Want to Improve and Add Value to Your Forages?

 The winter months are often used by plants as a time of regeneration, rest and a time to reboot the system for the upcoming year. So, you need to remember that you must plan to create a environment that helps your pastures and fields prepare for the maximum yield and utmost quality, but also prepare for potentially damaging effects of summer heat and drought.  Some of you may be concerned about “bloat” in ruminants foraging legume enriched forages.  Please keep in mind this rarely happens in mixed grass situations.

Frost seeding is a practice that can help the quantity and quality of your forage system for multiple years to come. It allows seeds to be distributed onto undisturbed soils by broadcasting the seed on top of the ground.  In most of Virginia we are talking February 15 – March 15, as you want the newly seeded plants to get a good start before competition from the original grasses take off in the spring.  The natural freezing and thawing actions of the soil work the seeds into the soil where they can germinate as the environment and temperatures warm.

Wait, don’t just go spreading hundreds of pounds of seed on your farm please consider the forage species that will collaborate with your current forages to improve your chance of forage success.

Legumes have the highest chance for successful frost seeding. Red, white clovers and birds foot trefoil have proven to have the highest germination rates and potentially can intermix in your current pasture or hay stands and give you the most desirable results.  You may expect to find a more plentiful and healthy stand in year two, so don’t get discouraged in the planting year.  If you choose to add birdsfoot trefoil remember it generally takes a longer time frame. The first year after planting, birdsfoot trefoil plants will be sparse, but by the second year, a good-thick stand should be found. Remember there can be some legumes that do not frost seed well (ex: Alfalfa generally does not establish successfully with frost seeding).  You may want to check with your local seed representatives as there may be several less common legume varieties that are proving to work as well.

Frost seeding is done when the ground is frozen, which offers little opportunity to cause traffic damage to pastures. It is also less expensive than traditional forage establishment practices because it can be performed by broadcast seeding.

It is still very important to remember that you are planting so seed-to-soil contact is critical for success. Seeds need to be spread broadcast directly onto the soil surface that has been grazed down or “shortened” to allow for the freezing and thawing action to incorporate the seeds into the soil.  Remember to handle any weed management or invasive control is taken care of before you plan to frost seed as many broadleaf herbicides can kill legumes as well.

Frost seeding legumes into pastures can provide a mixed legume forage stand that benefits the animal with higher nutrition. Another benefit usually shows that legumes offer a nitrogen source for existing grasses, which often reduces the need for commercial fertilizer.