Another problem with conventional tillage on sandy ground is when the plants first start growing and the deer are on them they will pull the whole plant roots and all out of the ground. Once they are rooted out well thats not a big issue but it can be rough on a plot at first.

Dean, how are you able to get that type of thatch consistently? I could not. Are you growing something in the summer to get that?

Well I would like the thank CNC and others who have contributed to this Throw n Mow.

I used to tell apprentice working with me that it is good to know the Why and not just the How in doing your job.

But I sure do like HOW much easier it is than running around a field multiple day's and multiple time with a tractor.

No we have not put anything out in the summer. I did spray the small fields this year and not the power line just to see if there's going to be any difference. Other than that we have not touched them all year.

CNC just queries how this field is looking this year?

The clover has just sprouted with the drop in temps and the rain moving back in. It produced a good seed crop last spring and appears to be coming back in strong. This will be the 4th year I believe on free seed. I'm expanding it around the corner this year and gonna make my clover patch twice as big. Crimson clover was fairly cheap this year so I went ahead and bought a 50 lb bag. I've got a couple other areas I want to spread a little as well. If I have some left over I'll probably go ahead and over seed my original field just to use it up and insure I've got a solid stand. The deer hammer it once it gets up and going.

Crimson is pretty much $1/lb this year. Cheapest I’ve had in a while

Which would work better: scatter seed and then mow or scatter seed and then drag over it with a drag? Seems like the drag would work better to me

I’ve done both it’s basically just preference.

I hate to count my chickens before they hatch but I'm pretty sure what I just did is gonna turn out fine. The hay is laying down more and more each day and my seed has already started sprouting. If you've got an FEL on your tractor I don't know that its even gonna be necessary to do much more than just knock the vegetation down some as you spread the seed like I've done. Again though.....this is once you've got things turned around and a nice layer of topsoil built.

Any input on where to buy dried molasses in South Alabama?

Also, regarding perennial clover, will spraying with glyphosate after it has gone to seed prevent the seed from germinating? If so, is it better to have clover only (or clover and some other perennial) plots separate from plots containing cool season annuals?

I picked up a bag of dried molasses from the co-op in Notasulga…..I'd just call around to the feed stores and ask about it. I think its pretty common but they dont stock a whole lot of it. There's another co-op in Elmore Co that'll have it and I'd guess that Farmer's Feed in Montgomery would also carry it. I'm gonna do a small test area in both fields and see if I notice any difference. About to go put it out right now.

As far as the clover goes....you'll be fine to spray gly over the seed. I have one field with clover mixed in and one field of pure clover. My field of pure clover grows grass in the summer though so I'm still getting a fairly balanced rotation and not actually growing pure clover year round.

Well.....dried molasses will definitely be something you want to add to the tractor hopper and not put out from a bag spreader. When I got done spreading it I looked like I had been dipped in egg and battered in dried molasses.

Wahooo success with t&m my small field looks great! Can’t wait till deer are hitting it good, late season!!!

I will post pics soon

Fields are all up good winter peas are doing extremely well ! Some of the fields do look a little sparce but they may be fooling me with the thatch on the ground . I did 130lb to the acre of wheat, oats , rye and winter peas . What is everybody using as far as seeding rates ?

LWMajor…..That seeding rate should be fine….It takes a little while to get used to how this looks compared to the old way. Its gonna take a while before it fills in and the whole field looks green just due to all the thatch.

Good to hear Possum!....I’m off and running here too. Its been about ten days or so now since the seed got its first rain and cereal grains are popping through the hay all across the field. I went with a mix of wheat, oats, cereal rye, rape, winter peas, and crimson clover…..Not bad for a weeks growth. Its jumping quick now.im very happy with the color too....a nice deep green. I’m hoping I can get another round of rain this afternoon.

About a month ago I took 2 bags of seed oats, 1 bag of cheap 3 way mix, and 3 bags of 13-13-13 and spread all over this little hill side... then weed eated the heck out of it. I was very skeptical about it working but from reading all yalls post I had faith. Finally made it to it this morning in the rain to check it out. And pumped about the results! I think there’s some other stuff growing back in there too, but idc it will serve it’s purpose for a winter field to hold some deer close





Trying to post a video, may have to click the link.
[img]https://imgur.com/gallery/w0vov1t[/img]

Here it is from about 150 yds away... doesn’t look to good from here yet, but I feel it will late season

Not bad considering this is the first year not disking not sprayed or bush hogged and last fall were used as loading docks.

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Plots are looking pretty good after 14 days. Meant to take more pics, but only took pic of one plot.

The area closest to shooting house is new expanded area of plot that did not have any thatch and gets less sunlight. It was overseeded and cultipacked, but is not as thick as old existing plot that had good thatch.