Premium Irrigated Pasture Mix

Test your soil 62 months before seeding to find pH, phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and organic matter levels.
Aim for a soil pH between 6.0 and 7.0 for best pasture growth.
Apply lime and fertilizer based on the soil test, not guesswork.
Incorporate lime and fertilizer into the top 4-6 inches of soil using a disk or field cultivator.
Remove existing sod, weeds, and trash with tillage or a non-selective herbicide.
Wait 2 weeks after spraying herbicide, then control any green regrowth before final seedbed prep.
Work the soil until you have a fine, smooth seedbed with no large clods.
Firm the seedbed so your footprints are no deeper than 0.5 inch when you walk across it.
Fill low spots and level rough areas so water does not pool and equipment and animals can move safely.
Avoid leaving freshly tilled soil bare for more than a few days if wind or erosion is a concern.
Plan your final tillage and planting close together so you can irrigate soon after seeding.
Know you are ready to plant when the soil surface is smooth, firm, and weed-free for at least a few days.

Calculate your seeding rate at 1-82 pounds of seed per acre when using a drill for irrigated pasture.
Use the higher end of the drilled range (closer to 22 pounds per acre) for horse paddocks or heavy grazing.
Set your no-till drill or grain drill to place seed 1/4-1/2 inch deep; aim closer to 1/4 inch for small pasture seeds.
Avoid planting deeper than 1/2 inch; deep planting is a common cause of poor stands.
If broadcasting seed, increase the seeding rate by about 253% to a total of 2-50 pounds per acre to make up for less precise placement.
After broadcasting, pull a cultipacker or roller over the field to press seed into firm soil contact.
Divide your total seed amount in half and seed the field in two passes at right angles to each other.
Avoid leaving seed mixed with fertilizer in the hopper for more than a short time to prevent seed damage and bridging.
Plant when soil temperature at 1-2 inches deep is consistently above 50f in the morning.
Plan to irrigate immediately after seeding so the top 1 inch of soil stays moist but not muddy.
Know you planted at the right depth when you can gently scrape the soil surface and see seed just under the top layer, not sitting on top and not buried too deep.

Irrigate lightly right after seeding to settle soil around the seed without causing runoff.
In the first 2 weeks, water frequently with small amounts to keep the top 1-2 inches of soil consistently moist.
Check moisture by digging with your fingers; the top inch should feel damp but not soupy.
Reduce irrigation frequency once seedlings reach 2-3 inches tall, but water deeper so moisture reaches 4-6 inches.
Watch for weeds during the first month; expect a flush of annual weeds in many fields.
Mow annual weeds when they are just above the pasture seedlings, usually at 4-5 inches tall.
Set your mower high enough so you cut weeds but leave the pasture seedlings with plenty of leaf.
Avoid mowing so low that you scalp or bruise the young pasture; this is a common mistake.
Do not graze at all until most plants are 8-10 inches tall.
Test readiness for grazing by grabbing a handful of grass and pulling; if plants pull out easily, wait longer.
For the first grazing, stock the pasture lightly with fewer animals than normal.
Allow animals to graze down only to about 4 inches of height, then remove them.
Rest the pasture for a full 3-5 weeks after the first grazing, depending on growth and season.
Know the stand is well established when plants regrow quickly after grazing and resist being pulled out by hand.

Irrigate deeply enough to wet the top 8-1-2 inches of soil, then allow a light dry-down before the next irrigation.
Adjust how often you irrigate based on weather and soil type; water more often on sandy soils and in hot, windy weather.
Start grazing when most forage is 8-1-2 inches tall.
Remove cattle when the pasture is grazed down to 3-4 inches to protect crowns and allow fast regrowth.
Remove horses when the pasture is grazed down to 4-5 inches, since horses graze more tightly.
Rotate animals to a new paddock instead of letting them stay on one area too long.
Soil test at least once a year and follow recommendations for nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
Split nitrogen into several smaller applications during the main growing season instead of one large dose.
Mow or clip ungrazed patches and early seedheads to keep the pasture even and prevent rank, unpalatable clumps.
Walk your pasture regularly to look for weeds, bare spots, and compacted, hard areas.
Spot-spray problem weeds rather than spraying the whole field when possible.
Overseed thin or bare areas in late summer or early fall when soil moisture and temperatures are favorable.
Aerate compacted areas if hoof traffic has created a hard, sealed surface and water is not soaking in.
Record grazing dates, irrigation amounts, and fertilizer applications in a simple notebook or spreadsheet.
Review your records each season and adjust stocking rate, irrigation, and fertilizer to match how your pasture actually performs.
Know your management is working when regrowth is quick, weeds are limited, and animals maintain good condition on the forage produced.