Thicken Up Bermudagrass Pasture? - Hay King Pasture Renovator Pasture Improvement

Using the Hay King Renovator to try and get more forage production in our bermudagrass pastures and hay meadows. This should thicken up the bermudagrass, especially in place where it has thinned out over the years.
Email: [e-mail]
Subscribe to the Channel: / @arrowjmfarms

[@THEVROD64]

Used a Hay King at our place in Crockett. Worked beautifully and water retention got us thru the 2022 hay season.. just re did our hay fields in December 2022 for 23 season. Absolute believer to use this equipment in winter while bermuda is dormant and rain in forecast.

[@arrowjmfarms]

I’m planning to do it again as well. I didn’t have time to get everything I wanted to get last year. But it definitely makes the bermada spread and thicken up.

[@farmingparadise]

Crockett Texas?

[@MagaRickn]

The Instructor at the class I attended told us that if we had to choose between fertilizer or aeration, the 2nd choice is better. Also, just a thought. I pull an old drag type harrow behind my renovator to knock down clods and scatter manure! Really seems to work, taking advantage of natural fertilizer! We have sandy soil with some clay, so it wears out the tips on the shanks, so be prepared to add new tips. I have some on order now for my Tufline renovator. They are $15.00 each plus shipping.

[@arrowjmfarms]

That’s a good idea on pulling a harrow behind it. Less passes on the pasture and kill 2 birds with 1 stone. I do that a lot when I broadcast ryegrass.

[@khtractors]

I think you’ll see good results with this! That’s a nice big pasture field! Take care!

[@arrowjmfarms]

I’m ready to see what the results are! Thanks for watching!

[@danrose3233]

I'd run a drag behind the renovator to smooth out and clumps in the same pass. It also get rid of gopher mounds and ant hills.

[@arrowjmfarms]

Good idea. I'll keep this is in mind for next time. I don't have many ant mounds but definitely have the gopher mounds LOL.

[@dogsandducks4363]

It’s called key lines. It works! Can’t wait to see an update

[@arrowjmfarms]

Thanks! We’re starting to break dormancy. It will be a few weeks before we get good growing weather but I’ll definitely do an update.

[@raymooney6506]

Great explaining on what u are doing u can also drag drill n sow wheat in the fall n get great results

[@arrowjmfarms]

Good suggestion! I’ve actually been wanting to do that for a few years now. I’m leaning more towards using cereal rye, however.

[@raymooney6506]

@arrowjmfarms also the disc on the drill will slice your coastal n cause u to have a better stand too

[@SA-76234]

I just got me a 4 shank with little hrs on it for $500 and boy am I excited to see what the results are. We have black clay and my 65hp tractor struggles at times.

[@arrowjmfarms]

Man that's a smokin' deal, that is awesome! I had to operate the Kubota in 4x4, it was all it wanted. These renovators will make the black smoke roll! haha.

[@Jean-vz8co]

Excellent machine and good work!!!!...

[@arrowjmfarms]

Thank you, it’s been a good one!

[@HeritageFarmsTexas]

Now you’re talking. That will pay huge dividends. Good job. That’s a nice implement. Diesel pricing is crazy for sure. Have to be selective on task at hand for sure.

[@arrowjmfarms]

I’ve been wanting to do this for the last several years. I was wanting to cover most of the fields but that’s just not practical it this moment. I’m hoping it will really spur the Bermuda grass into spreading and growing!

[@syx_oclockgone3047]

Look into Keyline land management (your guess was close). To fight compaction you have to follow it up with mixes of seeds warm/cool, grass, forbs and legumes, and a mix of shallow/deep rooting plants. If you get all of that right the ripper is a once only deal. Goal: to break the compaction and smooth your working surface, then let the roots and underground microbial critters go after the small bits with the assistance of all that extra water you will be sequestering. Ultimate goal: No more inputs, let the soil do the work for you. aka Regenerative Agriculture.

[@beorntwit711]

If you're gonna do keylines (same subsoiling but following an off contour pattern that drops from valleys to ridges so that water spreads on the ridges), might I also suggest that you jury rig a biochar pump after the hay king? Biochar has numerous beneficial properties, including increasing water retention, and pumping it into these cuts is the perfect way to introduce it into the root level. You can also add Mg and triplephosphate fertilizer to it, and then whatever standard one you take, for a perfect 'SRF' (slow release fertilizer) right in your root zone. You can look at: "Nutrient-impregnated charcoal: An environmentally friendly slow-release fertilize". For Mg and triplephosphate, you'd have to google some, but essentially, Mg impregnation adds another type of adsorption because it creates 'hooks' on charcoal for other fertilizers, and triplephosphate increases the longevity in the ground. I might be able to re-find these articles too, eventually. EDIT: "Improving Carbon Sequestration of Biochar through Biomass Chemical Modification" - youtube "Synthesis of a stable magnesium-impregnated biochar and its reduction of phosphorus leaching from soil", article. etc. There's actually quite a few articles. For an example of the pump: "2020 Keyline Design of the Larga Field" - youtube

[@Forester-qs5mf]

If you put some pot seeders behind those shanks you could plant some seed in those rip line kill zones to increase diversity into your pasture.

[@arrowjmfarms]

I don’t own this one. It’s a rental from my local soil conservation office. But I definitely want to add some diversity. I’ve been wanting to drill in a diverse mix for winter grazing but haven’t done it yet. Hoping I can do it this fall.

[@ozlakota1]

2 shallow swal;es on contour with 2 disc plow also slow watershed

[@arrowjmfarms]

Thanks for the info!

[@roypartin7379]

Curious how your yield turned out? I’ve been looking at those machines for a few years, but all the research suggests aerating is a waste of time and money, so we haven’t invested in one. Im across the river in Red River County.

[@arrowjmfarms]

It was a bad year for it, honestly. Lack of fertilizer and lack of rain. I need to try it again next spring. I do think it will help just not in the conditions I had that year.

[@swansonag9685]

Have you ever run a disk over established Bermuda to help thicken after using the hay king to break the hard pan?

[@arrowjmfarms]

I haven’t but I believe it would definitely work well for that. I’d make the discs straight and cut shallow. I’ve read where some varieties of bermuda they basically unroll or spread out hay and then disc it in to get it established.

[@swansonag9685]

@@arrowjmfarms we’re going to cut and bale some tops this year. Then spread it out and disc it in to make new fields. A friend in Georgia did it this way and turned out great.

[@arrowjmfarms]

@@swansonag9685 Nice! Hopefully it works well for you - I bet it will.

[@feelnrite]

What is your top link doing? It looked like it was moving in and out on the end.

[@arrowjmfarms]

That looks like it was just the implement moving up and down. There’s a lot of undulations in the fields here. I wish they were perfectly flat but they aren’t 😂.

[@dinigi]

you're doing keyline design by intuition :))

[@arrowjmfarms]

😀

[@THEVROD64]

Did the same thing in East Texas same time you did yours. Received rain....please share your renovated vs non renovated pic in 1-2 months as bermuda breaks dormancy.

[@arrowjmfarms]

Will do! Hopefully I can take a quick video and share. I’m anxious to see the results!

[@danrose3233]

Got an update on the results after the growing season started?

[@arrowjmfarms]

Unfortunately we hit a bad drought so I didn't see the results I would've liked. However, I do think it helped because I had quit a bit of grass this year after fertilizing and plenty of rain.

[@farmingforfunandprofit940]

My Son uses an Industriias American Aerator punch......

[@arrowjmfarms]

I’ve heard aerating works good as well. I haven’t tried it.

[@jamiemcclain1564]

Where can you get parts

[@arrowjmfarms]

My guess would be to find a dealer. They would have the ability to order parts. But honestly, they built very heavy. The shanks are also equipped with shear bolts. That’s usually the only thing that needs replacement. I’m sure at some point the coulter wheel hub assemblies or wheel themselves would need replaced and I think they’re just standard items.

[@jamiemcclain1564]

@@arrowjmfarms thanks

[@farmingwithbron]

I am wanting one worse than bad!

[@arrowjmfarms]

I was wanting one also but I found out that my local soil conservation office actually had this one for rent! You might check around your local NRCS/Soil Conservation Districts and see if they might have one! Definitely a cheaper option than buying.

[@farmingwithbron]

@@arrowjmfarms thank you, I sure will!

[@charlesammons9978]

Did you notice a difference with thickness?

[@arrowjmfarms]

It did help but it definitely works better with fertilizer and adequate moisture.

[@THEVROD64]

any updates ?

[@arrowjmfarms]

I’m about to get get my first cutting, which is mostly ryegrass with some Bermuda mixed in. After that it will be all Bermuda and I should be able to see the results on the regrowth.

[@Jean-vz8co]

The better is to pass two times crossed at 90°......the segond one deep for 6 inches or more.... it will be perfect.. By

[@arrowjmfarms]

Thanks! I’ll keep that in mind for next time.

[@scottstreit8263]

Where is your property?

[@arrowjmfarms]

I’m in SE Oklahoma in Choctaw County. East of Hugo.