Breathin' New Life in Alfalfa

Gonna be a darned busy week around here. I know, I know; be careful what ya wish for. :>(

Anyhoo, I have to redo an old alfalfa field because the grasses have pretty much taken the thing over and I have to keep it in alfalfa this year to keep my rotation correct. Also, I gotta get it done this week, because the alfalfa is really coming on fast.

I was told it is in it's fourth year, which in all reality probably translates into about 7 or 8 years, if the truth be known. Soil here is a very heavy black loam and clay mix.

Neighbor told me yesterday that he uses a springtooth one time at an angle and then the second time following the direction that the swather will travel. That way, the swather will have less chance of plugging.

I'm settin' here wondering if I can't just springtooth it fairly deep once and then just roll my old packer over the field to break up any clods that are gonna be wanting to plug the sickel.

Does that sound like a plan?

Allan

Ray

Thanks fer the reinforcement.

I knew it worked 'cause it was a chore I didn't like very much when I was young, but it is just something that has to be done to maintain a healthy stand of alfalfa.

Later,

Allan

This is what friend is using on his old field. Figures that it will not kill all the alfalfa, but he will plant a forage type oates into it, cut the mixture, then this fall rip it all up to replant. BTW,thats a lot of cheap power. Those old Stigers come cheap.
Kennyp

A three day rain came along right after he got done. The alfalfa sprouted out of the crowns and roots too. He told me that it came back double and he left the field for another 20 years. :>)

Allan

Doggone it, I just can't do that.

It is full of cheatgrass and it's gotta go.

Allan

Allan

And I've already went broke on my own money. I know fullwell how the process works. :>)

Allan

steveormary

Yes sir, that's exactly what I'm trying to do.

Allan