From corn stubble to timothy

[Swampy16]

My boss has horses and pays a lot of money for Timothy. He just informed me Friday that he bought a farm with 48 tillable acres. I grew up on a dairy farm and worked part time at a farm a while back so I’ve done some haying but will need some advice. He put me in charge of equipment so I need to start there first. Two tractors and all the implements needed. I’m not sure the last time it was plowed, I know a lot of people go the no tillage route so I’ll probably want to plow it. Would winter be the time to do that to get it ready?
My list of needed equipment so far is:
Tractors (two, because who only wants one)
Plow
Disc
Drill
Haybine
Tedder
Rake
Baler
Wagons
I’m sure I’m missing something and I’ll have lots of questions. I’ll likely have to fertilize and maybe apply a broadleaf spray. Let me know your thoughts. I’m new here so go easy on me

 

[Loosehandle]

Maybe a cultimulcher if lumpy, thats going to be a lot of hay how many horses does he have?
Maybe plant some to alfalfa as its easier to sell.

 

[Swampy16]

He has four horses and only needs about 600 bales. We were planning on selling the rest or doing something else entirely but will likely stick with hay or like you suggested alfalfa.

 

[Scott 730]

Location and soil type would be helpful to know............

 

[Swampy16]

South Jersey, I haven’t been on site yet to see what the soil looks like. It’s been farmed for years so it’s not sand. There was corn on it this year.

 

[paul]

Some corn herbicides do not play nicely with alfalfa or other types of seed within 18 months of application. Maybe not much you can do about it, but something to be mindful of.

As someone else said, I’d like a drag, harrow, or cultimultcher to really level and smooth the ground.

Here it is going down to minus 14f tonight, so winter is a terrible time to try field work, but if your climate is different it would be a great time to do the rough big field tillage, most of the time.

Paul

 

[Swampy16]

Thanks Paul, I’m not sure I can find out what was sprayed but I will try.

 

[paul]

There are a few grass herbicides that don’t bother corn (which is a grass!) or soybeans, and so are very popular to use. They do remain active for a longer time, which is a good thing if you are growing corn and soybeans, but something to watch for if you are growing small grains or forages. Often they don’t actually matter, but if you were in a drought or some other odd weather or here in my climate it is frozen over so many months, those certain herbicides don’t break down as fast.

It’s probably not an issue.

Paul

 

[560Dennis]

I suggest , The smoother surface the better for hand loading wagons ,very important in heavy soils .

I suggest birdsfoot trefoil with the Timothy. More variety the better the health of the hayfield. Will last many years .

Seed bed preparation is critical for strong roots to access water ,very important. Do you homework for that soil .