lezpedza hay

[OneFineAcre]

NCDOT actually plants it for erosion control here
Remind me this summer to get some pics at I540/Bufalo Rd exit

 

[goatboy1973]

I have it growing here... way too much hassle to transport them miles down the road and then I'd have to sit there all day! I look at the development and think hmmmm if I could harvest that than I might make enough money to but more goats!

Yep. I think the same way. My grandfather was a seed salesman for 40 yrs and he would have samples of Lespediza he would give to highway departments to try for erosion control and there was always always bunches of out of date seed or low germination rates so instead of just tossing the stuff in the trash, he would spread the stuff on a few places on the farm where it washed really bad. Now there are huge patches of the stuff growing that he and I spread 20+ yrs ago. He has since passed away, so when I see Lespediza growing on the farm I think of my grandfather Calfee.

 

[goatboy1973]

NCDOT actually plants it for erosion control here
Remind me this summer to get some pics at I540/Bufalo Rd exit

Lespediza grows just about anywhere. It is drought tolerant, has a very deep root system, and is also tolerant of too much rain, and extreme temps either heat or cold.

 

[Southern by choice]

Yep. I think the same way. My grandfather was a seed salesman for 40 yrs and he would have samples of Lespediza he would give to highway departments to try for erosion control and there was always always bunches of out of date seed or low germination rates so instead of just tossing the stuff in the trash, he would spread the stuff on a few places on the farm where it washed really bad. Now there are huge patches of the stuff growing that he and I spread 20+ yrs ago. He has since passed away, so when I see Lespediza growing on the farm I think of my grandfather Calfee.

Now that is a very cool story! So that is where Calfee Farms comes from.

 

[goatboy1973]

Yep, in his honor. I am glad you liked the story. There's more where that came from. LOL!!!

 

[Fullhousefarm]

Whoever was asking about growing it in Florida...
Hancock seed is out of Dade City, FL so they might even be able to tell you if it will grow well here.

Also, in central/north Florida peanut is a great goat hay. Another legume similar to Alfalfa, it can be found inexpensively (sometimes..) and is high in protein, our oats don't waste it like they do the thick Alfalfa stems either.

I want to experiment with lespidiza or peanut for grazing. But the time... Just never enough.