The Throw n’ Mow Method

[Crimson n' Camo]

question on you guys that are throw n mow whenever you can, if equpment was no issue, would you still t&m? or are you doing it out of necessity and time constraints? IE, you can get things planted and they do well enough that your happy, but if time and equipment were no issue, would you till?

My throw n mow is coming up nicely after 7 days and some timely rain, just wondered, if you had the time, a tiller, a cultipacker, etc, would you be more likely to till?

This is my field after years of tillage……..

This is the same field now after years of no-tilling……..

 

[roymunson]

Ok, I do know a freshly tilled plot with green shooting up thru it is far prettier, but I have access to a tiller, brushhog, cultipacker, and drag where I'm planting.

I do wanna build my soil as in years past it's just been old pastureland, but didn't know if t&m was just an alternative for those who didn't have access to equipment, or were planting in remote spots that make getting equipment there a pain in the butt.

I see the soil benefits and am all for saving on yearly liming, etc... but just wasn't sure if this was viewed as a viable alternative to tilling, or a preferred method over tilling

 

[S.T.Fanatic]

What was the reason you mowed it down it June? I thought about doing this but deferred. What I found as the WR dried down some grasses started to creep in forcing me to spray after mowing. The grasses were coming into an area that didn’t have a lot of germination last year of WR and clover. I suspect as things improve clover and WR will keep the grasses at bay longer.

I also planted a few weeks earlier than normal. We have been pounded with rain the last 5 days so I will be surprised if I don’t get excellent germination.

Mainly because I always do and the plot grows back even better after mowing it. And there were a lot of thistles coming up that i didn't want to set seed.

If we would have had the precipitation we usually get it would have been a non issue.

 

[Semisane]

Had a tractor with disc, tiller and bush hog. The best thing that ever happened was when that tractor died an ugly death. Now I throw & mow or throw & roll with an ATV and pull behind implements with less work, less time and less equipment maintenance hassle. I'll never go back.

 

[Barndog56]

No-till systems which incorporate diverse plantings, along with cover crops, will improve the soil, lower input costs, and actually out produce conventional agriculture systems using tillage and chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Check out the numerous youtube videos posted by SARE(sustainable agricultural research and education).

The only pieces of equipment I would add would be a roller/crimper and no-till drill. Until that day it's throw and mow.

 

[roymunson]

The only pieces of equipment I would add would be a roller/crimper and no-till drill. Until that day it's throw and mow.

biggest problem with a no till drill is you need more than a 30 HP kubota to pull the thing. Other than that, i'd tend to agree

 

[Livesintrees]

When I saw the video from “ray the soil guy” I kept looking into it. Especially on my land where the terrain means heavy conventional equipment is a not so good combination I’m going this route from the beginning. Should be an interesting couple years to get things building themselves up

 

[TreeDaddy]

Reserve judgement for a year or two

Starting my fourth year this fall and I am "all in"

bill

 

[Semisane]

I'm on my fourth year also. My new slogan is "Throw and mow is the way to go!".

 

[Tap]

Reserve judgement for a year or two

Starting my fourth year this fall and I am "all in"

bill

Yep, it seems to get better every year.
If there are areas that haven't been mowed for a few years and is reverting to more woody species like goldenrod, poison ivy, etc, I think the 1st year should be just basically mowing. You could broadcast seed but IME, that 1st year doesn't do that well. Mow it that 1st year and get the area back into a state of younger progression and TnM will do better the following year.

 

[roymunson]

mine was just an open pasture field that the widow had brush hogged once or twice a year for the last 10

Blank slate as far as that goes, but i'm pretty pumped to not have to deal with things like giant sandstone, tree roots, etc

I feel I'm probably already ahead of the game from what some people are when they have to reclaim a woods/timber stand.

 

[Tap]

mine was just an open pasture field that the widow had brush hogged once or twice a year for the last 10

Blank slate as far as that goes, but i'm pretty pumped to not have to deal with things like giant sandstone, tree roots, etc

I feel I'm probably already ahead of the game from what some people are when they have to reclaim a woods/timber stand.

It sure is nice to not have to be constantly picking rocks from the plot. The less tillage the better.

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[Barndog56]

Turning a 30 x 75 yard section into a pumpkin patch. Spread a cover crop seed mix to prep the soil a month ago and it's doing well. I had a jersey steer using that area last year and it's easy to tell where he did more "nutrient recycling". There's aboit a half dozen bees per square foot in that buckwheat every day.

Probably not the most cost efficient use of my time, but I picked all of the red clover seeds from my yard. I'll be spreading it today in a sparse section of the orchard.

Broadcast 112 pounds of rye over my acre yesterday, along with 2 lbs of alfalfa in a section that didn't have any yet.

 

[Semisane]

Barndog, it's not something I've ever tried, but I wonder if clover seed could be gathered with a leaf blower that has a vacuum attachment.

 

[Lee Haakenson]

All, with your throw and mow methods, are you still using gly? Below are my 1st plots Ive put in. Just sprayed a couple times and spread seed. No mowing. Been 90 degrees for three weeks since planting and probably had 1/4 of rain total. Suprised to see any green. One plot is clover/chicory. Other is deer creek seed autum blend (clover, Brassicas). Just top seeded it all with winter rye

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[scott44]

All, with your throw and mow methods, are you still using gly? Below are my 1st plots Ive put in. Just sprayed a couple times and spread seed. Now mowing. Been 90 degrees for three weeks since planting and probably had 1/4 of rain total. Suprised to see any green. One plot is clover/chicory. Other is deer creek seed autum blend (clover, Brassicas). Just top seeded it all with winter rye

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I've been playing with not spraying gly, this year I put half my throw and mow plots in without spraying just mowing. Last year I tried planting brassicas into rolled down cereal rye and clover down and ended up with just a clover plot. I'm still trying different things with when to and when not to spray but don't have it down yet.

 

[TreeDaddy]

I dont spray gly for fall plots

I spray clethodim midsummer for grass and don't worry about crouton,etc

bill

 

[Lee Haakenson]

I dont spray gly for fall plots

I spray clethodim midsummer for grass and don't worry about crouton,etc

bill

Thanks. I am tring to avoid extra trips, time and money spraying.

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[ToddG]

What is the best method to plant winter rye into an existing stand of clover. Should I throw and roll or throw and mow. I don't know if it's to late to mow the clover. The deer are keeping it pretty short. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[S.T.Fanatic]

I am planning to do a throw and mow clover/chicory plot this fall with no spraying. I'm sure it will be just fine. I'll just keep it mowed off next year before everything goes to seed.