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| Guess hay type is related to location. Here in Kansas....from east to west, brome grass is a VERY IMPORTANT baled product for horse owners. Alfalfa is good for wet mares and working and competition horses, but can be a little 'hot' for the hobby folks' horses. Many are scared spitless of blister beetles after the first cutting in alfalfa. We are too dry and hot here for Timothy and the common types of bermuda grass often winter kill....so brome is the cool season grass of choice for horses......fescue for cattle. Smooth brome is the variety used here and Sharp Bros. seed is a preferred supplier.
Brome is normally seeded in August to the first part of September and the best way to seed it is to rent the County's no-till (stop plate on coulter) grass drill. Lbs per acre can vary by soil type and seed bed, but around 20-25 lbs is normal here. Brome uses lots of phosphorus, which is essential to utilize nitrogen...which it also likes for top production. Having said using a grass drill...I have established many stands by pulling an old Ezee-flow fertilizer spreader (looks like a lawn drop spreader on steroids..orange in color) with a harrow behind. It just drops the seed and you cover it a little. Also....a spinner 3 pt spreader is used in this area and then harrow. If the ground is worked up with some golf-ball sized clods, the first rain will plant the spun-on seed.....just like Mother Nature would.
Prized forage here and selling this year (dry and a short crop) for $90/ton in small squares. It should be cut prior to setting seed....shortly after bloom is preferred in this area. Essentially...as soon as you can after Memorial day. Yields depend on winter and early spring moisture...and your fertilizer program...but run up to 2 - 2.5 tons per acre....cut only once. | |
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Brome grass
