Red clover hay for sale
Red clover hay for sale is the most widely grown of all the true clovers. On the other hand it can be a good alternative to Alfalfa.
Use and adaptation
Red clover is effective as a pasture legume and for hay. To make red clover more effective, follow these management practices:
- Maintain fertility level — test the soil and topdress accordingly.
- It is used rotational grazing, especially during the second year.
- Rest the pasture in September and early October.
Uses
Hay, pasture, haylage.
- Advantages
Widely adapted, good seedling vigor, complements tall fescue and other cool-season grasses. Established easily, high yields.
- Disadvantages
Heavy first cuttings are difficult to cure. Hay is dusty. Overmatured second cutting red clover hay may have a fungus that causes animals to slobber.
- Seeding
Rate: 8-12 lb/a
Depth: ¼-½ in
Primary Date: Feb 1-Apr 15
Secondary Date: Aug 1-Sep 15
- Harvest
First harvest: May 1-May 15
Annual yield: 2-5 tons dry matter/a
What is clover hay good for
Red clover is a short-lived perennial herbage legume that typically persists for two-to-four years.
- The plant
Red clover has an upright growth form and a strong deep taproot from which finer roots arise. The crown is located at the base of the stem and acts as a store of nutrients. Differences in the size and reserve status of the crown affect persistency and suitability for particular grassland management regimes.
Usage
The development of more grazing-tolerant and persistent varieties is creating the potential for red clover in rotational grazing systems.
- Cutting and grazing heights
As the crown is above ground, damage must be avoided to ensure plant survival:
- In wet weather, avoid heavy machinery and pugging
- Cutting height for all silage cuts should be 7-8 cm minimum
- Optimum grazing height of aftermaths or over winter is 4-6 cm
Seeding rates and mixtures
Red clover hay for sale is best grown with a grass. All of the cool season grasses adapted to Missouri can be used with red clover. Timothy has universally been used, and it is an excellent choice. It is a quality grass, and it matures at about the same time as red clover.
Examples of red clover-grass mixtures:
- Red clover, 8 pounds; orchardgrass, 6 pounds.
- Red clover, 8 pounds; timothy, 2 pounds (fall) or 4 pounds (spring).
- Red clover, 8 pounds; tall fescue, 10 pounds.
- Red clover, 8 pounds; reed canarygrass, 6 pounds.
