I think it is safe to say that we have had a winter.  Not just a turning of the calendar, but an actual extended period of time with single digit temperatures and snow-covered ground.  As we have moved into mid-February, we are seeing the expected large temperature swings.  While there may be a question every day of how thick a coat to wear, the temperature swings are creating opportunities to improve our pastures in advance of spring green-up.  The repeated freezing and thawing of the ground is helping to loosen up our soils, creating the ideal situation to have greater success frost seeding our pastures and hay fields to increase the quality of forages produced.

Normally we utilize planters to provide precision placement of the seed below the soil surface, where they can gain and maintain the moisture needed to germinate and sprout properly.  Frost seeding lacks the precision of a planter but it allows us to get out onto our pastures to broadcast seed and then allow mother nature to work that seed into the soil for germination once soil temperatures increase to desirable levels.  Frozen ground, or questionable soil conditions, keep us from dragging the planter out this early.  Being able to broadcast seed allows you to get out in the fields a little earlier, with lower expenses, but you compromise germination of all the seeds that were spread. The freezing and thawing of the ground helps work broadcast seed into the soil profile, increasing the likelihood of success.

The most popular, and most researched, species for frost seeding are the clovers.  The small, dense, seeds keep them from becoming hung up on existing plant material and easily find their way to the soil surface were they can be gradually worked in by the weather.  Legumes can be successfully broadcast from now through the end of March.  As those producers that utilize frost seeding are attempting to improve pasture quality and not establish a pure stand, seeding rates are slightly reduced.  Red clovers and alfalfa are recommended to be seeded at 6 to 8 pounds per acre, white clovers at 2 to 4 lbs./ac., birdsfoot trefoil at 4 to 6 lbs./ac.  If you are seeding a legume species into a field that hasn’t had the species for several years, it is wise to include a bacterial inoculum to aid with nitrogen fixation.

Legumes aren’t your only option.  A few grass species can also be frost seeded at the same time.  It is generally recommended that perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, or orchard grass be used.  Timothy and brome grass have struggled to be successful with this planting method.  You need to evaluate the structure of the seed.  Smaller, denser, seeds work better, where some of the fluffy grass seeds are not successful.  If you are attempting to thicken up a damaged stand, you will want to seed at 10 to 15 lbs./ac., where if you are wanting to establish a new field, you will want to up your seeding rate to about 20 lbs./ac.  Most experts recommend delaying frost seeding grass.  You can seed them at the same time as the legumes but greater success has been achieved by waiting until March for broadcasting grasses.

There are still several programs that will be occurring in the coming weeks.  We have one more private pesticide and fertilizer applicator recertification course on March 3^rd at the Secrest Arboretum Welcome Center.  The pesticide recertification portion runs from 9:00 AM to noon and the fertilizer recertification is from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM.  On February 24^th I will host a Beef Quality Assurance Recertification from 7 pm to 8 pm at Fisher Auditorium.  Finally, we will have our annual agronomy day on February 27^th at Secrest Arboretum Welcome Center.  The program will be held from 9:00 AM to noon and Certified Crop Advisor continuing education credits will be offered.  We will have presentations covering: field crop pest updates, management option for vomitoxin and tar spot in corn, review of phosphorus and potassium fertility research at OSU Extension, and an update of cover crop programs offered to area growers through the Wayne County Soil and Water Conservation District.  Lunch will be offered to participants at the end of the program.  All of these programs are free but courtesy reservations are requested.   If you have any questions, or would like more information about these programs, give me a call at the OSU Extension office in Wayne County at 330-264-8722.