Pasture Aeration Conclusion

In this video I wrap up the Aeration experiment. What did I learn?

[@dehavenfamilyfarm]

I have never aerated a hay field before, but from a lawn care standpoint, you are correct- you could see long term results. Part of the idea behind aeration is to get moisture, fertilizer, etc. to the root zone faster and give the grass room to grow. If the grass is not growing much for the season yet, and you did not apply fertilizer, you may not see any results at this time. Nice experiment, and I look forward to seeing what happens in the future!!

[@farmertylerranch4399]

Thanks DFF you make a lot of good points. Hopefully when the Dallis grass starts up I’ll see some improvements. I’ll definitely keep an eye on it! Thanks again

[@rogerwilson9361]

Aeration is to open the soil up for the grass to grow better roots systems and over seeding fertilizing would have had better results. The cows walk across a pasture field overtime compacts the soil; and the aeration breaks the compaction to allow the the roots to grow better; and the fertilize will give them a boost of energy to make the grass work better; and the over seeding will create a better spread of the grass across the pasture. I do agree with everything you were say overtime the aeration with create a better pasture.

[@farmertylerranch4399]

Well said Roger. I think I’ve got a good plan for next year if I still have access to the aerator. Definitely starting to see that it’s a long game! Thanks for watching

[@brentboes627]

The most important part of the plant is a healthy root system that alot of ranchers over look.

[@GerraldFarms]

Thanks for sharing. I think it more long term. After this growing season you will know more. Have a good one

[@farmertylerranch4399]

Yeah I think you’re correct Jacky. Time will tell on this one. Thanks bud

[@danielbayona2891]

Great attitude! Tyler!

[@farmertylerranch4399]

Thank you have to stay positive right?

[@pughviewfarms4622]

I would have to agree. Everybody keeps telling me that anything I do to my pastures next door will be effective the following year. Man buddy your becoming a celeb. Awesome to see. Keep up the good work.

[@farmertylerranch4399]

Thanks a lot Ted I’m thinking that’s right. Typical millennial I just want instant gratification! Yeah my channel has seen a lot of growth here in the last couple of weeks, I don’t know what happened but I hope it keeps happening! Thanks for all the support Ted I really appreciate it!

[@tritchie6272]

I see this video is 3 years old. Have you posted any updates? I'm hoping the fertilizer your cattle left behind helped.

[@Chris72401]

Just ran across your channel. My suggestion would be to attempt to use a subsoiler at about 20-24" and 10-15ft intervals in order to allow the water to drain down. It's been used for years and can definitely help with standing water issues.

[@patbetik4610]

One way to measure soil improvement is earthworm count per square foot or yard. Depending upon soil type aeration can compact or loosen the soil.

[@islandlife1639]

I wouldn’t be too disappointed and wouldn’t expect huge differences in 1 yr. Many things effect soil structure like Calcium and Magnesium, biology, etc. just from watching it looks like you have a hard/tight soil, have you had it tested? Low Calcium and or high magnesium will cause a tight soil. Ca pushes to particles apart Mg pulls it together! You want a minimum of 60% Ca in your soil! The manure breakdown is slow too, could be biology/worms or even P deficiency? Low P in the diet can cause dry, hard fibrous pats that take for ever to break down but can potentially be low N too! It can be more about digestion or lack of! Keep at it but imo soil testing is invaluable!

[@timothyshadrock9682]

It takes several years to see change sometime, depends on soil and moisture! I live in south Texas and have seen significant changes in my coastal field’s compared to my neighbors. Be patient! The worst thing you can do to your land is nothing!

[@homesteadinginthegreatoutd7002]

I live in Florida with sandy soil so a little different than yours, and don't run a cow calf operation but have worked with some and have been in landscaping and certified arborist, which to become you have learn about soil structure and root systems and transpiration,etc. In Florida the popular pasture grass is bahia which benefits greatly from aeration. However the popular landscaping grass, St. Augustine doesn't. The root zone is usually very shallow for grasses and the part that take in most of the oxygen/nitrogen is right under the surface of the grade, hair like roots. your soil is so different in composition and watering practices. Have you ever noticed how much better your grass grows after a thunderstorm or rain than when you irrigate? Rainwater contains more Nitrogen than groundwater and rainwater mixed with lightening has even more. But for improved growth I believe your idea about dragging a harrow chain to break up the cow pies would be time well spent. I might even rotate the sides of the harrow every other time.

[@vnthomas16]

Well, I was hoping you were going to see a more dramatic change, but I agree, I think it will eventually pay dividends. I want to eventually do something similar, that is, drag a subsoiler through my fields. My fields are a bit clayey. Thanks for the update!

[@farmertylerranch4399]

Yes I was very optimistic too! I’m not throwing in the towel just yet. I think if I tweak my methods a bit I can get better results. I will find a way to rejuvenate these pastures without completely starting over!! It’s my goal. Don’t know how long it will take but I’ll find a way! Thanks BCDFWA

[@strongrivercattle2643]

I would have to agree about it being too early to tell seeing that the field in question is, warm season grass with volunteer cool season grasses growing. However, 20 years ago when I was in college at Mississippi State University, my forage and pasture crops professor was not a proponent of aeration. His reasons at the time made some sense. The spike going into the ground compacts the soil in "THAT" specific spot. Now equipment today is better and I can see it working. Last fall here on our operation we subsoiled our pastures and have seen results by breaking the hard pan. However, it to took a while to see results.

[@farmertylerranch4399]

Yeah I’m not giving up quite yet. I see your professors point but like you said the equipment is better now, more of a slicing action than a punch, so to speak. Thanks Strong River Cattle!

[@nadeenflynn9673]

It will be interesting to see how it looks in the future especially if you make a double pass next year and add a little seed (?) .

[@farmertylerranch4399]

Yeah I think that’s going to be the ticket. Hopefully I still have access to the aerator by then!

[@OhioHillTopsHobbyFarm]

I agree with ya buddy, I don’t think you damaged anything by doing it but I do believe it will be beneficial in the long game! Great experiment Tyler, take care!

[@farmertylerranch4399]

Thanks Dave I sure hope so. I’ve even read that you have to do this consistently for a year or so before seeing any results! Time will tell...thanks for watching!

[@arthurdewith7608]

Don't give up it's beneficial to have productive pasture

[@farmertylerranch4399]

Agree I figure hit it a few years in a row and things should start to happen. Thanks Arthur!

[@jonstevensmaplegrovefarms3754]

try a small patch of a grazers mix. some cool season grasses might help get more early growth? look at my pasture from last summer, them mixes are pretty amazing for making quality tonnage.

[@farmertylerranch4399]

Yes Jon I was thinking the same thing. If I had some cool season varieties I could graze a bit earlier or maybe even take a hat cutting off of it before I put animals out there. Thanks Jon!

[@jonstevensmaplegrovefarms3754]

That pasture mix I put in with oats Alfalfa Clover Italian ryegrass oilseed radish and forage rape. They make other mixes but I tried that one. There was so much tonnage there. At least three times the amount of feed their versus our old grass pastures! Check out Albert Lea seed house they're a good source for that stuff. You might have enough growth there you could sell some hay and make a little money?!

[@JamesOBrien2253]

@@jonstevensmaplegrovefarms3754 what about roots in spring planting show us the soil in that field and show roots breaking compaction

[@jonstevensmaplegrovefarms3754]

@@JamesOBrien2253 I don't think you want to see that field this year. Your soil might blush. LOL no yeah I'm excited to get into that field with a shovel early!

[@jerryhill681]

I think it is a longterm thing. It should allow better water and fertilizer infiltration and also reduce compaction in heavily traveled areas.

[@farmertylerranch4399]

I hope you’re right. It all makes sense, maybe I’ll see better recovery after they graze it this summer or something like that. Thanks Jerry!

[@annebell7274]

Not that I know much about farming but here's my 50 cents worth lol. Have you ever tried splitting your field with hotwire and let them graze one side while the other side is left to grow ? I hope you dont mind me saying that 😕😕😊😊🌹💟🌹

[@brandonleth6355]

How fast where you running the aerator? I know someone that has ran one in alfalfa. He said the best results where with the tines at the 0 angle and running under 4 mph. Over 4 mph the aerator did not go as deep. The alfalfa was in heavy soil and the aeration was done in the fall. It does help keep the snow in the field. And 3 months after the ground is more mellow. I talked with him and he plans on using it in the spring to put pockets in the soil then spread dry fertilizer on the alfalfa. He also used it on a patch of sweetcorn as a vertilcal tillage pass. The angle set at max, and it did a nice job at 7 to 8 mph using it like this. The sweetcorn did better where it was used preplant. But as for aeration, I belive it will work but it just takes time. And one needs to play with it and maybe use it for fertilizer to really see a big difference.

[@peterroosje2402]

Here in nova Scotia like to run chainharrow after changing paddocks

[@Repthe989]

We run the chain harrow early in the spring and late in the fall. We in Michigan find that we have lots of earthworm and dung beetles after we rotate pastures. We are moving everyday.

[@brendanmolloy2884]

Are there ridges in the field?

[@farmertylerranch4399]

Yes Brendan good eye man. The field is flood irrigated and those ridges are used to direct the water to the end of the field. Thanks for watching and good question!

[@koryleague8833]

I know you were focusing on growth. But did you notice a difference in the manure? Did it seem to break down faster? Thanks for the video,wish we looked that green, were slowly.warming up especially after last weeks bomb.cyclone. thanks for sharing

[@farmertylerranch4399]

Can’t say I noticed the manure breaking down faster. I think dragging some harrows would help with that. I need to come up with some attachments so I can seed, aerate, and harrow all in one pass! Thanks Kory!

[@koryleague8833]

@@farmertylerranch4399 dang sounds ambiguous hope you know a good welder

[@JohnMartinez-sm1sk]

How are you watering the pastures?

[@farmertylerranch4399]

Ground well irrigation

[@wretube]

Would you not have to be real carefull not do the aeration on too wet soil ? Seems lke it might actually compact more if the soil is not fairly dry .

[@farmertylerranch4399]

Dry is certainly better when aerating as you want the soil to fracture as you punch the hole because it creates more pathways for air to get in there. Thanks Wayne

[@stevenbell4053]

You need to open up your sward by scratching it with a spring tine. Several passes.

[@WormHoleFarming]

Aeration helps with the compacted soil and root growth. You'll notice it on reseeding and fertilizer, how quick it shows verses non aerated fields. Just one question..Is that a new shirt? Your face looks different.

[@farmertylerranch4399]

Haha same shirt Wormhole! Yes I’m thinking overseeding and maybe fertilizer next fall with the aerator is going to be the ticket. Thanks for watching!

[@bigdogkool2546]

playing the long game. working as a groundskeeper and other things. It's a long game. few weeks of sun, right water, it will blow out.

[@farmertylerranch4399]

That’s what I was hoping, thank you John!

[@Theblindfarmer]

It’s really not a visual thing I could never see the difference visually plus different souls will react differently than others to it like for me I’m in a Shelly area and it helps allow all the moisture to go into the ground to help growth also with hill sides there the first to dry up cutting pockets in the ground keeps them from drying out so fast I would say using a Aerator is like waxing a car really can’t see it but it’s there and you should do it every year to protect the paint for the long term

[@farmertylerranch4399]

I like that. Well said! Thanks Blake!

[@WorldsOkayestFarmer]

What are checks? And what are the raised humps in the field irrigation lines? #WorldsOkayestFarmer

[@farmertylerranch4399]

Why you answered your own question I think! Kind of. The humps are called levees and the area in between is called the check. It’s all part of how the irrigation water is diverted. Good question WOF! Thanks

[@WorldsOkayestFarmer]

@@farmertylerranch4399 Thanks I wasn't familiar but always like learning

[@194853DodgeTrucks]

Nothing worse than watching grass grow...damn stuff is shy...lol. You really need a control to see your progress....

[@btowannab9232]

Soo the verdict is still out then ? Idk like you said ,maybe more drought tolerant where you aerated... a guy would never know unless he tries!! Man look at those sub counts... good job!! 👍

[@farmertylerranch4399]

Yeah the verdict is kind of wait and see with low expectations! My only hope is that I haven’t given it enough time for the benefits to be apparent but I don’t know. The yearlings couldn’t wait any longer so I had to call it! Yeah I don’t know what happened with sub counts these last couple weeks, they just took off! I’m sitting here scratching my head trying to figure it out! Hopefully it keeps up though it’s pretty awesome!! Thanks BTO!

[@ryckmanangusranch4349]

I gotta agree with you. We have done it in the past. Don't have the time anymore.My friend your kicking ass almost at 900 subs. Congrats. Better thank your Wife. LOL

[@farmertylerranch4399]

Thanks Tom! Did you guys think aerating helped or?? Obviously not enough to keep doing it I guess! As soon as my wife was in a thumbnail picture subs really started taking off! I’ll tell her! Thanks again!

[@ryckmanangusranch4349]

I think it pays off in the long run yes. How many calves you have?

[@farmertylerranch4399]

That makes sense. I’m up to 13 including the two sets of twins. So far so good but still 28 cows left with two of those being heifers. How about you? I know you lost one in the storm but everything ok since?

[@ryckmanangusranch4349]

We have 16 heifers calved. Lost two so far. This morn early one was born and never got the bag broke over his nose and he suffocated. Oh well is what it is. Only 64 hfrs and 240 cows left haha.

[@farmertylerranch4399]

Two isn’t bad especially in that weather. Every year I know I’ll lose a couple, just the way it goes. Same way for everybody I guess. Sounds like you’re just getting started too! Well good luck With them Tom!

[@feelnrite]

I own an aerway and have for about 20 years. I used it a lot at first but don't use it much now because I just never saw any real benefit from it. If you want to really help your soil use manure or chicken litter. This will add things to the soil that you cant buy and will increase worm and micro activity and they will do the aerating for you. After using litter for several years my soil is so much more loose. I don't think the airway goes deep enough to do any good really. I have wondered what a pasture ripper would do that has coulters to keep from upsetting the sod too much.

[@gcranch9913]

You mention nothing about any sort of soil testing, fertilizing or soil temperature, so it’s impossible for you to come to any conclusions. Your pasture being warm season grasses may not have the requisite temperature to be growing well and if your soil is depleted of it’s necessary minerals and is overgrazed as it appears to be, then no amount of aeration is going to be of benefit. I’m a firm believer in, and user of aeration (along with soil tests and fertilizer recommendations from them) and I can attest that it works. People who say it tears up the roots have no idea what they’re talking about. Talk to your county extension agent or someone from the soil conservation service to get recommendations for your pastures. The first thing theyre going to tell you is to get a soil test.