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New Bermuda field for Hay and Grazing

5K views 12 replies 8 participants last post by  Tim/South 
#1 ·
Ok guys i will be planting a new bermuda patch about 17 acres for hay and grazing. Mainly grazing but the first cut every year will be hay then turn out cows. Right now there is ryegrass planted on soybean stubble. The field has been planted every year in beans for the last 20 years with occasion corn. We just fertilized the ryegrass in preperation to cut and bale it in may. Then my plan is to disc it up and smooth it out. Spread the bermuda seed with fertilizer together then harrow it in. Anyone see a better way or does this sound ok. Also i dont plan on grazing it till next year. and plan on spreading lime this fall with a ryegrass overseeding on top.
 
#2 ·
Two things I think I would do different. 1, I'd spread my lime first, then disk it in. The lime will be effective much quicker this way. 2, I'd powder things up with the disk, then plant, then I'd go over it with a packer lightly if possible. Bermuda seed usually doesn't like to be planted deep. (1/4" - 1/2" is enough) Just my 2 cents,,;)

Best of luck,

Steve
 
#3 ·
You may be better off interseeding a very light dose of sudangrass with the Bermuda to get a quicker start. Sudan is a very good companion crop for Bermuda grass. Also someone correct me if I'm wrong but won't rye take a lot from the soil? Especially for a new stand of Bermuda? That's just what I have heard.
 
#6 ·
No soil samples as of yet. Plan on doing some after we cut the rye. Can't at moment because we just fertilized. Don't want mixed results. Yes common Bermuda. It's popular here in Mississippi. Don't know much about tiff here where I'm from.
Common is popular everywhere Bermuda grows, and a good grazing grass. Tift 85 is an aggressive (given proper ph and N) high protein forage, has to be sprigged as it has very few viable seeds. I'm with you on the soil test, here we have to add lime (usually a copious amount) every year. This will be the last time you can really lime the field and incorporate, I would get as much as possible into the soil now as future applications will be top dressed......good luck
 
#13 ·
Trying to decide between argentine bahaia and Bermuda on newly cleared land. Previously in pine trees. Cleared last year.
I am planting some land for pasture. It was once farmed by us but grew up in pines while in the estate. The pH is between 4.8 and 5.2. I have limed and am planting Bahia/Fescue/Clover. I am a Bermuda person at heart and it was hard not to sprig the new ground with Bermuda. Especially since the creek line separates the two fields.

If I was going to do hay only then I would have sprigged.

Since I will graze it for now I went with a blend that would be more productive during the cool seasons we have here.
 
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