I have 60 acres that was logged about 6 years ago. I'm working towards clearing the vegetation on about 20 acres of it to make into pastures for cows and goats. I'm selectively leaving some saplings as I clear to grow into shade trees. My question is whats the best way to get good grass growing once I get this cleared out? Do I just spread seed and let it grow in? Pic to show what it looks like currently.
by BurgDweller
4 Comments
I I would just put the goats in there and let them go nuts.
I’d ask your county Extension Agent to come out. That and/or contact your county or regional NRCS Office and see if they could put you in touch with a forage specialist if they don’t have one on staff.
Orchard grass, fescue, alfalfa, Timothy, Birdsfoot trefoil, etc are all forage species but each has specific growing requirements as well as pros and cons for animal nutrition and total digestible nutrients, acid detergent fiber, etc. Those would all factor into recommendations for what to plant for your particular area and animals and what that ground would support.
I would probably supplement it by sowing some native and naturalized seed. Check with your local extension office and/or conservation district. They can give you some guidance. I emailed back and forth with a few different field and soil specialist to design a custom mix for our acreage.
All that effort and you don’t even know how to achieve your goal? That’s this sub in a nut shell.