Seeding New Pasture The Old Way
Some jobs on the farm feel heavier than others—not because they’re harder, but because they matter more.
Today’s mission was one of those jobs: seeding a brand-new pasture on ground that’s been worked, corrected, and cared for over the last several episodes. This isn’t just spreading seed. This is the moment where months of planning and preparation finally turn into life.
And fittingly, this mission was carried out with help from an old friend—a 1949 Farmall tractor that’s still earning its keep more than seven decades later.
From Compaction to Seedbed: The Work Before the Seed
This pasture didn’t start today.
Over the last three episodes, this field went through a full transformation:
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Chisel plowing to break up deep compaction
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Disking to reduce beach-ball-sized clods down to something manageable
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Rotary tilling to level and prepare the seedbed
Today’s first task was one final refinement pass using a 15-foot cultipacker to smooth everything out and ensure consistent seed-to-soil contact.
Some areas—especially near an old waterway that had previously been eroded—needed extra attention. Leveling here wasn’t about perfection; it was about preventing future problems like pooling water and erosion.
A light overlap on each pass ensured the surface was flat, even, and ready.
When Old Iron Reminds You of Its Limits
Partway through cultipacking, the Farmall started telling me it had enough.
With added weight, hot temperatures (80+ degrees), and sustained throttle, the tractor overheated and began pushing antifreeze out of the radiator cap. That was a first for this machine.
The solution was simple: stop, cool down, and adapt.
The cultipacker was swapped over to the John Deere to finish the job. After cooling overnight, the Farmall was back to running just fine—ready for the part of the mission it was really built for.
Seeding.
The Custom Pasture Mix: Diversity by Design
This pasture was designed intentionally, not just for forage, but for soil health, resilience, and livestock nutrition.
Here’s what went into the primary mix:
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35% Orchard Grass
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27% Iron Clay Peas
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11% Little Bluestem
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10% White Dutch Clover
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8% Bird’s-Foot Trefoil
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7% Chicory
To support fall establishment and protect the soil over winter, a cool-season nurse crop was added:
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Cereal Rye
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Red Clover
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Boston Plantain
Originally, this field was planned for spring planting, but persistent rain made that impossible. By the time conditions finally lined up, it was late September. Cereal rye was added specifically to hold soil, suppress erosion, and bridge the gap until warm-season species fully establish next year.
Special thanks here goes to Peter Larson from Just a Few Acres, whose emphasis on maintaining at least 30% legumes influenced this final blend.
Spreading Seed the Old-Fashioned Way
The field measures 13 acres, with a target application rate of 35 pounds per acre.
Instead of relying on GPS, I opted for a double-pass method:
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North to south
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East to west
The broadcast spreader was set to 17 pounds per acre, ensuring even coverage while reducing the risk of skips and overlaps. It also meant more seat time on the Farmall—which isn’t a downside.
Low wind was critical. Dust lingered behind the tractor, a good sign that conditions were right. Visual checks confirmed solid seed distribution, with orchard grass, peas, and clover clearly visible on the soil surface.
By the end, I applied closer to 50 pounds per acre, which I’m completely comfortable with. More density now means better competition against weeds later.
Soil Fertility Without Synthetic Inputs
According to soil tests taken before chisel plowing, this field didn’t need fertilizer—and I believe it.
Before any tillage, the grass here stood 3½ to 4 feet tall. That biomass was mowed and incorporated back into the soil as green manure, returning nutrients naturally.
The only amendment needed was high-calcium lime. Soil pH was in the low 5s, so we applied two tons per acre to move toward neutral.
Healthy soil first. Everything else follows.
Locking It In: The Final Cultipacker Pass
Once the seed was down, it was time for one last pass with the cultipacker—this time to press seed into the soil, not bury it.
No aggressive overlapping. Just steady, circular passes around the field, overlapping 6–12 inches where needed.
And then…
The final pass.
Mission Accomplished
Thanks to a 1949 Farmall, a carefully designed seed mix, and a lot of patience, this pasture is officially seated.
Now comes the part no farmer controls.
We wait.
We watch.
And we pray for rain.
I can already picture what this field will look like a year from now—and I hope you’ll stick around to see it too.
We’ll see you on the next mission. 🌱