Page 30 - MWC 2-24-2022s

IT’S TIME TO FROST The Midwest Cattleman · February 24, 2022 · P30
continued from page 15
either wait until after it is gen. Red clover should be a lot of cases also. Multiple
not the case this year. Frost grazed or broadcast it just seeded at 6-8 lbs. per acre; bad production years in a
seeding relies on the freez- prior to grazing and let the birdsfoot trefoil at 5 lbs. per row out west where most of
ing-thawing action of the seed be “hoofed” in. If there acre and common lespedeza it is grown, coupled with in-
soil, which is honeycombing is too much cover then it with hulled seed at 10 lbs. flation, higher packaging ex-
of the soil’s surface with ice makes it hard for the seed to per acre. penses and more costly ship-
crystals. This causes the reach the soil and also makes All legumes should be in- ping are the main reasons.
soil’s surface to expand and it less likely to thrive. oculated with the appropri- Knowing exactly where you
contract, thus allowing the I usually recommend ate inoculants (rhizobia) for need to add more legumes
small seed to find a route slightly higher seeding rates that species to insure proper and only adding where need-
into the ground. It is import- for frost seeding than for con- bacteria, good germination, ed this year may be import-
ant that the seed have good ventional seeding. White clo- and growth. Coated seed, ant to your pocketbook.
seed-to-soil contact. vers can be seeded at 1-1.5 when available, can solve lots February is one of my
When I really have my lbs. per acre, remembering of problems including seed biggest reading months of
choosing, I’ll wait until there that it is a much smaller seed size, the inoculants and it the year. Now don’t get me
is a light snow on the ground than red clover and will be can even help the pH for the wrong, I read a little almost
and then do the sowing. The around longer. You can get it seedling. Coated seed should every day, but some months
snow serves two good pur- on too thick and yes, I know, be used the same year that it just lend themselves as being
poses. One, it helps “catch” it’s hard to seed that small is purchased, mainly due to more primed for reading than
the seed and transport it to amount! I’ve found that mix- the inoculant – it has a short- others. I tend to spend more
the ground and two, it serves ing it with another seed as a er storage life. time reading during the win-
as a great marker for the carrier is good. A little Coke I think the main points ter months and can easily
tractor or ATV. or any soda pop (whichever for a successful frost seeding find myself losing track of
It is best to plan ahead if you might have on hand, but of legumes are grazing the time. There are usually sev-
you decide to frost-seed. You not diet in any case) mixed in pasture down before seeding eral books and magazines
may have wanted to graze with it to get a little sticking to lower the amount of lit- covering the small table by
the pasture down a little action going also really helps. ter and spring competition, my easy chair which I find
shorter than normal to re- You can also mix the seed in seeding during freezing and to be the best way to keep up
duce competition and help with fertilizer or some pel- thawing conditions to help to date with all the latest in
that seed find its way to letized lime, but spread im- move the seed down into the grazing management. I can
the soil easier. If the field mediately – don’t let it sit, soil, and then keeping the stay awake a long time read-
is being stockpiled, you can especially with much nitro- grass growth under control ing, but I can’t stay awake
during early spring to give more than ten minutes into a
the seedlings plenty of sun TV show and often hear my
Registered and Commercial and a fighting chance to sur- wife say, “you awake?” I do
believe it is only the subject
20 spring Bred Heifers • 60 Fall Bred Heifers vive.
If you do plan to do any matter.
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it might be a good idea to sprinted fast ahead into al-
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Semen checked and ready • High carcass EPD's al species are in short supply biggest problem with this
and prices have increased in growing and huge amount
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