Overseeding

What is happening at farm level?
A recent survey of a proportion of co-op suppliers from Kerry, Connaught
Gold and Glanbia (Creighton et al., 2011) found a number of significant
findings from a reseeding perspective, these are listed below.
i. Regular reseeding took place on 50% of participants farms, 25%
reseed infrequently, 25% never reseed.
ii. Of those reseeding, 50% of participants reseed 2-4ha/year, 20%
<2ha/year.
iii. 75% of participants prioritise reseeding the grazing area.
iv. The experienced benefits of reseeding are increased
spring/autumn DM production and improved sward quality.
v. Autumn reseeding was the preferred time of 66% of survey
participants, 13% in spring, the remaining 21% did a combination
of both.
vi. Only 50% of the participants soil test the area being reseeded.
vii. 50% plough, 20% use minimum cultivation, 30% use a
combination of both.
viii. When seeding, 40% use the fertiliser spreader, 35% seed barrow.
ix. Post emergence spray was used on 50% of farms.
x. 85% of participants have swards affected by docks, directly linked
to low usage of post emergence spray and timing of reseeding.
In general the results of the survey are encouraging; the farms which are
reseeding are experiencing good results and consider it a good investment. A
number of key areas need to be addressed however, which is the purpose of
the following paper.

reilig wrote: »

I baled 8 acres of silage yesterday that I sprayed with roundup biactive a week ago. I ran the chainharrow on it twice yesterday evening and spread grass seed along with 1 bag per acre of 10-10-20 and 1 bag per acre of granulated lime. I intend to cover the whole lot with a very light coat of slurry this evening and roll it in. In the past this method has worked out great for reseeding for me. It doesn't break the sod and I find that grass grows much better on it than if I had power harrowed the top inch of soil.

• Day1 - spray second cut with Roundup Biactive 1 week before harvesting silage
• Day 7 - Mow
• Day 8 - bale
• Then all the next steps in immediate succession
  • Chainharrow x2 in perpendicular runs
  • Spread half seed with 1bg of 10-10-20 in one direction
  • Spread other half of seed with 1bg of gran lime perpendicular to fert
  • Slurry, I'm thinking 2,000 gal/ac
  • Roll
• All done by end of day 9/10

• I'm a bit nervous about spraying before cutting. If the weather breaks what are the shortest and longest time periods you have to work with sprayed grass?
• If all goes according to plan how soon after seeding are you looking at grazing it? I'm looking at coordinating weaning so that they will be grazing it. Will break it into paddocks and rotate them on it.

Muckit wrote: »

HI JDI

I did a full reseed that time, not just 'overseeding. I sprayed it off with roundup, then got contractor to give it a single light rub of powerharrow. Then I shook grass seed on its own with spinner, then put out 2 -2.5 bags of 10-10-20(I think)

This year I have given overseeding a go. But wasn't going to mention it here until I seen results

..........so basically I sprayed meadow 3weeks precutting with Hi-load micram. This was to kill off all weeds (few docks, but mainly buttercups). Walked it last night and none coming in regrowth so I'm happy out.

Silage picked up on 8 June and a few days later I gave it a run of chain harrow, then attached chain harrow to back of spinner and spread grass seed, then a bag of 0-10-20/acre. I also threw half a bag of seed into each tank and got slurry out on it. Then borrowed a neighbours roller and gave it a light roll

It's starting to green up now, but that's the old grass. Once it comes on another bit I'I use strip wire (front and back) to move them around the field and clip it down. This should let light into the new seedling and give them the best chance. I'm thinking if it doesn't work, I can throw my hat at this overseeding lark!! The weather has been perfect for it.

• Has not rolled post seeding with no issue.
• Has a lot of drainage done since taking over the farm 5/6 years ago prior to reseeding
• With overseeding has maintained 3 week rotation and therefore no time lost while waiting for new seed to take
• Worst paddock was done last spring, had to be grazed and was poached, and a cut of silage taken off it one week ago. Good grass growth but not thick

just do it wrote: »

[/LIST]
What I've ended up doing:
Day 0 - spray with Biactive
Day 3-7 - bite finger and toe nails watching the weather;)
Day 7 - mow and bale. Grass was only left on the ground a few hours as it was already dry and rain was on the horizon (drizzle started as last bale was in baler)
Day 8&9 - disc harrow by a friend who has one. Opted to do this as the field has a lot of ridges and the 2 headlands were unmowable so it will bring all the field into the silage ground
Day 10 (tomorrow) - power harrow
Day 10/11 - spread seed with wagtail in two perpendicular runs, spread gran lime and 10-10-20 with wagtail. Roll.
Day 11-12 - watery slurry at ~1500-2000gln/ac
Day 13 - figure out how I'm going to pay for it:rolleyes:
O
I've kept a 1 acre corner for reseeding with chain harrow only. I gave it a few runs on day 8 but it didn't get much of a cut in the ground. Grass still dying off so will give it another run on day 10 so will be interested to see if it cuts in better.

So yesterday morning as I was parking up with the chain harrow a retired neighbour called in. I'd always take this man's council. He told me he reseeded years ago using no spray, a chain harrow, spread seed and spread FYM on top with great results. It was a timely visit as I felt the chain harrow hadn't done enough to open the ground for new seed. He took a look and said it would take off! Time will tell....

dharn wrote: »

I have justs stitched in 3 acres with guttler machine, 10 days after spraying ground very hard and very dry topped it after 5 days and let cattle in to graze toppings, but a lot of chaff left, 2 bags of gran lime per acre applied and 2 bags 10 10 20 applied thinking of puttingsome thin slurry on it, any opinions on when would be the best time to do this , tomorrow or when the seed has sprouted

dharn wrote: »

Thanks pudsey, no slug pellets used, would the amount needed be very expensive, never heard of using slug pellets on grass reseeding before

dharn wrote: »

I have justs stitched in 3 acres with guttler machine, 10 days after spraying ground very hard and very dry topped it after 5 days and let cattle in to graze toppings, but a lot of chaff left, 2 bags of gran lime per acre applied and 2 bags 10 10 20 applied thinking of puttingsome thin slurry on it, any opinions on when would be the best time to do this , tomorrow or when the seed has sprouted

yupyupyup wrote: »

We swapped out rotavator this summer for a spiked rotavator as we felt the standard rotavator was creating a 'pan' in the soil if you like and inhibiting drainage, anyone have experience of this?
The spiked rotavator did a good job tilling and seemed to burn less diesel(although we had it burned off for 3.5 weeks so it was very tender) but our big problem was it seems to have left huge amounts of scraw on top, when we ran the chain harrow over it to cover the seed it literally dragged mounds of scraw, very frustrating. Is there anything we could have done differently?
Is it advisable to spread bagged lime on it also? it's only 2 acres so we ain't gonna be getting someone in with a lime spreader for that little bit

Also I'm curious about sowing in rape on about 2 acres of extremely peaty(practiaclly bog) land that Im gonna reseed next yr hopefully, is it too late to put in the rape now?

dharn wrote: »

Lime neutralises the rotting scraw as this is acidic, so it protects the emerging grass, so id say you could still put on the gran lime