[somedevildawg]

I was gonna mention that as well.....that may be a better alternative, well, a cheaper alternative.....how much Bermuda is in the field now? Not even sure I would disc it, unless slightly. You could run a Hayking through it to aerate and cut tops off of another field and spread them in the field and run a coulter over the ground and apply N.....may get decent results, still a PITA. If the field was say 50% Bermuda, you could spray to kill pests (like Bahia) and then cut with disc and have someone follow with the tedder and then run the coulter, followed by N I keep throwing out the "N" word because that's the downside to the Bermuda as you are well aware.....at the end of the day, I think I would rather grow and harvest Bermuda rather that Tift 9/Pensacola or anything Bahai......but it has it's advantages, like you Tim, I had no idea it would take two years to establish a Bahia field, if that's the case I would take the plunge into PP, that's a huge drawback...

 

[somedevildawg]

There is a Quik Bahia variety out there that is suppose to establish quickly but the seed is pretty expensive. I have found that Bahia is tough to cut and does not produce well. It is very drought tolerant though.

https://hancockseed.com/tifquik-bahia-grass-seed-40-lb-bag-certified-390.html

Without a doubt, that's about the only benefit I can see to Baha'i, and the "N" requirement is no where near Bermuda. But, properly maintained Bermuda can certainly withstand a drought, they have very deep roots, but most are under amended with regards to "K" and root structure suffers.....

 

[somedevildawg]

That's about the same cost as it is here, $150-200 per acre.....

I understand the delimma you face Tim, if it was a long term lease, I believe I would do sprigs to take advantage of the moist soil of spring.....my thoughts

 

[somedevildawg]

Our extension agent sent me some pictures of a Bahia field he planted. Had step by step labels on the process and what to expect. He said not to expect any hay this year.
I am checking on prices to sprig. I do have this field long term and hope after all this I can get it even longer.
I may weigh the costs between sprigging and planting common Bermuda. I really like our Alicia so I will go with a hybrid if I can.
Would love to get some Tifton 85 going. There is only one stand around here and it is unbelievable.

If I were you, knowing your feed requirements, without a doubt plant Tift 85.........I'll reiterate, without a doubt plant T-85. Use your Alicia fields for horsey customers to make make a measly income, but feed up the T85......you'll be money ahead by a long shot!

 

[somedevildawg]

Ya, it might be a lil north but if that guy hasn't had any problems then I would plant it.....with the amount of yield you'll get out of it, you may want to 1) get more cattle or 2) sell to horsey folk. (Can't make a dollar on the cattleman) CP on well fert Alicia will be in the 10-14 range......CP on T85 will be 13-18 and did I mention 8-10tpa.......hard to beat it

 

[somedevildawg]

Wow! $100 an acre! And has to be planted every year? Just travel to get the T85, I know it can be found close enuf to you....or does no one have a Bermuda King.......what about the feller that has it close, have you networked with him? That Cheyenne makes some good grass, heavy yields, but I'm not sure I could stand it if it was not a perennial.....

 

[somedevildawg]

Didn't realize the Cheyenne 2 was a perennial.....that's more tolerable, how long do stands persist?
Maybe get ya a acre or two (somethng you can do by hand) of T85 going and then you can sprig it out later, idk I just know you'd love it, nothing better for the cattleman.....as far as Baha'i goes, I like the Tift9, don't have any of it but have a friend that has about 25 acres he grazes it haying occasionally.....decent yield, doesn't seem as tough as pensacola but dries the same.....

 

[somedevildawg]

And here is a pic of one of my T85 fields.....

 

[somedevildawg]

They just need to GM it so as not have an addiction to "N"......what's the recommendation on your land Tim, prolly same as here or thereabouts......300-400pa here in our sand dunes

 

[somedevildawg]

We struggle to keep ph above 6.....tough when applying that much N