Crop Suggestions

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mnryegrower
4-H er

likes it kinky.....

Posts: 33

Crop Suggestions Jul 22, 2011 14:27:13 GMT -5

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Post by mnryegrower on Jul 22, 2011 14:27:13 GMT -5

What would you plant and what production methods would you use on ground that has been hayed for 20+ years with little to no fertilizer added and no tillage?

This is mostly upland native grasses that has been cut every year for hay (occasionally pastured).

What Crop?
What Tillage?
What Chemicals?

Sandy Loam soils with little to no slope and ave. fertility index of approx 72 located in Central MN.

Any thoughts? Stay no-till? Plow it up and throw manure at it? leave it as hay (I don't really want to leave it as hay). Disk, Chisel plow, Min-till/No-Till/Strip Till?

Would like to grow:

Corn, Wheat, Soybeans, Rye and possibly Sunflowers and Alfalfa / Grass could eventually be added to the rotation.

Matches?? We don't need no stinking Matches!!

cowboycorn
Hired Hand

schpellin and gramer natzee

Posts: 155

Crop Suggestions Jul 22, 2011 17:06:11 GMT -5

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Post by cowboycorn on Jul 22, 2011 17:06:11 GMT -5

Soil test, soil test, soil test.

Then add what any crop would call for. If the soil surface is smoothe enough to traverse without tearing up equipment, you have what every no till farmer strives for after a number of years, a root matted soil structure. They have always hayed off the top, but the roots remained each year. Your OM might not have increased much, but it certainly didn't go down since you didn't invert the live organisms to display their tender bellies to the hot sun each summer. Go for it, plant what the local climate will grow. You certainly, IMHO, have no major malfunctions that would hinder potential.