Order of operations for pasture improvement
Hi there, I am new to this forum. We have a hobby farm in NSW northern rivers.
I have a south facing slope in the cattle/horse paddock which has been overrun by blady grass and weeds. I have spent the last couple of seasons selectively spraying broadleaf weeds and slashing. With spring here I plan to oversow the area with Rhodes grass and Millet. The point of the millet would be to get up quickly for some early summer feed and shade out the weeds. Will it also shade out the establishing Rhodes grass too much?
My plan was (to minimse labour):
1. graze cattle then move on
2. wait for predicted rainfall
3. broadcast seed (Rhodes/Millet mix)/superphos using fertiliser spreader off tractor
3. use the ride on mower (to known down any of the post-grazing stubble/blady grass/weeds) and tow behind the pasture harrows to lightly cover the seeds.
this would be only 2 passes over the pasture. Although i do worry the broadcast seed would be blown away by the mower blades....
Alternatively I could mow first, then bradcast seed, then harrow finally. But this is 3 passes over pasture so more labour.
4. then rest and allow first grazing when millet gets up to allow some light in to Rhodes.
any advice or reassurance on the above would be appreciated.
Thanks, Pat