Reclaiming an old field.

[rzide]

Hello all, this may be the wrong section, if so I apologize.

I have 3 fields totally about 30 acres that have long been neglected. They are old hay fields that have become rough and not used for anything but burning fuel to brush hog. There are a ton of ruts, high spots, etc. in in southwest Ohio and assume it to be mostly "clay" type soil.

I am looking to bring this back to life, firstly. Smoothing them out as they are extremely rough. I have a 100hp 4wd tractor and would like to know the best option for prepping the ground, making it as smooth as possible, for replanting some type of grass/hay.

Attached is the only picture I have showing the current condition. Please note, I'm not well versed on terminology so please dumb it down for me lol.

What are your thoughts on what to use and when?

Thanks!

 

[bmaverick]

To help tidy up the rough spots, high and lows, a notched + comb disc harrow is the way to go.

King Kutter. 7.5 FOOT 24-20 INCH COMB. BOX FRAME PROFESSIONAL

7.5 FOOT 24-20 INCH COMB. BOX FRAME PROFESSIONAL

www.kingkutter.com

I have 10 acres, it was a farm field, then pasture in the 50s. After the 90 it was let go. 80FT+ trees and ruts made it a mess. After it was logged clean, the disc harrow Did a great job removing the ruts, smoothed out the lows and highs from sharp transitions to smooth easy transitions.

 

[LD1]

Plow then disc. Your tractor should handle a 4-16 plow. It will take a couple days to plow it all under. Then disc it. A finish disc with 7" disc spacing will leave a nicer finish than one with 9" disc spacing.

You tractor should handle a 14-15' disc pretty easy. And disc at a pretty good speed. ~5mph to get good mixing. You can either pull a drag or harrow or cultipacker behind disc. This will give a pretty good and smooth seed bed. Discing is alot faster paced with the wider tool and maybe half a day to do 30 acres.

But thats alot of equipment and $$$ for a one time shot. Dont dont know what you have for equipment already.

The biggest issue is the existing vegetation. ITs hard to work ground with just a disc or some time of tillage tool without breaking ground first.

Maybe talk to some farmers in your area with some larger equipment and see if you can hire them.

And if its just a couple of localized rough areas....just address those areas and not the whole field. Fill some ruts with dirt, maybe a rototiller to smooth smaller areas. But seems like you are wanting to address all or most of the 30 acres.

 

[rzide]

Awesome, thank you both!

Right now I only have the tractor, no implements.

What's the best way to get grass growing again (planting method and type you recommend ?)

 

[kirkawilson]

Possibly use a power harrow or power rake to level followed by some soil samples to determine how to fertilize.

 

[LD1]

What's the best way to get grass growing again (planting method and type you recommend ?)

Not really a good answer to that especially not knowing where you live.

But if you plow and disc and have a nice loose seedbed....broadcast spreader and cultipacker works well. Then pray for some rain to keep it moist because 30 acres would be alot to try and cover with straw. But hopefully not enough rain to wash out low areas and create gullies.

Again, not knowing where you live hinders whats best to plant. But around here a fescue blend with maybe 10-20% annual rye mixed in. The rye germinates and starts quicker and can provide some shade and errosion protection for the fescue.

You can also rent a drill and drill some seed in.

What is the future plans for the 30 acres? Any hay farmers in your area want to tackle the project for you? Level the fields and replant for you and maybe sign a contract with them allowing then to harvest hay for 4-5 years? OR are you wanting to establish the hay fields yourself in hopes of having someone pay you to harvest? Might want to find out what they want planted? Maybe not just grass, but a clover or alfalfa mix?

 

[oosik]

I rejuvenated a much smaller meadow. About 2 1/2 acres. Not able to burn and didn't want to use chemicals. I did cut it with a brush hog.

It was a real pain to get my disk harrow to penetrate the soil. Round and round and FINALLY it was turned to a depth of about 4" to 6".

Borrowed my neighbors broadcast seeder and covered, more or less, with a railroad tie as a drag.

I got seed from one of our local seed companies. It was a wild seed mix.

It worked out very well.

 

[Mud2Money]

What I learned is if it’s been hay ground for some years the roots are deep. I would brush it down. Let it sit a few to dry that material out. Then disc it to scour and cut the top sod. Then plow it. You will thank your self. I made the mistake of plowing first. You will be constantly un jamming large sod chunks.

After plowing disc them on a angle to the plowing. Disc again in the cross direction. This has seemed to be the fastest way I have leveled to a plantable field.