Low Budget Small Pasture Renovation

This week I renovate my small pastures around our home using some budget gear, careful testing and great advice. Don't be put off by the high cost of machinery. There are some great options out there for even the smallest of holdings.
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[@gregbell2117]

Even lower budget - hand spread everything. I did a tonne by hand - took a week, but I got to walk around and look at the paddocks. I routinely spread a few bags of seeds by hand. Saves having the machines sit around the rest of the year, and saves soil compaction.

[@jacefreeman8713]

Another thing to note is when to take your soil test, doing it in winter/summer will give you very different results to spring/autumn when the nutrient exchange levels between microbes are the highest.

[@tonydoggett7627]

For a 70 year old tractor the Ferguson TEA-20 treads lightly in wet paddocks. Is cheap to purchase and new parts are plentiful.

[@AmandaIsAwesome]

This is really helpful for me!! We have a small farm that needs lots of love to get it back up to snuff. Thanks for the info!!

[@lesleypapworth335]

Hi Tim Would love to hear more about small farm equipment ie less than 20 ha farming with paddocks up to 1.5ha. I want a degree of efficiency but don't need massively fossil fuel guzzling equipment. Thanks for your videos. Love them!

[@alistairmacphail5778]

Thanks Tim. Some great tips for small blocks. FYI recently purchased a box blade which has rippers and have used it with hydraulic top link to aerate my paddocks ( and use same tool for my driveway). Love dual usage tools

[@harrylawrence5300]

I’ve only got a few acres, found this video very useful. Thank you

[@barrywise7701]

I think dinky toys are very useful. We volunteer at an historic homestead and vineyard,. The vineyard is only one acre but we manage to produce enough grapes to produce a range of wines, which sell at our cellar door. We don’t have the space or budget for large implements, so dinky items are great. Thanks for the video. From Port Macquarie, NSW.

[@Petani-bali]

Thank you for video👍👍👍

[@hillbilly2224]

Great information 👍🤙

[@ryanemerry]

Great advise and a great demonstration.

[@go5582]

Great job at hoogies.

[@gnijhuis]

I did some research on those aerators myself and in the end opted against another implement as most of the forums I read concluded it didn't make much of a difference. If I had to get an aerator though, I'd suggest the ones that pull plugs rather than the ones that poke holes as poling of said holes compacts the soil around it and the water still doesn't go where it's supposed to. Thanks for sharing, great content :)

[@FarmLearningTim]

They are hooked teeth that spear in and rip out. Not sure what forum you’re referring to but watch the video and you’ll see how it works. It tears the soil upward.

[@aussiebushhomestead3223]

First time viewer. Great content and appreciate the dinky toys bery much. We don't own any machinery, so always looking for tricks to do the job without a tractor!

[@FarmLearningTim]

Hopefully you'll see lots more content on the channel that's helpful mate. Cheers!

[@mattoe8621]

Have you tried GPS guidance? It will let you “paint” your paddocks with the seeder etc. For your acreage an ATV or UTV would be best but you seem to enjoy the old tractors. Thanks for the video. Very informative.

[@jonstevensmaplegrovefarms3754]

Tim how have you been?! Been a while since I saw you, really enjoyed your fencing videos, shared them many times. Good tips on pasture renovation! We get a by product from a wood plant, the wood ash, they blend it with Lime, very cheap for farmers. We have a no till drill to go into pastures with, but I would like to try just top dressing some hard seed like alfalfa/clover, vetch. Early spring as a frost seed.

[@FarmLearningTim]

Thanks John. Great tip. I’ve been uploading videos every week

[@annburge291]

That was really groovy.

[@stevenwilkinson3598]

Tad concerned about the pasture seed on surface of ground, love the aerator, thought I seen something very similar same design except in it was a seeder 😎👍

[@FarmLearningTim]

Seeding is growing nicely. Would love to see a picture of the seeder. Big gap in the small holding market!

[@brettwithers7803]

How do you go with birds eating the seeds Tim? I’m in Mansfield and we have a lot of birds around , Id be curious to know if this can be an issue? Love the videos Cheers Brett

[@jacefreeman8713]

For small acreage I wouldn’t overlook buying old hay from someone and spread it everywhere. You get the nutrients, nice amount of organic matter and the hay has more grass seed it in than you could ever drill. Just don’t lay it too thick on the ground or they become slug havens.

[@jimmyjohnson7041]

If you have good quality hay......there wont be any seed in it. Because its been cut every 30 days or less.

[@Mike_Reverb]

Really keen to hear how this worked out since I did something almost identical at about the same time last year

[@FarmLearningTim]

Update coming! I'm going to combine it with a soils video. Hope you like it.

[@Archi1F]

Good to have small block ideas. So many people moved to 5 or 10 acre rural blocks leaving the city since the pandemic. You aren’t going to empty out the John Deere dealership with that size land but you may still want to get the best results with what you have, and it’s clearly too large a plot for quarter-acre block sized implements.

[@FarmLearningTim]

Yep. Watch this space for more content on this topic

[@davetaylor4741]

Whenever I visit Victoria It feels slightly more English or European and that includes the grass. Up here in Qld grass management is happening now. The paddocks are burning. But then what they call grass up here we spray to get rid of in England. Over there grass management is a major concern. You run 80 cows on 80 acres you look after the grass. We would harrow, roll and seed regularly. Even chisel plough occasionally for drainage. Same deal. Test the soil and add what's needed to keep it sweet. Not sure what the need is for the three implements. You put the lime on with a vari spreader. The fertiliser with a spinner. And the little baby seeder. We had a Vicon vari spreader and that spread anything and everything including the grass seed. All except the cow manure. Nice to see all the varieties of grass and other plants. Around me now is Couch, Couch or Couch with different fancy names.

[@FarmLearningTim]

I used the three implements to show options. Cheers mate. Yes, QLD is very different eh?

[@markleonard1036]

Hey Tim what were the results of your soil test? And can you do a follow up soil test when you see results to show how well the products worked? Also what seed did you use, and did you give the soil time to come good before you seeded? Cheers Mark

[@FarmLearningTim]

My soil results showed a low P availability. Marginally acidic. This video took place over 3 months. Lime, one month, p, three weeks, seeding. Used cool climate mix. 12 different species. My results irrelevant to you. Your property will be different. Soil testing is expensive. I will monitor growth to see if I have to do another

[@pol1on1]

Hi Tim seen on Gumtree lots of different types of plows for a 3 point link. Like disc, disc with bite marks in them, large half stream train front ends, multiple angry scorpion tailed pointing down. What do they all do and will a small tractor in 1st gear still pull them. COULD YOU PLEASE MAKE A VIDEO ON THIS :)

[@FarmLearningTim]

Great idea. Let me think for a while

[@Fazendinha_TAS]

Hi Tim, could you detail the content of the seed bag? I’d love to check what you were using there. Maybe if you share a link to the product… Thank you

[@FarmLearningTim]

Give me a day or so and I’ll do a quick blog on the website. When I do I’ll put a link in the description.

[@evaburgess3648]

Would love to know too

[@aussiefarmer8741]

Tim what was the seed mix, I saw it was AGF, Was it a custom mix? There normal blends only contain around 6 or so. Ive been looking for a mega multi blend mix. Ive mixed my own but that's a hassle with the cement mixer.

[@FarmLearningTim]

static1.squarespace.com/static/5892d8953a0411ada0658a98/t/6202055588241a5f1c5e874e/1644299629884/AGF_Smyth-CoolCover-FlyerA4-2022-Final.pdf

[@evaburgess3648]

Do you have any suggestions for repairing muddy areas like paddock entrances and gateways

[@FarmLearningTim]

Great idea for a video. I’m doing one on mud management hopefully soon. Australian concrete mats make a mat that works well.

[@annburge291]

Woodchips where animals pass. Build up the area if machinery, trucks need to get through the gate

[@Jamestee1]

Hi Tim, thanks for the great informative video once again ! Just 1 question, where did you get the soil sample bag from and how much did it cost to sample it ? Who does this service around the Yarra valley ? Thanks

[@FarmLearningTim]

There are a number of companies that offer soil testing in the Yarra valley, but you could try the one featured in this video, Hoogies are in Yarra Glen. Tell Rose that she did a great job in the video for me. She was really nervous

[@peterwooldridge7285]

A bit off topic but how do you take the land from virgin bush with dense undergrowth to something a little more manageable?

[@FarmLearningTim]

Be sure to check planning laws before considering this

[@alec8317]

Hi Tim, mind if I ask where you found that Paddock aerator for 500 bucks-ish? I'm trying to get hold of the same model but so far haven't been able to find it at anywhere near that price.

[@FarmLearningTim]

The seeder was 4-5hundred. The Airator was nearly $900. I bought it direct when I was in Brisbane last. Freight is a killer.

[@alec8317]

@@FarmLearningTim Oops my bad. That will teach me for not paying closer attention. Totally agree re: gap in the market. Since I need the unit in Victoria, I have this weird situation where it's actually going to be cheaper to pick up a large unit that will be towed by the tractor drawbar, than something (of decent quality) half the size that I can pull with the mower.

[@billiebruv]

Looks like you have bugger all soil biology, will be interesting to see if the multi species improves that

[@FarmLearningTim]

Yeah. Rather than a video at the end, I’m taking a risk and sharing the process… good and bad. Let’s see what happens and what works.

[@billiebruv]

@@FarmLearningTim trial 5ltr's of nutrisoil on an area also

[@stephennussio4502]

Hi Tim....Bat Guano? I thought all Guano in Australia is from seabirds???

[@FarmLearningTim]

Yeah it’s literally imported s@:$

[@warwickhaar]

what was that seed spreader called i popped over to your website and could not see it

[@FarmLearningTim]

Not a supplied product or review…. I just bought it…. Off eBay…… was ok but would be better if metal and 5 feet wide.

[@warwickhaar]

@@FarmLearningTim Thanks for the reply and thanks for the videos and info

[@vsvnrg3263]

@@FarmLearningTim , the wheels looked pissweak. easily fixed.

[@martyward9715]

Hey Tim, what was the width of that aerator?

[@FarmLearningTim]

It comes in two widths 40 inch or 64. I got the 64

[@martyward9715]

@@FarmLearningTim I’m on 20 acres in Laura, south Australia. Brought the property last year but the pastures need some TLC. Would you recommend this aerator?

[@Jeffnixononline]

Hey Tim Thompson, what is the brand of the aerator?

[@FarmLearningTim]

Paddock. I picked it up in Qld. Great for small jobs. Terribly expensive if you get it delivered!

[@Jeffnixononline]

@@FarmLearningTim are scintez the supplier?

[@Mike_Reverb]

@Jeffnixononline Scintex are one outlet but the same unit is sold elsewhere with and without the paddock branding

[@jasonac]

Network Seeder make/import a cheap seeder, but i havent been brave enough to part with my money for one. And there isnt much in terms of youtube reviews.

[@FarmLearningTim]

Maybe they need to call me. To be honest I’m still looking for a solution. The seeder was ok, but a bit small and flimsy. I’m looking for something with heavier steel, at least 4” wide with a driven feeder for about a grand. Nothing out there.

[@kalgaramerinos7085]

@@FarmLearningTim Second hand seeder? Ours is a 3 point linkage Connor Shea circa late 50's early 60's and does a reasonable job. $3k about 8 or 10 years ago. What would be handy for us is a small and cheap tractor pulled combine harvester for the odd occasion we plant oats.

[@rossholmes178]

Mate, (9:25) I reckon your neighbours two down got more bat guano on their paddocks than you did...

[@samhenderson2947]

Why is the lime added? Was that prior to the soil results coming back?

[@FarmLearningTim]

No. after. pH was low

[@annburge291]

What about EM rather than lime

[@champyandmorris]

What state are you based in? Great video thanks 😊

[@FarmLearningTim]

Victoria…. But don’t hold that against me….

[@richardlove4287]

Ask your fert seller "how much per hectare" this eliminates all the bollocks.

[@ozlakota1]

calprill is 60%molasses than lime

[@FarmLearningTim]

Yeah but easy to spread and No dust plus not too many bags

[@stephennussio4502]

I think that's false. Calci prill is about 5% molasses. Rest is cal carbonate

[@ozlakota1]

still 3 times the price of lime spread @@stephennussio4502

[@peterclark6290]

If an agronomist/seed seller/equipment adviser doesn't ask you - "what are you trying to achieve" - move on. One of the main problems with Agriculture is the intrusion of Agribusiness who even still get most of the cash generated by farming. That only became the case after the Green Revolution when farming tried going Industrial. Regenerative Agriculture has the answer to any problem on the farm; reducing stress, lowering costs, learning that dirt is not soil, etc. Australia is a world leader in this with names like Drs Christine Jones and Walter Jehne and farmers like Seis, Massy, Marsh, Maslin as well as the Yanks like Brown, Judy, Archuleta and Salatin. To name but a few.

[@jimmyjohnson7041]

Farmed all my life.....rotational grazed for 45 year...dairy cattle. There is no such thing as " regenerative " in agriculture. Its all about understanding grazing and control of cattle. Fertility is primary ! Cattle must be rotated and allow the grass to rest. But.... for " quality" pasture often the primary issue is manure overload. If a cow dumps in an area the cow will not eat over that area for up to a year afterwards. Solution ? Bale for hay once a year allowing lush regrowth. Even then the cows will eat over and around where they dumped. Imagine if someone served you a meal with a turd beside your food.......would you eat it ???? Cows have much better " smell " then we humans. Dont expect them to eat the same that you wouldnt eat !

[@peterclark6290]

@@jimmyjohnson7041 Rotational grazing is Regen 101 - Andre Voisin, 1950s If your cattle dumps are taking a year to decompose then you may have a very big problem Some would suggest chicken tractors (days later) to spread it out: or import some dung beetles: or listen to the Regen people who will tell you that only when earthworms are active across your pasture is that soil adequately fertile That's how you get rid of them quickly When you don't need to worm for parasites then you're doing it right

[@jimmyjohnson7041]

You must not have read my comment..........I stated...... "Smell " I didnt relate to decomposing. The smell is there long after !

[@peterclark6290]

@@jimmyjohnson7041 Believe that smell story if you wish. A healthy cattle dropping should have been gone, eaten, distributed, a distant memory, invisible in a few weeks at the most. Do you understand the importance of vegetative growth? That's what the cows want to eat most. And most importantly if they're eating that close to the ground they should have been taken out of that strip/paddock days ago. That's where the bad critters are, parasites, etc.

[@jimmyjohnson7041]

@@peterclark6290 Sorry.......Its not what I believe its what the cows will tell you !!!!!!! They will not eat over a cow pie for at least a year.... but if you plan to force them sure. But if you try that with a dairy cow....you wont put milk in the tank...that I promise !

[@cyclingzero2353]

lol its 2022 anything with fertiliser is now high budget

[@FarmLearningTim]

Amen mate

[@stephennussio4502]

Guano should be Seabird not bat

[@FarmLearningTim]

Can be both. Seabird most common