PASTURE SEEDING SUCCESS - Results from our fall planting without synthetic fertilizer

[@_Mordion_]

Now if only a single person on youtube would show how to prepare and seed pasture WITHOUT a crazy expensive tractor. That would be one of a kind. :)

[@StewartFarmApiary]

yes - maybe a hand spreader and a swing blade.

[@tritchie6272]

I don't know if a 4 wheeler counts or not,but some people hook a thing up to a 4 wheeler to put down seed. Now if you have a small enough area,and the spare time I would guess doing it by hand would be even cheaper. Something that just popped into my mind. If you have a riding mower I wonder how hard it would be to use that.

[@StewartFarmApiary]

@@tritchie6272 I think anything like that could work. Thanks for the feedback. Have a great week.

[@stoamnyfarms]

Because it's more nutritious before it seeds out.....

[@StewartFarmApiary]

True, but managing the fields and livestock properly and having enough forage allows for that not to be an issue. Thank you for the feedback. Have a great day.

[@bouldog95reacs]

Nature seeds. Brilliant idea. It seems insane to keep buying seed. Great video.

[@StewartFarmApiary]

Yes - the cost if crazy. Its the long term planning that pays off. Thank you for the comment - Have a great week.

[@JMo268]

I appreciate this video. One note is I believe that 'red' clover is crimson. Red clover is more pink in color. Red clover is perennial while crimson is annual. That's the only reason I'm nitpicking because cattle will quickly eliminate crimson clover from growing back by eating the tops. Red clover is more cattle-proof.

[@StewartFarmApiary]

Great point - I would agree to some extent. Yes, it is crimson in the pasture - but where red clover is a perennial, crimson will easily reseed if left alone. I also graze the crimson when it gets to a point of seeding so that when I transfer the sheep into another pasture then they will be carrying seed in their stomach to help with the new pasture they are put on. I prefer the true red clover you mention - it is much stronger and as you mentioned, lasts many years, but when you want a strong boost to a pasture it is crimson in this area that gives you the bang for the buck. A fifty pound bag (inoculated) was less than half the cost of the red clover and I knew the crimson would be a strong hold this spring. I appreciate any feedback and don't think you are nitpicking................we are all in this together and all need to learn any way we can. Thank you again for the feedback.

[@JMo268]

@@StewartFarmApiary Oh I didn't realize it was that much cheaper. That's a good tip, since clover is so pricey.

[@StewartFarmApiary]

@@JMo268 Can I recommend something if you are in the clover search. I buy my clover all year. The local seed store here (co-op) sells small bags on the shelves inside the store - yellow, red, crimson, etc ----- I pick up little bags all year and just keep them in a tub in the barn. In the fall I empty all the little bags into the spreader and have a diversity. This is so much easier than waiting until when everyone is planting and not getting what I need. It also allows me to see what does best in what area. Hope this helps. I do the same with the Hairy Vetch.

[@l0gic23]

​​@@StewartFarmApiarygreat discussion all. Thank you both

[@StewartFarmApiary]

@@l0gic23 You are very welcome

[@AlgiereRanch]

That field looks great!

[@StewartFarmApiary]

I appreciate the compliment. Lots of work but the reward is so worth it. Thanks again- have a great day.

[@mddoit]

Words of wisdom. Thank you sir

[@StewartFarmApiary]

Many thanks for your kind words. I am glad to know my videos are helping people. Have a great day.

[@jmreg7391]

great channel! May The Lord bless you.

[@StewartFarmApiary]

Thank you for the kind words. Have a great week.

[@rev-ragoutdoors6593]

Thank You!!

[@StewartFarmApiary]

You are very welcome. Hope it helps your journey. Have a great week.

[@backwoodshomestead]

great video. i am currently trying to revive 70 plus acres in Ontario Canada. lots of good info here. subscribed!

[@StewartFarmApiary]

Thank you for the kind words. Look into Dr. Allen Williams in Starkville, MS or Gabe Brown. They have some great info also. The idea is just to simply keep the grass high or cut like I did to allow time for regrowth. Good luck with the 70 acres. Have a great week.

[@jimmydaring9494]

Nice job !

[@StewartFarmApiary]

Thank you. We are constantly trying to improve. Have a great week.

[@misacarter5128]

Thanks for posting these vids - am going to be using a hand spreader to try out some plantain and chicory in our pastures. It is worth watching some recent vids with Dr Christine Jones - mind blowing stuff about soil biology and how you can maximise your mixed species pastures. The future is diversity.

[@StewartFarmApiary]

Thank you for the feedback. Yes, she is brilliant. I also would recommend Gabe Brown and his business partner Alan Williams. Both are brilliant but I get to chat some with Alan because he is in the Mississippi State University region. Still lots to learn but with patience it is a great process. I would recommend looking at some summer legumes ( cowpeas, soybeans). So many people just want to throw clover down in the fall and there are so many options available. High in protein as well for the animals. Have a great week.

[@misacarter5128]

@@StewartFarmApiarythat’s awesome you have listened to her. I am getting to gabe brown - so many people doing very innovative things. I am in Australia so am going to be planting at spring. Am wondering how much land did you spread your seed onto - I figure you need a lot more seed for spreading as opposed to drilling.

[@StewartFarmApiary]

@@misacarter5128 Great question - I put down about 50 pounds per acre. I don't really look at a certain seed in particular as much as just the "50 pounds per acre". So to make sense of that I do a mix of numerous things. Lean more to the sorghum sudan, sunn hemp, cow pea and millet mainly. Sorghum sudan can have prussic acid issues in drought so stay clear if you can of that unless you are just growing for biomass. I am also heavy on summer legumes (cowpeas and soybeans) because I am not big on just clover. Hairy vetch is also a great seed in fall. Hope this helps - Love some of the documentaries on Australia I see here on youtube. Stay in touch - don't hesitate to reach back around if you need help with anything else. Have a great week.

[@yeldesi9449]

Looks great. Would enjoy seeing this same field in June, August then Oct after your process (grazing, rest, recovery). Thanks you.

[@StewartFarmApiary]

In some of my previous videos I show the result from season to season. Thanks for the feedback and questions. Have a great week

[@StewartFarmApiary]

Check out the other videos in this Overseeding series: - Why and How to Overseed Pastures kzbin.info/www/bejne/jJjVk6amgZ2jmsU - Pasture Overseeding Update kzbin.info/www/bejne/oqPadIRrpNyHoNU

[@trinkladd]

Great looking pasture. U e tried this. But weed seeds pop and grow as fast as eye clover green tubers. How do kill out all the garbage before planting. Or do u seed so heavy it chokes out. Do u till or drill seeds or just broadcast. Appreciate u so much. Great videos by the way

[@StewartFarmApiary]

Great questions - I don't spray or "kill" anything. I am full regenerative farming. Your dominant plants will smother out the weeds over time if you don't cut the pasture and lightly graze for the first two years. You may have to come through and clip the tree sprigs but only if your animals don't get them. I spike aerate and then broadcast. I don't want to mess with the soil unless I have to. Most weeds come up because there are bare spots in the pastures from over grazing or poor soil biology. Lime is also something that will help greatly. Weeds don't do well with "sweet" soil. I just applied 3 tons per acre this past fall and already seeing a difference. Hope this helps. Thanks again for the questions and have a great week.

[@brettmann8586]

Where do you buy the wrench Abruzzi? Anywhere local? I’m from Winfield. Thanks

[@StewartFarmApiary]

Fayette Co- Op. Thanks for reaching out. Have a great week.

[@michaelbutler3676]

That plant at 5:35 looks like Larkspur. Toxic in high concentrations, but looks like you've got plenty of more favorable sheep forage out there.

[@StewartFarmApiary]

Thanks for the feedback. I was also told it might be phacelia. Hardly any in pasture but plenty more to eat.

[@michaelbutler3676]

@@StewartFarmApiary there are some good mobile apps out that you can use to take photos of plants and grasses to identify them. Pretty helpful for a 1st gen grass farmer trying to figure out what that green thing over there is (me).

[@StewartFarmApiary]

@@michaelbutler3676 Thanks. Ive been told a about a few apps and plan to look into them as the months go forward. I really appreciate you sharing that with me. Have a great week.

[@ronniep1376]

Very good video! Expecting rain here in North Ms end of next week. I’m gonna sow Marshall Rye grass and clover. Probably go ahead and sow fescue now and get a jump start on the spring grass. Any recommendations you make will be appreciated! Thank you

[@StewartFarmApiary]

I put down three tons per acre of lime about a month ago. I have never really limed much but the legumes will thrive in a higher PH level. Don't use granular as it is much more expensive. Get a local AG company to come out and spread it for you. It is 1/3 the cost of doing it on your own. Also, keep in mind you can lime a pasture at any time. When first getting started I thought you were only suppose to lime in the fall. I later found out that most do it in the fall because it is the dry season and the best time to get the large truck spreaders in the fields.

[@StewartFarmApiary]

You should be okay - I am in NW Alabama and we are dry here too.

[@ronniep1376]

Thank you very much ! I ride motorcycle into Alabama when I have the opportunity. Beautiful country

[@n0tfr0mth1sw0rld]

I thought red clover is poisonous to horses. What are you grazing there? I'm pretty sure they cut it down before it goes to seed so the weeds which are poisonous don't spread

[@StewartFarmApiary]

Thanks for the question - I am not familiar with that about the horses. I have allowed some neighbors to put their horses in my pastures over the years and I never saw any issues with their health over the clover. Thanks again and have a great week.