Page 32 - MWC 2-2-2023s

FROST SEEDING The Midwest Cattleman · February 2, 2023 · P32
continued from page 29 is being broadcast or imme- lespedeza is a warm-season ometer. Using a portable GPS
crease residue. The existing diately after. Rolling the field annual legume that was used unit can reduce misses and
sod must be suppressed, and with a corrugated roller after extensively in the past before overlaps and help the oper-
plant residue reduced prior seeding will also improve suc- producers had ready access to ator maintain a consistent
to seeding. The reduction in cess. lime and fertilizer. In general, speed (Figure 2).
plant residue allows seed to • Use high-quality seed and cool-season legumes (red and • Control post-seeding
reach the soil surface where it adapted varieties. Choose clo- white clover) will be more competition. Not controlling
can be incorporated by freez- ver varieties that have been productive under good grow- post-seeding competition is
ing and thawing events. Sod tested in your region. The ing conditions. one of the most common caus-
suppression and residue re- most current variety testing • Use correct seeding rate. es of stand failures. One of the
duction is best accomplished results can be found by visit- Make sure to maintain and best management practices
by hard grazing in late fall ing your local county exten- calibrate broadcast seeding is to leave cattle on pastures
and early winter. sion office. Choose varieties equipment prior to planting. that have been overseeded
• Ensure good soil-seed con- that have performed above Seeding at too high of a rate with clover until the clover
tact. Good soil-seed contact is average (>100%) for multiple needlessly results in higher seedlings have germinated
required for seed germination site-years. This indicates that seed costs. On the other hand, and are tall enough that the
and emergence. In frost seed- they are well adapted to con- seeding at too low a rate re- cattle start to graze them.
ings, this occurs when freeze ditions found in your region. sults in weak stands and Then remove animals from
and thaw cycles form cracks Use either a certified or pro- lower productivity. the pasture and allow the clo-
in the soil surface, often re- prietary seed to ensure high • Inoculate legume seed. ver to reach a height of 6-8
ferred to as a honeycomb germination, good seed ge- Most improved clover seed inches. At that time the pad-
(Figure 3). netics, and low noxious weed comes with a lime-based seed dock can be placed back into
• Seed on proper date. content. Do NOT use common coating that contains inoc- the rotation. If the existing
Frost seeding is best accom- or VNS (Variety Not Stated) ulant. Make sure that the vegetation is not controlled,
plished in late winter or very seed since there is no way to seed is fresh and has not been the new clover seedlings will
early spring (February and tell how it will perform. stored under adverse condi- be shaded out.
early March). Frost seeding • Legume mixture. In most tions. If the seed is not pre-in- Frost Seeding at a Glance
is accomplished by simply situations, a good mixture for oculated, inoculate it with the •Legumes are an essential
broadcasting the seed on the renovating pastures is 6-8 lb/A proper strain of nitrogen-fix- part of sustainable grassland
soil surface and allowing the of red clover, 1-2 lb/A of ladino ing bacteria prior to seeding. ecosystems.
freeze and thaw cycles to in- or intermediate white clover. This is relatively inexpensive •Overseeding may be re-
corporate the seed into the On rented farms or where soil insurance that optimum ni- quired to maintain and thick-
soil. Success with frost seed- fertility is marginal, adding trogen fixation will take place. en stands.
ing can be enhanced by drag- 10-15 lb/A of annual lespede- • Check seed distribution •Frost seeding is the sim-
ging the pasture as the seed za can be beneficial. Annual pattern. When using a spinner plest method for reintroduc-
type spreader/seeder make ing clover back into pastures.
sure and check your spread- •Control broadleaf weeds
ing pattern. In many cases prior to frost seeding.
small-seeded forages are not •Soil test and apply any
thrown as far as you think. needed lime or fertilizer be-
This can result is strips of fore frost seeding.
clover in your pastures rath- •Suppress the existing sod
er than a uniform stand. Also and reduce residue with hard
check your seed distribution grazing in the fall and winter.
pattern. Single disk spinners •Choose well adapted vari-
often throw more seed to one eties of red and white clover
side if not correctly adjusted. using the UK forage variety
• Use GPS guidance to testing data.
maintain a consistent distance •Calibrate seeder and
between passes and speed. It check spread pattern.
is often difficult to see where •Broadcast 6-8 lb/A of red
seed has already been broad- clover and 1-2 lb/A of white
cast and many ATV/UTVs do clover that has been inocu-
not have a functioning speed- lated in February or
early March.
•Control post
seeding competition
by grazing pastures
until clover seed-
lings become tall
enough to be grazed
off.
•Put pasture
back into rotation
once seedlings reach
a height of 6-8 inch-
Figure 3. Freeze and thaw cycles during late winter es.
result in the formation of cracks in the soil surface often
referred to as a “honeycomb”. This heaving incorporates
clover seeds into the soil and is commonly referred to as
“frost seeding”. (Photo by Jimmy Henning)