Field woes: thoughts please.

[Pollyfilla]

Hi, I rent approx four acres of grazing, and moved there at the start of February. It’s a huge rectangle, walled on three sides, and fourth side has electric fencing to split it from the rest of the bigger area, under crops.
So, when I moved there it was very wet, as February was just horrendous. There was good grass cover, and my horses spent most of their time at the far end, as it is a gentle hill.
March was not too bad, and I decided to fence half off, the hill, to be my hay paddock / summer grazing.
Ive divided up the remaining half and grazed it mainly in a track style, with the centre ungrazed, as it’s 90% clover and buttercups.
I had hoped to use the hill from July to September as my summer grazing, then slowly open up the bottom as required, but the weather has been so wet the hay can’t be made.
The flat area I’m currently using is now mostly under water, and the bits I can use are mostly clover.
How best would you use this, bearing in mind I’m in a high rainfall area, I don’t have means to mow or reseed areas, and only allowed to use removable fencing. I have been allowed to put up a shade area, but not a shelter.
It’s very reasonable for rent, but it’s also very prone to standing water.

 

[ihatework]

Well I’d plan to use the dry areas all year round - so I’d split the field into 3 (wet, dry x 2). Rotate the use of the dryer areas. During prolonged dry periods then graze the wetter area.

Buy in hay/haylage and feed that to top up the grazing all year round when needed.

Or look for alternative, more suitable, grazing.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

You really can't expect to keep a paddock for both hay and summer grazing. I would buy hay in, or in a particularly dry year, let the horses eat standing hay in late autumn/winter.

 

[Pollyfilla]

Farmer wants the hay off the hill, so I dont have access till it’s cut. It’s not my hay. If I’m still there next year I’ll change my layout to use the hill, but need to get through this year with what I’ve got.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Farmer wants the hay off the hill, so I dont have access till it’s cut. It’s not my hay. If I’m still there next year I’ll change my layout to use the hill, but need to get through this year with what I’ve got.

So you are not actually renting 4 acres? Depending on how convenient the rest of the set-up is for you (distance from home/security etc), I would be looking for different grazing, as it seems that all that is available to you is too wet to use.

 

[Goldenstar]

Is it dryer next to the walls ?

 

[Pollyfilla]

The walls make a great windbreak, but the soil is actually lower in places along it. I used it as one side of my track but it’s very cut up and wet.

 

[Goldenstar]

If you stay you can get the buttercups and clover sprayed out .
You will have to do it in sections and fence off and rest afterwards .
I have to do this here now and again I have done it three times in thirty years .
I can’t understand why the farmer is taking hay off what sounds such a poor field, however most hay even in Northumberland is now cut and in so you will have those parts field back soon .
You will need to be careful because the grass will bolt away after the hay is taken if it’s wet and warm .
You might wish to section off a dry bit and leave it to run away and use it as standing forward
You can really manage paddocks with our equipment minimally you will need to take down the fences for rolling each spring sort out the docks thistles and nettles probably by topping but you can do that by hand if there’s not too many on a small area like this .
If you spray out the buttercups and clover the grass will look sparse it can be direct drilled in the spring ( you would have to do it in parts and rest after ) this involves rolling with a Spiky type roller then direct drilling then rolling again .
I did 5+ acres this spring it cost just under 1k including the spraying for clover and buttercups .
I doubt it’s worth it for a field you don’t own .
You could spray and then hand broadcast the grass seed I have done this it works ish
But nothing like the direct drilling the field we did looks amazing now .

 

[holeymoley]

4 acres isn’t that much to expect to be able to graze and take hay off of. Especially if it’s prone to water logging. I’m sorry I don’t have much to advise, I just can’t see how it would work at all if they’re adamant about taking a cut off it.