strong grass for cutting fertiliser advise

leoch

I have two acres that is to strong and long to graze so am going to spread fertiliser on it today and will be cut with the rest in about 28 days time , so I was thinking on putting out 3 bags to the acre of 18.6.12(3 × 18 = 54÷2=27) so I could cut it in 27/28 days would this thicken it up a bit or is there another alternative I could use in this time frame

allbuiz

leoch wrote: »

I have two acres that is to strong and long to graze so am going to spread fertiliser on it today and will be cut with the rest in about 28 days time , so I was thinking on putting out 3 bags to the acre of 18.6.12(3 × 18 = 54÷2=27) so I could cut it in 27/28 days would this thicken it up a bit or is there another alternative I could use in this time frame

Did u do a soil test?

leoch

No soil tests this field was overseeded with grasss seed end of last summer and got gran lime and all now it never came 100% but to good to graze

epfff

leoch wrote: »

No soil tests this field was overseeded with grasss seed end of last summer and got gran lime and all now it never came 100% but to good to graze

Cut it the next fine day and start again
If stuff goes too strong like that it will head out too quick

Farmer Pudsey

allbuiz wrote: »

Did u do a soil test?

Why the F@@K would he do a soil test on 2 acre, anyway this it is a short term issue.

epfff wrote: »

Cut it the next fine day and start again
If stuff goes too strong like that it will head out too quick

Good idea but OP sounds like a smallish farmer may not have a way of cutting and unless contractor is available he may not be able to do it.

3 bags/acre might be a tad strong it takes 2 day to go into ground. If weather is good you may cut earlier, 2-2.5 bags/acre of 18-6-12 not ideal but it will increase crop.

_Brian

Would the problem not be quality of the bales on 28 days.
If it's strong now and you fertilise it will head to seed and make less quality stuff. Probably good enough to maintain old cows but it would e low in P for growing any stock.

Applying 27 days of N to cut in 28 days is risky. If there came a period of slower growth then you could be cutting with too much N.

I'd wonder if you weren't better strip graze it to improve uptake and then keep it in control going forward.

cristeoir

What if you didn't put any fertiliser on it at all, just let it grow on itself and cut with the rest in the 28 days. If the weather was good you could get it in hay in 4 days if that was what you wanted. I would just be reluctant to spend 50 -75 an acre on fertiliser at this stage for a questionable return, could be better used to bring on the aftergrass on it I think.

Farmer Pudsey

epfff and Brian are right quality will not be great. Especially if no N spread on it in last 4 weeks However if cutting not and making a few bales is not an option as Brian says strip grazing with suckler cows and closing 4-5 acre's instead. that is recently grazed( top it if you can) and fertilize this and treat as for 2nd cut may be a better option.

However if going with silage at present is only option 12-15 bales of poor quality may be better than nothing next April.

Viewtodiefor

leoch wrote: »

I have two acres that is to strong and long to graze so am going to spread fertiliser on it today and will be cut with the rest in about 28 days time , so I was thinking on putting out 3 bags to the acre of 18.6.12(3 × 18 = 54÷2=27) so I could cut it in 27/28 days would this thicken it up a bit or is there another alternative I could use in this time frame

Cut it now take your bales. Then maybe spread and take another cut. Why waste your money on questionable quality grass, better spent on the few bales taken now at least you have them plus decent ones in few weeks time.

leoch

Yea don't have much silage ground and the extra bales even if they are poor quality will still be very useful thanks for all ur replies and if need be I could put of cutting it all by a few days weather permitted and give the new fertilizer a few extra days

Greengrass1

I have a field in out farm that had a dirty oul butt on it. Went to strong for heifers so I put a bag and a half of cut sward on it. Has done a right job on it. Still lots of leaf in it. Will be cut as soon as weather clears.
Should clean the ground up really well