Looking to buy a good used 2 bottom plow for use on some loam soil in Kansas. Been checking Tractorhouse.com and only new ones on there right now. Used is really preferred cause will only plow up about 5-15 acres.
Or as another idea, do guys who actually farm for a living ever hire out for a project like that? Looking at breaking some ground next June, discing in August and planting cereal rye for year 1. Then following up with native grasses in spring of 2022. Any suggestions welcome. Its totally a hobby farm and hopefully deer hunting spot.
Looking at some used mid 40 hp Kubota tractors at this point also. Thanks for any ideas.
Field is about 25 acres. I have another smaller patch that adds maybe 5 more acres I'd like plowed. If doing myself I'd be in no hurry so 2 bottom plow and some cold beers and stand back.
You might find someone to plow that size field.
It'd be way cheaper to hire a neighbor to do it. Ask around.
It'd be way cheaper to hire a neighbor to do it. Ask around.
^^^^This^^^^
Why not no-till drill the rye?
I'll be asking around to see if anyone is up to doing that plowing job. Appreciate the insights.
The field lays pretty flat and I know has some little bluestem growing in it. Kind of curious what burning it in late April would do for making it healthier and perhaps taller. Asking the local soil conservation office for more info on that approach.
Kingston, Not a farmer but thinking I'd have to burn down that existing grass with glyphosate prior to no till drilling the rye. Was thinking maybe just turning it under and then planting may yield better results. Need to kill some yuccas as well prior to any of this.
T'were it me, I'd probably chemically burn it down, disk it lightly, harrow as needed, and drill baby!
Have someone spray it and no-till drill whatever you want planted. I can't imagine your Regional NRCS folks wouldn't agree.
there's a 2 bottom and a couple of 3 bottom plows on Craigslist right now.
Checked out the NRCS and conservation folks in Kansas. Great resource and thanks for the suggestions in that direction. I can actually borrow a seed drill for free from them. We're gonna walk the property in Feb and develop a plan to get my planting in place. Punted the alfalfa thoughts and current direction is to get as much native switch grass growing as I can.
Will save any strong stands of little blue stem, but really looking forward to working with the local professionals on reestablishing some more native prairie. I'll upgrade my little Kubota to a less little 45 hp version shortly. Thanks again all. I may start a thread later on how it is all going. But new plan is tall, rank, nasty switch grass bedding thickets.
You got good advice. Cereal rye is very easy to no-till or plant without turning dirt. I plant it on food plots by just broadcasting it, spraying with gly, and cultipacking.
Is there a reason for Switch Grass.
I thought you were headed toward natural prairie mixture?
Kanlow switchgrass is a native tall prairie grass. May plant some indian grass and big bluestem as well. And any strong stands of little bluestem will get protected too. The switchgrass patches I have been hunting in the surrounding areas are holding good numbers of deer and quite a few pheasants. So planning on trying to replicate some of that tall bedding cover.
At least around here, if you plant switchgrass you're better off not paying for the other species. Without a bit of maintenance; strip disking or burning; you'll end up with all switchgrass anyway. I'd also not shy away from adding a forb component, especially some legumes. Helps the grass and is great for the critters.
Though there is a bit of red tape involved and some restrictions on management, I'd not discount enrolling the seeded portions into CRP/CREP if it qualifies. Rental payments might not be much, but would be better than nothing and they will help with installation plans/costs. If you don't want the burden of a longer term contract look and see what they offer through EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentives Program). Won't get a rent payment, but would help with planning and installation costs.
PS- Hank and I could be made available for bird "surveys"...
Pointer, Hoping to do one more bird survey in Kansas before month end, though the end of Dec was tough hunting for us. I do think there are soil conservation plans that would provide assistance for the installation at a minimum. Plus the turkey population in this area has declined and I think there may be some habitat improvement assistance for them as well. I don't think this place will ever hold many birds but hoping to hold some deer if I can get it setup well.
Wanting to hit SD during grouse season next fall. We should meet up there sometime.
SD is on my short list for next year. Timing will be dependent on big game draws. Once I have an idea I'll be in touch. Then again, I'm getting to the point that I'd just as soon head out with Hank for birds than for big game...
Good luck with the farm!
Plowing is about the worst thing for soil you can do. It's had years to build its tilth and black soil exposed to sunlight is damaging...the weeds will explode ..its mother natures way of healing the wound..
I'm taking out my crp this year about 40 acres. That ground won't get tilled by me for sure...its been in native grass for 30 years..
My plan is to burn down with glysophate plant corn and fly on rye in late sept ..run cows all winter..
I baled off all the grass last Oct
Plowing is about the worst thing for soil you can do. It's had years to build its tilth and black soil exposed to sunlight is damaging...the weeds will explode ..its mother natures way of healing the wound..
I'm taking out my crp this year about 40 acres. That ground won't get tilled by me for sure...its been in native grass for 30 years..
My plan is to burn down with glysophate plant corn and fly on rye in late sept ..run cows all winter..
I baled off all the grass last Oct
Little blue stem is a tough kill with roundup. I had some in crp that hung around 3-4 years ..when we do our burn down its not actively growing yet. Clethodome in beans seems to finally get it..
Are you trying to raise just rye?
Good info Rainier. If some of the little bluestem survives I guess that is fine. First thing is to kill off the existing yuccas as they have gotten established over the years. Going to do a 2 acre test plot of Kanlow switchgrass to see if I can get it established. Will use glyphosate in early April and again in early May. May mow the old standing grass stand in March as well.
Will broadcast seed the Kanlow in mid May and the roll it using an atv and roller. Doing it this way, can use my existing equipment. So of the existing acres in the pasture, 2 will go switch to start. Have a 4 acre plot picked out for glyphosate treatment and then buckwheat cover crop going in. That gets killed off in July and then planting rye, oats, brassicas, perhaps some beans into that 4 acres and rolling the dead buckwheat down in August.
Will see how those two areas do this year and then perhaps modify my approach in 2021. Clethodome looks interesting. I'll research that some more too.
never could get oats to go here, unless planted by mid May....
Don, think it is pretty rain dependent for a fall planting. Could go well or may not do crap. If like last year's moisture, won't do anything. The rye should pop up and perhaps the brassicas. Gotta get soil tests done on both plots this Friday. That may squash my plans as well. Its a learning thing so going to jump in.
That clethodim or however you spell it may work well at knocking back the current grass crop. Have to work this stuff in around a few spring turkey hunts on the place.
I bought a 5 bottom plow for $500 - it was in very good condition. Sometimes the land needs to be plowed, especially if it had not been plowed in years. I plowed under 8 foot tall cotton wood trees.
Turning the soil over brings the old soil to the top and the plant rich soil down. The only reason it was abandoned with other methods was to save gasoline/diesel. THERE IS NO ADVANTAGE other than that, except saving moisture - if that is an issue.
I recommend looking on Craig's List and Facebook market place.
30338- I'd be surprised if you can't get the rye to grow. I've had it sprout in the bed of my truck after it got wet. When I've used buckwheat I didn't bother with burning it down or mowing. I let it set seed, broadcast the next crop into it then rolled it down. You'll gets LOTS of volunteer buckwheat, but it'll be gone after the first frost. That said, a burn down of it won't hurt, especially if it's a bit weedy. Might want to consider throwing some cheap annual clover in with the rye, brassica,and oats. All 3 really like nitrogen and the clover would give you some of that. Plus, it's generally cheap.
I bought a 5 bottom plow for $500 - it was in very good condition. Sometimes the land needs to be plowed, especially if it had not been plowed in years. I plowed under 8 foot tall cotton wood trees.
Turning the soil over brings the old soil to the top and the plant rich soil down. The only reason it was abandoned with other methods was to save gasoline/diesel. THERE IS NO ADVANTAGE other than that, except saving moisture - if that is an issue.
I recommend looking on Craig's List and Facebook market place.
Lots of evidence out there that disagrees with your rationale or reasoning for why it was abandoned, especially in regards to wildlife plantings...
Pointer, Have a plan for 2 acres of switchgrass after talking with my seed distributor. I'll run with that plan and think it has good odds if we get rain.
Going with buckwheat and maybe sunflowers on the 4 acre food plot that is now entirely little bluestem and weeds. Will kill that off, plant buckwheat, roll it in, and hope it takes off. If it does and I guess even if it doesn't, will do what you said above and go with a mix of seeds in there come August. Its in a great spot for a stand or blind on my place and hoping to cash in come Sept.
Switchgrass is gaining in popularity here for places that need additional cover. Too many around here only think of trees when they think of deer cover. Some are putting in WSG like switchgrass and liking it once it's well established. Hope you seed dealer has told you to be patient. With species like switchgrass it can take up to 3 years to really see the success.
Curious what you see with the sunflowers. I planted some with a fall food plat a couple years ago. Got good establishment, but they didn't last long, deer ate them all!
That clethadum is cheap we use it on be and for grass when doing liberty beans. Also is murder on vol corn that has the liberty gene. Also use it on alfalfa...if it's grass family it will kill it
If you're still looking for a 2 bottom plow, there are a couple on Craigslist-Wichita.
G23
Thanks G23. Going to try doing it without this year for a couple of test plots. Have a few ideas to test on 4-6 acres. Thanks again.
Well was working on the place last weekend and my farmer neighbor stopped by. Super nice young kid. Sounds like when he is discing his field up in August, that he'll swing by and do however many acres I have ready to go for me. So it all got a lot easier all of sudden. Plan on planting a winter cover crop and then planting into that spring of 2022. Now back to killing yuccas and honey locusts lol.
I do not know about there, but here deer really like the honey locust pods as a food source.
I have heard they like them. Sort of invasive out there if left to their own devices. Killing those and yuccas. Then planning on planting a variety of oaks to see which will survive in the river bottom.
Oaks will be a wonderful experiment.
Wonder what/how they will do there?
In a few years you may well have acorns.
I had never seen a honey locust when I lived "out there", but then I guess Denver area is different than Albuquerque.
We have them here and I have regretted killing he few I had in the woods.
Not a whole lot left for deer to eat in late winter/early spring.
Louis, This spot is in central KS so they have a lot of browse and the winter wheat fields are looking great. Hearing reports that bur oaks do pretty well in the area so those are on the list for sure. Just want them far enough from the river that the beavers don't mess with them. Will keep wire cages around them for a few years also to prevent deer rubs.
The story around here is, that if you come across a Bur Oak tree, the acorn was likely transported here by Native Americans.
You may want to look at the time to produce mast when you get to looking at oaks.
Kansas Forestry offers some great pricing on seedlings. Trees on my list to be planted next year with tree tubes followed by wire cages till too big for rubs are:
Black walnut, bur oak, chinkapin oak, northern red oak, pecan, pin oak, shell bark hickory, shumard oak, and swamp white oak.
Will be busy next spring working on that project for sure. I figure some will do better than others and as you mentioned, they should drop acorns at various times.