Filed under: May 2022 | Tags: field preparation, Pasture Breeding, spring planting, Suffolk Horses
May 14, 2022
Yesterday, I planted this field to oats and pasture grasses. I don’t really care how well the oats do, the goal is to get this paddock back to grass. If we get a good crop of oats that will be a bonus.
Necessity is the mother of invention. After a very wet cold spring, this field finally dried out enough to work the soil. I used a new idea, opting for the tractor over the horses for this job. I lightly rototilled the corn stubble. I worked it just enough to chop the stubble and smooth ruts in just one pass.
This new to me technique, allows for minimal fuel use and sped the process up to beat the rain. After it was tilled, I used the cone seeder and spun on the oats and grass mixture with a little pelleted lime mixed in to keep the flow even. Once the field was covered, I rolled it all flat with a field roller. The roller smoothed things out even better, but also ensured for good “seed to soil” contact.
I had been fretting some over getting this field planted timely and between rains. It is a poorly drained paddock and is much better suited to grass than any other crop. We need the pastures to rotate our livestock through. This one will most likely remain in permanent pasture. We will mow, renovate and fertilize as needed, but for other row crops it will only be used as a last resort.
The other “seeding” we have been doing, is the job of our stallion Hank, breeding our mares. This causes a little disruption around here, as we keep the honeymooning couple mostly by themselves for a couple days. All is back to normal now, so real farm work can continue.
The plan is to plow our corn ground and get it planted in the next week. We will push hard to get it done. This will allow for training of our young horses on several pieces of equipment. Even our newest baby will get exposure as she walks alongside of her working mother.
We have planted a few garden vegetables, but are going slow. Frost is still a factor in our zone 5 climate. Lake Erie sometimes messes with Mother Nature, so we will be cautious. Spring is a wonderful time of year on the farm and I love it!
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RicelandMeadows 
I love that you pasture breed the natural way! & you work the mares wirh their foals alongside. As it was always done before we humans intervened. I saw the filly out in the pasture! So cute! Your wise words of patience & it will all get done are comforting reminders to me as I worry about the lack of time & clear weather. Since my Grandmother is no longer on this Earth to tell me those things.
Comment by Jacklyn May 14, 2022 @ 3:53 pmThank you Yes, Hank learned from a young colt how to approach the mares and how to behave. They taught him much more than I ever could. He is good with them and very good with the foals.
Comment by ricelandmeadows May 17, 2022 @ 8:44 amSorry to hear about your gramma. She is right, don’t fret over anything, just make plans and work when you can. Things will all work out.