The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Bramham Wiltshire Horns on September 14, 2017, 01:01:44 pm

Title: Turning wheat field into grass
Post by: Bramham Wiltshire Horns on September 14, 2017, 01:01:44 pm
We are looking at a small holding on Saturday
It used to have grass fields but now has been turned into wheat fields

Out of interest does anyone know roughly what it would take to get 5 acres back to grass and how long it would be before sheep and cattle could be put back into it

Thanks I will also put in a different topic

Title: Re: Turning wheat field into grass
Post by: Tim W on September 14, 2017, 01:35:50 pm
We drilled a new ley into a stubble last week ----expect to graze it in April with sheep

Great opportunity to sow the grass type you want and to get clean grazing
Title: Re: Turning wheat field into grass
Post by: Marches Farmer on September 14, 2017, 03:19:52 pm
Autumn sown grass will generally grow away very well.
Title: Re: Turning wheat field into grass
Post by: Bramham Wiltshire Horns on September 14, 2017, 06:51:03 pm
Next question
What would the cost likely to be I know it can vary

And what type of grass should I aim for
Title: Re: Turning wheat field into grass
Post by: macgro7 on September 14, 2017, 08:25:30 pm
I've put mixture of cold season grasses, cold season grasses (about 10 different species), legumes (several different varieties of clover, vetch etc) and some other herbs. That's should more or less take care of itself if managed correctly (frequent rotation, longish rest periods).
Title: Re: Turning wheat field into grass
Post by: davet on September 14, 2017, 09:45:28 pm
Next question
What would the cost likely to be I know it can vary

And what type of grass should I aim for

Depends what you want to do with it, depends on your soil.
I would look around:

https://www.thegrassseedstore.co.uk/product-category/agricultural/ (https://www.thegrassseedstore.co.uk/product-category/agricultural/)

https://www.hmseeds.co.uk/en/agricultural-grass-seed-forage (https://www.hmseeds.co.uk/en/agricultural-grass-seed-forage)

http://www.bostonseeds.com/products/1/Grass-Seeds/3/Agricultural-Grass-Seed/ (http://www.bostonseeds.com/products/1/Grass-Seeds/3/Agricultural-Grass-Seed/)

http://www.barenbrug.co.uk/products.asp?menu_id=5 (http://www.barenbrug.co.uk/products.asp?menu_id=5)

and realise how much choice you have