Mower for prairie maintenance

[Jubal]

Howdy All
We received notification from the USDA that we our CRP bid was accepted. This spring we will plant 9 acres with a prairie mix of four grasses and 9 forbs. We are planting on ground that was planted in corn last year and beans this year. During the first two years we need to mow the planting to a height of 8". A flail mower is recommended which does a good job of mulching the plant material. I have found only one flail mower that will cut at this height and is very expensive. The goal is to control weeds and not to cover the growing grasses and forbs with a lot of concentrated plant material. A finish mower seems an option but at the 4-5 year point we must mow and lightly disc or burn the planting. Can some of the brush hog type mowers provide this type of cutting quality ?
Your suggestions are appreciated. Jubal

 

[MMM]

WWW.ServisRhino Look into a Servis Gyro model shredder. It has 4 blades and knives that also mount in the deck. I think it comes as small as 72" and requires 40hp. That's as much as I remember.

 

[Chipperman]

Jubal
I know you do not want to here this but a brush hog will not mulch anything like a fail mower. What do consider "very expensive"? Maybe you could find a used one. I do not think a finish mower would work well either. You would have to modify it to cut at 8". Unless you cut the grass very often I think the grass would be too high to finely mulch. That's my two cents.
Happy Tractoring.
Chipperman /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[beenthere]

Welcome to the forum.
Seems at 8" you are just going to knock the tops off, and mulching wouldn't be much of a consideration. A rotary cutter adjusted to that height should work just fine. Not sure why any prairie grasses or plants need to be knocked off at 8", but when it comes to prairie, there are a lot of people with different ideas.
It's no wonder to me, with all the extra money, time, and work that goes into making and keeping prairie, that it didn't survive on its own.
(Now, I am being cynical here, to a point. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif ) Don't let me scare you away, just cause its Halloween.

 

[Jubal]

Mowing at a height of 8" is only required for the first two years to control weeds. This a new prairie planting. The grasses and forbs use most of their energy establishing root structure and do not grow higher than 6" the first year and not much more than 8" the second year. The strategy is to mow to a height of 8" after the vegetation has grown to a height of 12". Weeds are a problem even though Roundup is applied after weed emergence and the prairie seed is planted 3 weeks later. This is a CRP project and we are planting prairie where is has not grown before using the mix that we agreed to. Historicaly prairie did not establish in N. Indiana which was mostly woodland before being cleared for agriculture uses. Establishing prairie is now crucial to help insects and bird species including quail which are becoming scarce due to ag procedures. Hey, the CRP pays for half the planting costs and an annual payment per acre at the same rate the land was rented for. The wild flowers and grasses are pleasing to the eye. This a winning situation for all and gives me agood excuse to buy a nice Case DX48 tractor ! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Jubal

 

[MMM]

Good tractor choice. I guess you realize your CRP payment will be very insufficient towards paying for it though. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Soundguy]

I agree with a few of the others.. unless you are letting the material grow high, cutting at 8" doesn't seem to be a problem with mulching.. again.. unless you let it get 2' tall and only mow every quarter.. etc. My 10' rotary mower makes pretty good finely chopped debri that is more or less even spread and not winrowed... your milage may vary due to different mower types.. etc.

Soundguy

 

[HayDR]

Most pull type rotary cutters will at cut 8" Just use the Hydraulic cylinder restrictors.

 

[Egon]

I planted about 1/2 an acre of tall and short grass prairie about 4 years ago. Whatever could be done wrong was done wrong. The good news is that it is surviving and expanding. Only thing is deer cleaned of many of the flowers. I mow it in the very early spring hoping to raise havoc with the blackberry brambles.

Egon

 

[Jubal]

Thanks All
Gentlemen thanks for sharing your experience. No, CRP will not pay for the tractor. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif We are going to plant prairie for several other friends and do some interseeding for neighbors. This spring I will enroll in woodland fire supression classes and become certified to write burn plans for prescribed burns which are quite exciting. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif I am trying to provide the whole package for retirement income; plant, mow, burn. A rotary mower it is and suggestions based on experience would be appreciated. I have never seen a rotary mower with rear hydraulic cylinders. Glad I am having two rear hydraulics installed. Once again I appreciate you help. For those that interested in establishing a prairie planting I recommend:
.http://www.prairienursery.com/Prairie_Guide/pra_estab_guide1.htm
CCI interesting mower, 4 blades ? Hydraulic cylinder restictors ?
Jubal