Clay is not necessarily a bad thing. It usually holds moisture and fertilizer nutrients much better than sand. It's main downfalls are poor drainage and the short periods when you can work it. Otherwise you should be able to plant most forage crops on it. Corn, oats, wheat, rye should do OK. The crops which need better drainage like clover and alfalfa may not do great by commercial standards but should still still show some growth. In my case I grow sweet cherries in clay which is supposed to be a no-no. The secret is to plant them on the hill side where the drainage is better. There are advantages to clay that the soil stays most longer and doesn't let the rain down to the roots too quickly in dry spells. This prevents the cherries from splitting.

My field was red brick clay 19 years ago. By planting alfalfa and clover and continually bushhogging the organic matter has built up and the top 12-18" is now black and workable. A field of corn worked under is supposed to quickly increase the organic matter and the tilth. The corn stacks are high in carbon and bulk. They're low in nitrogen so they don't decompose until nitrogen is available. Clover, trefoil or alfalfa would do well in the low nitrogen soil if the P & K are high enough. The corn stocks add organic matter, the legumes add the nitrogen, fill the soil with roots and help to slowly break down the corn stocks.

Dan O.