Converting Row Crops to Perennial Pastures: Soil Samples, Worms, & Ideas

I'm not 100% sure what I will do with the information that we gain from taking these soil samples, but I knew that I wanted to take them so we had a baseline of what we are working with. Also, I wanted to be able to look back in 5 and 10 years and see if the practices we are implementing are making a difference. I know that the seed/chemical dealers will tell us we need lime and fertilizer and more, but we will just take slow steps.
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[@shawndouglas5532]

Soil fertility is a great way to start. As a sheep farmer myself hopping to see a video of how your sheep are doing

[@TheBeginningFarmer]

Thanks for watching! I will give an update on the sheep soon, and our plans for the future. That is one area that we are really looking to expand.

[@CMDSR]

Not a farmer anymore but did work in my very younger days on my grandparents farm. We converted a couple 10 acre fields into pasture. First we plowed, disced and planted a mix of fescue, blue grass and yes clover. Tall fescue made up about 80% of the mix with 15% grass and 5% red clover. Cultipaked it in and prayed for some rain. We had a pretty good stand the first year , made a little hay but the 2nd year we turned out our first 10 head of cows out in one and raised hay on the other. 3 rd it was on and popping . Good luck.

[@TheBeginningFarmer]

That sounds like a similar path that we are going down. We may just try to do a few cover crops to have some feed this summer. Like you said though ... praying for some rain! Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment!

[@rickayers3150]

I would start growing Grass as soon as you can.60 acres is a lot, but sun and grass is free. Good luck

[@TheBeginningFarmer]

We’re going to get green growing as soon as possible for sure. After talking to our NRCS Grazing Specialist yesterday we are going to work on a plan of growing cover crops for a year or so in order to help build some life back in the soil (it’s pretty devoid right now). Then we’ll get some more permanent pasture seeded to go along with whatever comes up in the seed bank that is already there.

[@ramiller5675]

I haven't converted more than a few acres of cropland to pasture which I did by simply moving a fence, then I just let the cattle graze it and I fed a few bales of hay. It took a year or so, but the grass came back. If you are going to plant a cover crop, on my old blog I wrote about planting sorghum-sudangrass both for hay and grazing a field over the winter which might give you some ideas. - Rich

[@TheBeginningFarmer]

Rich, I will check that out. I planted a little sorghum sudan at the place where we make hay last year and it grew well. My plan was to plant it along with about six other things this summer for a summer/fall forage. I think if I had more grazing land available I would do your method of putting out hay and letting the grass in the seed bank come back. But I have a limited amount of good grazing ground right now and not enough animals if I was just lightly using that and letting it come back. Hopefully we’ll use a combination of cover crops and more livestock to bring the soil back to life! Thanks for following along!!!

[@dnawormcastings]

Great video crass fed sheep and cattle sounds good 🇳🇿

[@TheBeginningFarmer]

Thanks for watching! We’re excited to build our sheep flock especially!!!

[@Trcole96]

I’m in the same predicament, bought 170 acres last March in Arkansas (zone 7a). Currently being row crop farmed, but plan to turn to pasture next year. Some things I have noticed so far are the amount of weeds such as cockleburs that grow until glyphosate is sprayed. I like your idea of slowly turning parts into pasture and row cropping the rest. Also, I too respect Greg Judy and his ideas. However, I do not have the animals necessary to mob graze 170 acres right from the beginning. I am going to follow your series closely and will be real interested in the things you find that go right! Good luck and I hope you have a great year of farming!

[@TheBeginningFarmer]

Thanks so much for watching and taking time to comment! I'm glad to be able to share our journey because I know there are lot of different questions and methods used! Hopefully this will not be something I do a lot over my lifetime, so let's hope we get it somewhat right the first time through :)

[@mihandsplitters705]

I’m starting this year from the same point as you in Michigan. Our land was mined for years by a row crop farmer and we just inherited it a couple years ago. We will be doing this together. I plan on putting in sorghum Sudan grass this spring followed by tillage radish this fall and then perennial hay mix (unsure what the mix will be though)

[@TheBeginningFarmer]

Sounds great! I hope you follow along on our journey and compare notes with us! Thanks for watching!

[@waziriwafedha]

Plant a cover crop then let it be grazed. Then lime the field. After an year plant your perrenial pasture. They will bloom

[@terrymeinders9825]

I may be wrong, but I see a lot of parallels between what you're doing, and what Pete is doing on "Just a Few Acres Farm". Similar size, animals, starting with row crop ground, philosophy, marketing(ish), etc. Has any of his work given you some inspiration/ideas?

[@TheBeginningFarmer]

I am familiar with his channel, but haven’t watched much from the beginning. To be honest I mostly watch his tractor repair videos and auction videos 😁 But, we do very much of a similar thing for sure! I’ll have to go back browse some of the older videos.

[@richardheinen1126]

Could you just put your pasture seed in with the oats and peas? The possibly get a cutting of hay this fall and be ready to graze in the spring

[@TheBeginningFarmer]

That was something that we had considered initially, but we want to start with some cover crops to help bring back some life and give the expensive perennial pasture seeds the best chance to survive. Although, we will plant a nurse crop with them too.