Frost seeding red clover can be very advantageous to farmers, allowing for a cost effective way to keep cattle fed and healthy.
Todd County Extension Office Ag Agent Traci Johnson says this time of year is great to start sowing clover. She says February is a time of lots of freezing and thawing cycles, which farmers can use to their advantage.
She adds red clover is very useful to put in fescue fields, a type of versatile, adaptable turfgrass. Johnson explains the clover counteracts “fescue endophyte,” a type of fungus that can have negative effects on cattle. She says adding red clover will help cattle eat and gain weight like they should.
She adds the plant likes a soil pH of 6.4 or better.
Johnson says there may be a little fertilizer cost involved, but when you look at the advantages, it pencils out.
Additionally, when it makes up 25% of forage in a particular field, clover will make enough nitrogen for itself and surrounding grasses.
The seeding rate is 6-8 lbs per acre, and she says farmers should look for certified red clover seed and make sure it’s inoculated.
Johnson notes there is one thing to be aware of – too much clover can lead to health risks like cattle bloating, so she says it’s important to find balance. As long as farmers manage accordingly, the benefits outweigh the downsides.
Johnson invites anyone with agriculture questions to contact her at the Todd County Extension Office by calling 270-265-5659.
