Finally got my plots in

titleist_03 · 09-06-2004, 06:43 PM

After 5 months of work I finally got my plots in. I started by mowing and discing in March. I added lime and sprayed a few times throughout the summer to keep the weeds knocked down some. Then I disced this weekend, harrowed, spread fertilizer, and spread the seed. Then went over it one last time with the harrow to get good soil contact with the seed and now I just need a little rain. We had a little shower this afternoon but I think a little more wouldn't hurt. I planted Biologic Green Patch Plus, Shot Plot, and Biologic Clover Plus. Here are some pics of what it looks like now.

farm hunter · 09-06-2004, 08:15 PM

Looks great - good luck and post back when it greens up.

Did you not plow at all then? Round up - Disk - Round up - Disk - then plant - Was that the order?

I ask because our new 5yr crop rotation calls for RR Corn - RR Soybeans, then clover for 3 yrs. I hope to plant clover after RR soybeans without plowing - Hopefully just disking - or better yet just rolling it in.

wihunter402 · 09-07-2004, 07:21 AM

Nice job. That sure is a lot of work. I know because I have been doing the same thing for 2 years. You will be very happy that you spent all that time once everything starts to green up. Be sure to post back with pics once everything is going.

titleist_03 · 09-07-2004, 08:33 AM

Farm hunter, I mowed and disced in March. The plots used to be all grown up in fescue and other weeds. Then once some weeds started to come in I sprayed in early June, then again in late July. I got a pretty good kill in most spots but there was still some ragweed in the plots. I then disced again this weekend and harrowed then planted and harrowed again. I elected to plant in the fall in hopes that the weeds be toward the end of their growing season and the stuff that I planted will come up well and choke out the weeds. Then by spring it will be thick enough to keep most of the weeds out.

I never thought about plowing the fields. I didn't have one available so it wasn't an option. I would think that plowing would cut the soil pretty deep. Most conventional farmers have gotten away from plows because of the ridges it puts in the soil, and in an attempt to save top soil. Discing leaves the soild fairly smooth while discing leaves the soild in hills.

I would say use the disc. You should be able to get the RR beans tore up pretty well if you make a couple passes on everything. I wouldn't count on being able to just roll the clover in. I would think the beans would shade out the clover and not give it a chance to grow. But I'm new at all this so don't take my word for any of this. Just my 2 cents. Good luck with whatever you do!

farm hunter · 09-07-2004, 09:37 PM

titleist_03 - Thanks for the information. I like the way your plots look, and you are right - you should have knocked out alot of possible germination with the spraying. I've never planted a plot quite like your program - and I look forward to seeing the results.

Don't be surprised if you get some Ragweed and other annual weeds like Lambsquarters, or mustard next spring. Let them get 1-2 feet tall in the spring then mow them before they flower - they will not come back after 1 or two mowings. Residual seeds of weeds like ragweed can be a real nuisance - but mowing will control it. What you need to worry about are grasses - they LIKE mowing. Hopefully the other seeds in you clover mix will let you mow 1 or 2 times.

Good luck with the plots and post back.

titleist_03 · 09-08-2004, 07:27 AM

I had planned on some of the weeds coming back. The way these fields were covered in weeds before I started anything, I figure I'll have a few years of fighting the weeds before I start to get them under control. But you have to start somewhere.

I planted the clover by itself. I have two plots that are a half acre each. One plot is divided into all three. The other is just the shot plot and green patch plus. In the spring I'll turn everything but the clover under and put something new in those spots. And with the clover, hopefully it does well enough that I only have a mow a few times to help keep the weeds down and to get some new growth with the clover.

ostdc · 09-08-2004, 10:35 AM

Farm Hunter, I drilled rye directly over my soybeans this weekend @ 100#/acre. I'll let you know how it turns out.
It did tear up the beans some, but they were small and kind of sparse anyway. I think they may even benefit from the abuse

.
If the ground is not too hard, you should not have any trouble going over the old beans.
Brian