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Freeze, Thaw, Seed: Timing Pasture Renovation in an Unpredictable Winter

By Shelby Gruss

This winter’s erratic weather, swinging from –30°F wind chills to unseasonably warm temperatures in the 50s, has left many wanting spring and ready to get back in the fields. Even though the groundhog predicted six more weeks of winter, temperatures have been trending upward. Over the next week, highs are expected to stay above freezing during the day and drop below freezing at night. These natural freeze–thaw cycles signal the slow transition into spring. 

These conditions open an opportunity to thicken forage stands through frost seeding. Frost seeding involves broadcasting or overseeding legumes into a thinning pasture or small grain stand.

Source : iastate.edu

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Seeding Winter Wheat near Oshkosh Nebraska

Video: Seeding Winter Wheat near Oshkosh Nebraska

Seeding Winter Wheat near Oshkosh Nebraska

I am in the fie3ld with a farmer near Oshkosh Nebraska as he his no-till drilling winter wheat into a harvested corn field. In the video the farm is running their John Deere 9470RX tractor pulling a 42 foot wide Deere 1890C air drill with a 1910 commodity cart.

Winter wheat will emerge this fall and go dormant over the winter. In the spring it will stat growing again and be ready to harvest in mid July.