Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

Hay fields left over the winter

Hi there,

I have some orchard grass pastures that were left over the winter from the last growing season. Now they are all under about 4 feet of snow.

Is it worth while to cut and bale the hay in the spring, or simply roll it and over-seed with some cover crops to give it a new life? Fields have not been used for grazing for a few years.

Thanks

Views: 344

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Harry Stam on March 3, 2016 at 2:09am

Greg,

The question you asked cannot be answered correctly without more information. What exactly do you want with these pastures? Do you want to keep them as pastures? Orchard grass can be fertilized in the spring to increase volumes or you can broadcast some legumes to make it a more pasture mix type of crop. You can no-till oats into the standing hay and allow it to grow to add volume. It all depends on what you want the pasture land to do, If the land is flat and level no-tilling is a possibility unless there is too much cover crop to start with. However if the crop is too thick I would question why you would need to do anything. Run the cattle in and let them harvest.

Harry 

▶ Reply to Discussion

RSS

Agriculture Headlines from Farms.com Canada East News - click on title for full story

Kyle Hildebrand 2025 North American Technician of the Year!

AGCO recognized a Canadian technician as its 2025 North American Technician of the Year after a challenging competition that tested technical skills, diagnostics, and customer service.

Canada Upgrades Storm Warning System

Canada has improved severe storm and tornado warnings with targeted alerts, faster notifications, and better safety information to help people stay informed during dangerous weather events.

Fertilizer Made from Locally Available Rocks

Researchers have developed a fertilizer from local African rocks that could improve crop growth, reduce costs, support sustainable farming, and help strengthen food security.

Global Priorities for Wheat Research

The 4th International Wheat Congress in Italy highlighted how global collaboration, joint funding, and extension services help Canadian producers tackle shared agricultural challenges.

Alberta Crops Still Above Average, But Moisture Extremes Mean Farmers Can Expect Two Different Harvest Stories

Provincial crop ratings remain stronger than the five-year average, but Alberta farmers are dealing with a sharp regional split: declining moisture in the South and Central regions and persistent wet conditions farther north. Alberta’s 2026 crop is still looking comparatively strong heading into August, but the provincial average masks very different conditions from one end of the province to the other. As of Aug. 4, 58.1 per cent of Alberta’s major crops were rated in good-to-excellent condition. That is well above the five-year average of 42.7 per cent and close to the 10-year average of 53.9 per cent. At the same time, the provincial rating slipped from 60.3 per cent a week earlier, reflecting growing pressure in several regions. The bigger story for farmers is the province’s moisture divide. Parts of southern and central Alberta continue to dry out, with soil moisture reserves declining. In the North East, North West and Peace regions, producers are facing almost the opposite p

© 2026   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service