservation research facilty.

Penn State has a similar thing, called the "Penn State Extension". Lots of Ag and turf resources and research, aiming to study and work within local conditions.

Penn State Extension | The Pennsylvania State University

Penn State Extension delivers science-based information about Agronomy, Animal Systems, Food Safety, Home Gardening, and more. Browse our online courses.

extension.psu.edu

 

[paulsharvey]

Penn State has a similar thing, called the "Penn State Extension". Lots of Ag and turf resources and research, aiming to study and work within local conditions.

Penn State Extension | The Pennsylvania State University

Penn State Extension delivers science-based information about Agronomy, Animal Systems, Food Safety, Home Gardening, and more. Browse our online courses.

extension.psu.edu

Colleges and Universities get a lot of hate (often for good reason), but many many do good work, that people just never hear about. Never understood why they brag about political/controversial stuff and opinions, when they could show real tangible things they developed, that help the citizens of their state.

 

[WinterDeere]

You're preaching to the choir here, Paul! I spent 19 years in the university system, collecting various engineering degrees, and even briefly considered a career in academic research. It is really unfortunate what is happening at western universities all over the world, and I have quite a lot to say about that, but don't want to derail your thread!

 

[jyoutz]

Your state agriculture college cooperative extension service has people who will come look at your situation and make recommendations. They will also refer you to the best local sources for services and appropriate species mix.

 

[cdrill]

IFAS is an acronym for Institute of Food and Agricultural Science. They have small labs and field offices all over the state.

 

[redman135]

OP, 1 thing that has not been mentioned is that sand does NOT hold or capture nutrients very well. So DON'T apply large amounts of fertiliser in a single application. Most of the fert will drop below the root zone before the plants can get it. Instead use split application, ie twice /year.

Look up Perth ,West Australia(state), Australia, Swan river algal bloom. This caused by home owners wanting green grass lawns and pouring to much fertiliser on, which drops below the grass roots and get into the estuary. Perth is built on sand much like yours.

To minimise fertiliser loss, you will need to select deep rooted species that can tolerate being grazed. Also getting the organic matter content up will help with both water and nutrient retention.