Rammy's Ramblings

[Rammy]

I have a F250 3/4 ton truck. I had thought about just using it, but when it rains alot, or when its winter time, I do NOT drive it into the pasture. I dont have 4 wheel drive. I cant tell you how many times I got stuck out there.
Once I had to leave it out in front of the barn at night because I couldnt get any traction. It was going to be in the teens that night, so the next morning before I went to work, I was able to drive it out.
My neighbor wont mind doing it. I just have to make sure to time it so he is available when I rent it. I can at least lime it this fall but was told its too late to reseed.

 

[Mike CHS]

I pull my spreader with my riding lawn mower and it holds a 50 lb bag of seed. The first 20 gallon sprayer that I had I set in a garden wagon and pulled it with the rider also but it didn't have a boom (just a spray hose).

What vegetation do you have that you want to kill? The problem with sprays is that they also kill some of the good stuff that animals like to eat. A soil test will help you get started but I'm guessing you are going to need lime before anything else. You can't get the spreaders to bring it and spread it but our COOP will sell a pallet of lime at a decent discount. Our COOP will rent a spreader trailer full of lime at a decent price but you need a way to pull it.

 

[Rammy]

Not sure what kind of weeds they are but they have little yellow flowers all over them. Also have a problem with thistle. I usually use a shovel to pop the taproot, but find some elsewhere later on. Its been a few years since its been limed so thats probably my first step.
I would have to use my truck or neighbors tractor if I rented the spreader from the CO-OP. I dont think my zero turn could pull that big thing.
Your pasture was so nice when I was there. Ive also read other members journals reading about how they improved their pastures, figured I should step it up if I kept up putting cows out there.
Im going to also talk to this guy on my road that raises cows and get some info from him. Im sure he can tell me what to do and not. There is a UT extension office in town so may stop there for info as well.

 

[Rammy]

Funny thing happened today. Neighbor came and helped me put a new antenna in my attic. After he left, I went out to check on the chickens and get the eggs. I have a small bucket in the outer pen for water. It was upside down. Thought it just got overturned since it wasnt secured.
When I picked it up, one of the younger hens was under it! Somehow when it flipped, it fell right on top of her! Poor thing. No telling how long she was under it. She just got up and walked away. Stupid chicken.

 

[Mike CHS]

Poor chicken. One of our lambs last year somehow flipped a tub we were using for grass. I don't know how long he was under there and wouldn't have known if I didn't see the tub moving around the yard seemingly all by itself.

You might have buttercup that is an invasive as you are seeing but this is another where a soil test is the best place to start. Those flowers like a nutrient poor soil with low PH. Adding lime will make it not like growing there. I had some our first year but never saw any again after I limed and fertilized. Even sheep don't like those flowering plants and 2-4-D kills a lot of growth that they do like.

 

[Bruce]

They don't call them bird brains for nothing!

 

[Rammy]

Poor sheep. I bet it was funny tho. I couldnt help but laugh at the chicken. I came back to edit this after I realized I hadnt clarified that. I wasnt laughing at the lamb. Poor thing was probably scared to death.
They prob are buttercups. As soon as it dries up some Im getting some samples of soil. Then probably the lime and fertilizer.

 

[greybeard]

1. Do the soil test, get the results, then amend your pH as the results indicate & was advised in above replys.
2. While you are waiting for the soil analysis, find out exactly what kind of undesirable weed you have.....for instance, (assuming you do in fact have a buttercup problem)...What species of yellow flowering "buttercup" do you have? (there are several)
3. Use a selective herbicide that will control your invasives and have an effect on little else.

 

[Rammy]

Ok, @Baymule , I built something today. Been giving the cows hay since my pasture went from lush green to dying since the cool weather came. Of course, they eat the hay and then lay in it so alot gets wasted. Those hayrings arent cheap so I had been thinking of using one of my cattle panels and making one.
I looked at a few videos on youtube and saw one where a guy made one for his sheep. I figured it should work for cows, so here it is.

No.2 came over to see what I was doing.

Heres another shot of the cows eating from the hay ring.

So thats the extent of my building skills today. Hope this works good. Will save me alot of money.

 

[RollingAcres]

Nice job @Rammy !