{"version":"1.0","provider_name":"The News Journal","provider_url":"https:\/\/qa.thenewsjournal.net","title":"Frost Seeding Clover: JUST DO IT! &ndash; The News Journal","type":"rich","width":600,"height":338,"html":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"5YnLVLYrZS\"><a href=\"https:\/\/qa.thenewsjournal.net\/frost-seeding-clover-just\/\">Frost Seeding Clover: JUST DO IT!<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/qa.thenewsjournal.net\/frost-seeding-clover-just\/embed\/#?secret=5YnLVLYrZS\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" title=\"&#8220;Frost Seeding Clover: JUST DO IT!&#8221; &#8212; The News Journal\" data-secret=\"5YnLVLYrZS\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n\/* <![CDATA[ *\/\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/* ]]> *\/\n<\/script>\n","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/qa.thenewsjournal.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/GARRARD-COFFEY-CMYK-Horizontal.jpg","thumbnail_width":313,"thumbnail_height":282,"description":"Everyone is familiar with Nike\u2019s ad campaign that encourages people to \u201cJUST DO IT\u201d. I am officially adopting this slogan for my 2017 Frost Seeding Campaign. Legumes are an essential part of a strong and healthy nitrogen cycle in grasslands. In many cases they come by themselves when we start to manage for them, but in some instances, we need to introduce them back into our pastures. Listed below are a few steps that we can take that will help to ensure that our FROST seedings are successful: \u2022 Control Broadleaf Weeds.\u00a0 Broadleaf weeds must be controlled prior to seeding legumes.\u00a0 This is best accomplished by controlling weeds the season prior to renovation. \u2022 Soil Test and Adjust Fertility.\u00a0 In order for pasture renovation to be successful proper soil fertility is required.\u00a0 Lime and fertilize pastures according to soil test results.\u00a0 Lime should be applied six months prior to renovation if possible. \u2022 Suppress Sod and Decrease Residue.\u00a0 The existing sod must be suppressed and plant residue reduced prior to seeding.\u00a0 The reduction in plat residue facilitates good soil-seed contact.\u00a0 This can be accomplished by hard grazing in late fall and early winter. \u2022 Good Soil-Seed Contact.\u00a0 Regardless of what seeding method is chosen, good soil-seed contact is required for seed germination and emergence. \u2022 Seed on Proper Date.\u00a0 Frost seeding legumes back into pastures is best accomplished in late winter to early spring (February 1 and early March 1).\u00a0 Frost seeding is accomplished by simply broadcasting the seed on the soil surface and allowing the freezing and thawing cycles to incorporate the seed into the soil.\u00a0 Success with frost seeding can be enhanced by dragging your pasture after or as you broadcast the seed.\u00a0 This simply gets the seed in better contact with the soil.\u00a0 After March 1, drilling legumes into pastures is recommend since there may not be enough freezing and thawing cycles to adequately incorporate seed.\u00a0 Prior planning and preparation are important so that seeding can be done in a timely manner. \u2022 Use High-Quality Seed of an Adapted Species.\u00a0 Choose forage species that are adapted to the area and end use.\u00a0 Use either certified or proprietary seed to ensure high germination, seed genetics, and low noxious weed content.\u00a0 Cheap, low quality seed often cost more in the end due to lower production and thin stands.\u00a0 In Virginia, a good mixture for renovating pastures with is 6-8 lb red clover, 1-2 lbs of ladino or grazing white clover, and 10-15 lb of annual lespedeza per acre. \u2022 Use correct seeding rate.\u00a0 Calibrate your seeder prior to planting (see box on calibrating forage seeding equipment).\u00a0 Seeding at too high of a rate needlessly results in higher seed costs.\u00a0 On the other hand, seeding at too low a rate results in weak stands and lower productivity. \u2022 Inoculate Legume Seed.\u00a0 Always use inoculated legume seed or inoculate it with the proper strain of nitrogen fixing bacteria prior to seeding.\u00a0 This is relatively inexpensive insurance that legume roots will be well nodualted and efficient nitrogen fixation will take place. \u2022 Control Seeding Depth.\u00a0 Small seeded forages should never be placed deeper than \u00bd inch.\u00a0 When using a drill always check seeding depth since it will vary with seedbed condition and soil moisture status.\u00a0 Placing small seeded forages too deep will results in stand failures. \u2022 Check seed distribution pattern.\u00a0 When using a spinner type spreader\/seeder make sure and check you spreading pattern.\u00a0 In many cases small seeded forages are not thrown as far as fertilizer.\u00a0 This can result is strips of clover in your pastures rather than a uniform stand.\u00a0 Also check your seed distribution pattern.\u00a0 Single disk spinners often throw more seed to one side if not correctly adjusted. \u2022 Control Post-Seeding Competition.\u00a0 Failure to control post-seeding competition is one of the most common causes of stand failures.\u00a0 Clip or graze the existing vegetation to a height just above the developing seedlings.\u00a0 This must be done in a timely manner to ensure that the competing vegetation does not get ahead of the seedlings. \u2022 Pray for rain.\u00a0 Lastly and most importantly pray for rain.\u00a0 We can do everything just right, but if it doesn\u2019t rain success will be unlikely. For more information on frost seeding contact\u00a0\u00a0 the Whitley County Cooperative Extension Service at 549-1430; e-mail DL_CES_WHITLEY@EMAIL.UKY.EDU; or visit the office located at 4275 N. Highway 25W in Goldbug. or visit Kentucky Forages at http:\/\/www.uky.edu\/Ag\/Forage\/."}