Aerating fields

[Madmucker]

A farmer said that they would aerate our fields if we wanted them done, but we are in a high risk area for grass sickness and I’m just a bit concerned about ground disturbance.

Is this something I should get done, I’ve never had it done it in the past?

 

[Birker2020]

From what I have read (and I'm no expert) aerating a field wouldn't cause GS. Its when you do significant work to a pasture in terms of soil disturbance like digging it up to lay down pipes.
I'd contact the Grass Sickness fund for advice.

Potential management practices which may reduce the risk of grass sickness – Equine Grass Sickness Fund

www.grasssickness.org.uk

 

[PurBee]

If conditions are dry and clean, tractor work in fields can be much cleaner and not cause too much disturbance of soil and grass.
But this time of year may be wetter, so the tractor wheels possible could cause a covering of mud/silt onto the grass - which would require the field worked-on to be rested, and be rained on to ‘wash’ the grass clean of mud, and allow regrowth.

It depends on the method of aeration used as to how much soil/grass disturbance occurs - do you know what method the farmer uses?
If using spikes, it’s usually fairly clean.

Mostly, because im in a damp area, after any tractor work on the fields, if the tractor wheels get wet, and track the fields, i leave the fields for a couple of weeks to be cleaned-up by rain and re-settle.

If your fields have very long thick grass with seedheads standing as winter feed, there's the risk the tractor wheels will press the length of grass into the soil while it tracks around, and depending on how wet/dry it is, depends on how covered in a bit of mud the grass gets - which would mean needing to be rested a fair few weeks to be washed-off by rain.
It wouldnt be suitable to do it to a very overgrown fields, if youre worried about soil pathogens/GS, as the tractor will press the grass into the soil as it passes. So best done when conditions are dry, and soil firm and dry.

 

[SEL]

I wouldn't do it in a GS risk area.

If you do then I'd want it heading into summer with a long rest time. I'm in a low risk area but I had the horses off that field for 6 months