Sowing orchard grass
Printed From: Unofficial Allis
Category: Allis Chalmers
Forum Name: Farm Equipment
Forum Description: everything about Allis-Chalmers farm equipment
URL: https://www.allischalmers.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=191992
Printed Date: 15 Jun 2025 at 7:14am
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Topic: Sowing orchard grass
Posted By: Ky.Allis
Subject: Sowing orchard grass
Date Posted: 25 Nov 2022 at 11:07am
| I know this is off topic but need some advice. Next spring going to sow a 16 acre field in pure orchard grass. So I cut last cutting of hay (played out alfalfa) 2 months ago then 3 weeks later sprayed with roundup. Took soil samples and after everything was brown, field was chisel plowed. Next spring going to disc once then apply fertilizer. Then disc again and get it smooth as possible. My question is, what would be the best way to sow it? We have a 3 pt. spinner spreader and a 10' Brillion sure stand seeder with 2 seed boxes. Would 1 of these work or would something else be better? Thanks for any advice!!! |
Replies:
Posted By: sparky
Date Posted: 25 Nov 2022 at 11:30am
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If you spin spread it I would personally have to run a coulterpacker over it which means 2 trips over the field. My choice is to drill it in. Good luck. ------------- It's the color tractor my grandpa had! |
Posted By: ac45dave
Date Posted: 25 Nov 2022 at 2:04pm
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Is the brillion seeder a cultipacker style?I'm guessing it is.If so that would be my choice.That's what dad and grandpa used to seed sod fields.It's also what I've used to replant my hay.Does a good job and gets it on at the right rate. ------------- 54 wd-45gas ; 56 wd-45d N/F w/fact p/s ; 63 d-17 sIII N/F gas ; 60 D14 N/F ; 67 d-17 sIV N/F gas ; 63D15 sII W/F; 39rc#667 ; 2021 massey 4710 fwa ; gravely 2 wheel tractors |
Posted By: Tracy Martin TN
Date Posted: 25 Nov 2022 at 4:23pm
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Orchard grass doesn't need a lot of covering. Good contact is all it takes. I would drill it if I had that option. Most times here we will mix wheat in it to get a stand so it doesn't wash. Wheat will die with first cutting, grass will come up and thru stubble. Personally I would try to get a fungus free type strain. JMHO, Tracy ------------- No greater gift than healthy grandkids! |
Posted By: dr p
Date Posted: 25 Nov 2022 at 4:31pm
| Brillion seeder provide accurate seeding rates and adequsoil compaction for seed contact. By me ,we have peerless seed company. Lots of modern varieties |
Posted By: DougG
Date Posted: 25 Nov 2022 at 5:11pm
| Always just braodcast it then drag it with a cedar tree, always had good luck |
Posted By: DiyDave
Date Posted: 25 Nov 2022 at 5:32pm
I vote for the brillion, seed and pack in one pass. And you can pull a 10' brillion with a small tractor, as long as the hills aint too steep...
------------- Source: Babylon Bee. Sponsored by BRAWNDO, its got what you need! |
Posted By: DanWi
Date Posted: 25 Nov 2022 at 7:19pm
| Mix the orchard with one to two bushel of oats. Some guys have rate issues with fluffy seed in brillon seeders. I have started rolling fields before and after seeding with the drill. A field this year just got dragged smooth after seeding with the teeth set shallow. |
Posted By: AC720Man
Date Posted: 25 Nov 2022 at 10:17pm
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I help a good friend on his farm, he makes 20- 25k square bales of orchard grass a year. He does it both ways with great success. He also no tills. Several factors come into play when deciding which way to seed. Actually use the no-till and a Massey drill on ground that was sprayed, disced, and packed. Makes a nice seed bed. Once its seeded, the Brillion is ran over it again to ensure coverage. Sounds repetitive, but with todays fast moving hay processing, the ground is nice and smooth making it easier on equipment especially the Krone fast moving rakes and the Bale Baron. Using a spreader works well also once the ground has been prepped, mixing fertilizer with the seed. Run the Brillion over it and its done. This is done when we are pressed for time, rain forecasted, or hay is ready in other fields. ------------- 1968 B-208, 1976 720 (2 of them)Danco brush hog, single bottom plow,52" snow thrower, belly mower,rear tine tiller, rear blade, front blade, 57"sickle bar,1983 917 hydro, 1968 7hp sno-bee, 1968 190XTD |
Posted By: AC720Man
Date Posted: 25 Nov 2022 at 10:48pm
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Brillion cultipacker ------------- 1968 B-208, 1976 720 (2 of them)Danco brush hog, single bottom plow,52" snow thrower, belly mower,rear tine tiller, rear blade, front blade, 57"sickle bar,1983 917 hydro, 1968 7hp sno-bee, 1968 190XTD |
Posted By: DanWi
Date Posted: 26 Nov 2022 at 7:53am
| AC720 you are right about having fields smooth, if we make 3 to 5 crops a year with the rotary discbine rotary rack and big square baler most of those operations now take place in the 5 to 10mph range. It's nice to not be bouncing all day. |
Posted By: AC720Man
Date Posted: 26 Nov 2022 at 8:26am
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We also pull 2 -16’ telephone poles after disking to level the field smooth before running the Cultipacker, makes the field smooth as butter. Use the 175 diesel for this task in 6th gear for the first pass, and then 7th gear for the second round. Fields will last 4-5 years before the no till is run through to reseed when necessary. ------------- 1968 B-208, 1976 720 (2 of them)Danco brush hog, single bottom plow,52" snow thrower, belly mower,rear tine tiller, rear blade, front blade, 57"sickle bar,1983 917 hydro, 1968 7hp sno-bee, 1968 190XTD |
Posted By: soggybottomboy
Date Posted: 26 Nov 2022 at 10:53am
| If you decide to use the spinner spreader, you need to seed on a calm day. Back when Dad used to sow hay, we would mix alfalfa seed with some orchard grass, and if the wind was blowing the orchard grass came up in strips. |
Posted By: allischalmerguy
Date Posted: 26 Nov 2022 at 8:03pm
Thumbs up!! ------------- It is great being a disciple of Jesus! 1950 WD, 1957 D17...retired in Iowa, |
DanWi wrote: