Page 33 - MWC 2-3-2022s

TIMELY FROST SEEDING IMPROVES The Midwest Cattleman · February 3, 2022 · P33

PASTURE, HAY STANDS!

By Chris Penrose, Extension Educator, OSU Extension

In the past as we’ve talk- palatability is actually good, cows ready to calve
ed about the virtues of frost and in many cases, better in to in early March
seeding, we’ve suggested it’s than hay you may be feed- to have good feed
something that is best to ing. The endophyte levels are and a thick sod. If
occur in February or March very low now and the quali- you have a field you
during the period when the ty is maintained better than want to frost seed,
ground is freezing and thaw- other forages. I actually have if possible, abuse
ing almost daily. In recent one predominately fescue
years freezing and thawing field still stockpiled to turn continued on page 38
temperatures haven’t always
happened after mid-Febru-
ary. Since it’s the freezing
and thawing over time that
gives frost seeding a great
chance to work, the time for
frost seeding may be upon us
soon.
Frost seeding is a very low
cost, higher risk way to estab-
lish new forages in existing
fields by spreading seed over
the field and let the freezing
and thawing action of the soil
allow the seed to make “seed
to soil” contact allowing it
to successfully germinate.
When you see soils “honey-
combed” in the morning from
a hard frost, or heaved up
from a frost, seed that was
spread on that soil has a
great chance to make a seed
to soil contact when the soil
thaws. I think the two biggest
reasons why frost seeding
fails is people wait too late to
frost seed and the seed never
makes good contact with the
soil. I have heard some say
that they like to “overseed”
or just spread seed over an
established stand. Let’s face
it, if the seed does not land on
the soil but on existing living
or dead vegetation, it does
not have a chance to success-
fully germinate. You need ex-
posed soil. It’s important to
also note that frost seeding
can be done over a thin layer
of snow, however it’s import-
ant to realize that rapid snow
melt can cause the seed to be
washed away from where it’s
needed.
There’s still ample time
to assess and seed potential
fields. I am especially fond
of frost seeding endophyte
infected fescue fields where
producers have issues with
cattle grazing them during
the summer. If you can get
cattle to graze these fields in
the winter, the quality and