Establishing Pastures and Hay Meadows

1
Establishing Pastures and Hay Meadows
Author - Dennis Cash, Extension Forage
Specialist, Montana State University. Editor -
James E. Knight, Extension Agriculture and
Natural Resources Program Montana State
University.
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Forage stand condition after burning

• Role of fire in rangeland history
• Controlled burning
• Pros and Cons

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Timing and degree of fire loss

• Low intensity burns
• Native species
• High intensity burns
• Fast-growing annual crop

4
Selecting forage species for reestablishment
after fire

• Review forage needs, site characteristics, costs,
  and benefits of reseeding
• Public lands
• Private lands

5
Selecting forage species, cont.

• Adapted, introduced species
• Complex seed mixtures
• Pastures for different seasons of use
• Grass-legume mixtures

6
Cultivars and seed sources of forage seed

• Cultivar variety
• Federal and State seed laws
• Certified weed free
• Purity and Germination Data

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Planting methods

• Influences establishment
• Challenges
• Competition
• Dryland
• Costs

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Seeding rates

• Proper seeding rates
• PLS (pure live seed)

9
Site preparation and timing

• Best
• Firm, mellow, moist
• Free of weeds, debris and large clods
• Moisture for dryland seedings
• Farm ground
• Sub-irrigated meadows

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Seed placement

• Uniform, shallow depth (lt ½ inch)
• Broadcast planting
• Double seeding rates

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Companion or nurse crops

• Steep slope erosion
• Certified weed free
• Fast-growing annual crops

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Management during establishment

• Non-irrigation challenges
• Weed control
• Fertilizer application
• Soil test

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Management during establishment, cont.

• Protect new seedings from grazing
• Grazing management
• Non-irrigated versus irrigated pastures