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Feedback on improving range after drought

258 Views | 3 Replies | Last: 53 min ago by Gunny456
oldarmy76
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I've had my place for three years and unfortunately, the grass condition has gone downhill since I bought it. The drought of last couple years and the related overgrazing (18 cows on 425 acres in north central hill country) in some areas has not been good.

I'm in the process of cross fencing and extending water to what will be the far pasture which I think will help reestablish some grass. There are still some decent areas of little bluestem, side oats, etc, but there are some large areas in a few fields in the bottom lane that has very little grass…maybe 10% covered or less. These areas are currently covered up in broomweed (which is actually widespread across the place this year even where grass covering was decent) . There are also 2 hopefully fairly isolated areas of about a half acre of sand burrs.

I plan on reducing the beard down to about 12 cows, clearing some of the areas of the ranch that are thicker in underbrush, plus the cross fencing will help give the native rangeland grasses a chance to bounce back.
But also looking to spray some herbicides on the broomweed and sandburrs to help jumpstart the process.

I have a tractor and Polaris ranger and was looking at a boom sprayer. Any recommendations for preference in a rig that sets up in bed of ranger vs mounted on three point hitch? Any recommendations on treatments and timing of treatment for broomweed and sandburs? Does it do any good to shred some of the thicker patches of broomweed this late? I'm some of the thick areas of broomweed there's actually some good grass underneath.

Lots of questions and would appreciate feedback. Just hate that the quality of the land has gone down under my watch.
Spore Ag
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This weather pattern reminds me of 2010. Hot dry cloudless days the entire September, October and looking like November. Only lacking from what I remember is the strong winds.
We took care or weeds in spring so we still have grass. Different in Fayette county than where you are. If you catch broom weed before it seeds then shred it.
EskimoJoe
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You have to catch broom weed when it is very young to have any kind of control. Once it is more than 2 inches tall you probably won't kill it by spraying it. You basically have to get on it when things start greening up in the spring, most likely before you can positively identify it. We have had success with 2,4-D mixed with a surfactant mixed in with it.
Gunny456
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AG
Reach out to B-1-83, Micropterus, BQ-90, or Canyon Ag.
These guys are wizards and knowledgeable as can be on questions like this.
They have helped my no farmer ass immensely!

Probably tell you to start with some soil samples. That what they recommend I do…. man were they right!

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