bahiala

this note for James Howell , how much does this seed cost in you area? here in SC 25# cost $85, Do you think it worth that cost as a crop?

I'll start with a little history about our farm.

Bahia grass is a natural, native grass in our region of NE Texas.

Cows and horses will graze on Bahia after all the Coastal and/or Common Bermuda grass is gone.

We cut the Bahia grass for many years with our 6ft. Bush Hog finishing mowers.

Decided one day to "test run" our smaller KRONE 125 baler.

<a href="http://s200.photobucket.com/albums/aa5/jameslloydhowell/Haymaking%202008/The%20Corner/?action=view¤t=IMG_22.jpg" target="_blank"> </a>

In 2008 we cut, raked and baled a field of Bahia we call "the corner" for the first time ever.


<a href="http://s200.photobucket.com/albums/aa5/jameslloydhowell/Haymaking%202008/The%20Corner/?action=view¤t=IMG_11.jpg" target="_blank"></a>


Rather than waste the Bahia grass, we decided to either sell it to folks in our community or give it to our neighbor for his cows.

To answer your question about the cost of Bahia seed in our area; I'm sorry but I do not know.

Since it grows "naturally" on our farm, I've never had a reason to "price" a bag of Bahia seed.

To answer your question about thinking it's worth that cost as a crop; for us in the NE Texas region, my answer would be no it's not worth the cost.

Our preference of grass is Cheyenne Bermuda for Nancy's horses.

I have asked Nancy to reply with her thoughts on Bahia grass.

I encourage you to visit with your local Agriculture agent and discuss the merits of Bahia grass in your region of SC.

Tell him your needs and ask him for help with a crop plan.

Hope this helps.

I'm in upstate SC. Bahia grass is becoming native here. I suspect the SCHD platned in along the roads, but don't know.

It makes good hay. It will crowd out other weeds and grass except Johnson grass. It will crowd out broowstraw. Livestock loves to graze it.
That said, I don't want it on the place. It is tough to cut and does not cut smoothly. However, my main reason for dislikeing it for hay is that the yields are very poor. I would rate its yield as maybe one fifth or less than Coastal Bermuda and maybe one fourth that of common Bermuda, possibly more than one fifth of Fescue.

KEH

Several years ago I priced bahaia. I don't remember the exact cost but seems like it was fairly expensive, maybe around $7/lb.

I looked into harvesting it at one point, but since the seed is very small, smaller than a sesame seed, its fairly expensive to get the combine/harvesting equipment that will harvest a seed that small.

When producing seed you also have to be tested as to how much seed from weeds, etc., is in your seed, so if you are going to grow bahaia to harvest the seed, you have to do weed control. If you don't and your seed doesn't test to be 90% bahaia or higher, you might not be able to sell it.

As James suggested, visit with your local ag agent. If he can't give you some good info, he can probably tell you who you need to talk to.

Hope this helps.

Your second paragraph sums it up for me.

Our <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mnc36e52Njc">JD 350 sickle mowers</a> do a good job cutting it; but it kills the JD #5"s dead in their tracks.

Just hate to see it go to waste with so many folks out of hay during this drought in Central Texas.

I wouldn't try to get bahia started if you don't already have it unless nothing else will grow there. We have it around and try to get rid of it when we can but it's nearly impossible, seeds manage to hide on equipment and spread where you don't want it. It's not a native grass but neither is bermuda. Bermuda isn't as tough; especially in the hot dry summer. Grows up faster too when it does get rain. I'm sure bahia has it's place but it's not a favorite of mine.

I believe I purchased 50lbs for about $180 dollars in 2005. It was Pensacola Bahia. Generally I agree with what is being said, but depending on water I think you can have decent yields. Cut it in late afternoon when sugars are in the stem, and try not to cut past 6 to 8 weeks of growth for best testing, which can limit yields.

Bahia chokes out Coastal and turns a slight gray color when cut for hay. It's tough to cut and I hate it. In February I'm going to put out a pre-emerge to kill it in my Coastal field.

Nancy spot sprays the Bahia in our Coastal/Cheyenne Bermuda hay meadow.

She will probably win the battle next season.

I'm in agreement with you on Bahia vs. Coastal.

Before we bale the Coastal/Cheyenne hay field, we take the air hose and clean the baler.

Nancy says she doesn't want any more Bahia to get started on the hay field.

Probably will start cleaning the sickle mower and hay rake before using them at the hay field.

Thanks for sharing the idea of cleaning equipment.

Thanks for the information on not cutting past 6 to 8 weeks of growth.

Wasn't really sure what the interval should be on Bahia grass.

(quoted from post at 07:59:01 09/10/09) Nancy spot sprays the Bahia in our Coastal/Cheyenne Bermuda hay meadow.

She will probably win the battle next season.

Click to expand...

lly is recommended for control of bahia in bermuda meadows (see page 3). It was a real disappointment to me in my Rains County, Texas coastal meadows though, for two reasons. Where the bahia patches were killed, the common took over before the coastal and became dominant in those areas. The seed (&amp; maybe roots) are so prolific that within a few seasons, it looks like a lot of wasted time, effort &amp; expensive chemical, as the bahia continues to ruin my coastal.......another 5 years, it will be all bahia. There are many here that would like to string up the fellow that introduced it to this county. Kinda like kudzu in the east.
http://stephenville.tamu.edu/~butler/foragesoftexas/weedcontrol/labels/Ally.pdf