Best Management Practices: Wind Crest Farm

This farm participated in a Penn State Extension Equine program to implement practices that increase the canopy cover and desirable forages in pastures, reduce nutrient and sediment loss from farms, and reduce the overfeeding of nutrients in the ration.

Best Management Practice (BMP) Identified

Increase desirable, perennial vegetation in pastures to provide nutrition for horses, and decrease weed populations.

Reasoning for BMP

Perennial vegetative cover in the pasture was inadequate, leaving bare spots and opportunities for weed germination. Exposed soil increases the chance of erosion and gully formation, but also creates areas of mud, which can pose animal health problems. Increasing the concentration of desirable forage in pastures reduces hay and feed costs and provides an excellent source of nutrition.

Course of Action

• Date Reseeded: Early Fall
• Equipment Used: Aerator, pull behind seed spinner, and arena drag
• Seed Mix: Tekapo Orchard Grass, Perennial Rye, Tall Fescue, Kentucky Bluegrass, White Clover
• Soil Tested: Yes
• Fertilizer: 200 pounds of 20 - 10 - 10
• Lime: 1 ton
• Procedure: Two weeks prior to reseeding, the pasture was aerated using a pull behind spike aerator. A spinner spreader was used to broadcast seed and an arena drag was used to pull soil over the seeds.

Results

Prior to reseeding, 65% of the pasture was covered with plant canopy canopy and 35% was bare ground. To reduce erosion a minimum of 80% of the pasture should be covered with a plant canopy. Only 30% of the pasture was covered with plants that provided nutrition for the horses; 35% of the pasture was covered with perennial vegetation with 65% being annual plants such as crabgrass and ragweed. After reseeding, the pasture quality and vegetative cover improved significantly. The canopy cover improved to 100%, with no bare spots. Desirable forage tripled, increasing from 30% to 90% in the pasture after being reseeded. Weed populations in the pasture reduced to 10% after reseeding.

Challenges

Ongoing Management and Additional BMPs

John plans to continue improving his pastures through:

• Rotating horses to a new pasture after one week of grazing
• Mowing pastures frequently
• Utilizing a sacrifice lot when weather conditions are unfit for turnout