How soon can I put out pasture swart (Munster region)?

GerryCarry · 27-02-2023 12:52am #1

I have beef cattle in a shed and would like to put them out in the field as soon as possible. But I must first fertilize the field with pasture swart. My understanding is that once pasture swart is put out, you must wait 3 weeks before letting cattle out on the field. Because of this 3 week waiting period, I am anxious to put out the pasture swart as soon as possible so that the 3 weeks can be ticking away. However at the same time, my understanding is that if you put out pasture swart too early in the year, while it is still cold, you do not get the full value from the pasture swart. So I want to put out the pasture swart as soon as possible, but not too soon at the same time.

degetme · 27-02-2023 2:54am

You can spread fertilizer at any time. You don't have to have a 3 week gap. If you want full value for your fertilizer hold off till you get higher soil temperatures.

fastrac · 27-02-2023 11:15am

Id say put it out now as soil temps are 8/9 and the forecast is dry so you won't lose the P.

GerryCarry · 27-02-2023 1:47pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120293386#Comment_120293386

Thanks.

What happens if I put it out now but we get a beast from the east next week and the field is covered in snow for 4 or 5 days? Will that destroy the pasture swart?

You see I intend on only putting out one round of fertilizer (pasture swart) for the whole year. So it will be this round of fertilizer and nothing more again until next year.

GerryCarry · 27-02-2023 2:21pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120292719#Comment_120292719

What month do you think I should wait until?

cute geoge · 27-02-2023 2:33pm

Wait until beginning of April .better response ,you could wire off a section and graze and fert after in may

roosterman71 · 27-02-2023 3:29pm

Very unlikely to have snow at all looking at any of the charts.

Can ya graze it off and then spread once it's grazed? Or is there anything on it?

GerryCarry · 27-02-2023 5:04pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120294554#Comment_120294554

That would probably be the best for it.

Though I was thinking of spreading it on Sat 4th March as there appears to be buckets of rain coming after that. Would all that rain after the 4th of March help dissolve the pasture swart into the field more?

Hard Knocks · 27-02-2023 8:19pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120294940#Comment_120294940

If you’re only going with 1 application, would 18-6-12 be better?

older by the day · 27-02-2023 8:25pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058286061/how-soon-can-i-put-out-pasture-swart-munster-region

If you can walk around the yard in a vest then spread your pasture sward. Mild weather grows grass.

There are a few lads around here are in need of a calendar. Cows and cattle out day and night. A neighbor is nearly finished his first rotation. If growth is slow he will be short when the cows are in peak milk

GerryCarry · 27-02-2023 8:27pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120295548#Comment_120295548

Good point. The reason I am not putting 18-6-12 out is because I put that out a few years running and so I want to give the soil something new by putting out pasture swart on it.

GerryCarry · 27-02-2023 8:29pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120295568#Comment_120295568

How long after putting out pasture swart does the soil benefit from it?

Is the benefit lost after say 3 months (just a guess)?

If it is something like 3 months, then it would obviously be better to put it out in May or there abouts rather than early March.

older by the day · 27-02-2023 8:35pm

When the grass starts growing, if it's mild next week with no heavy rain in the forecast then belt away. I think it's too cold these days.

White Clover · 27-02-2023 8:58pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120295577#Comment_120295577

You won't be giving the soil anything new, just different amounts of NPK.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120295584#Comment_120295584

In good growing conditions the grass will use 2 units of N per day. Therefore your bag of Pasture Sward per acre would be used up in 14 days. In very good growthy weather, the grass could use 3 units of N per day.

GerryCarry · 28-02-2023 9:54am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120295698#Comment_120295698

So in cold weather like we have now, where the grass might only be using 1 unit of N per day, the pasture swart might last 28 days in the soil?

Are those 28 days much good if the grass is not growing much in that time?

3 the square · 28-02-2023 10:35am

What about urea spreading in this weather is it better off in the shed very cold next week carlow weather says

kk.man · 28-02-2023 12:02pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120296927#Comment_120296927

I bought some (not much) two weeks ago and could not spread at the time. It's certainly staying in the shed with these cold days.

GerryCarry · 06-03-2023 1:05pm

When does it look like now pasture swart could be put out?

Looks like Wednesday would be a good day as the temperatures are set to rise somewhat after that.

kk.man · 06-03-2023 2:08pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120320506#Comment_120320506

I put some out on Saturday as I could see Sat till today wasn't too bad. I think theses a good bit of rain after Wednesday.

GerryCarry · 06-03-2023 6:50pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120320860#Comment_120320860

Alot of rain after Wednesday. That's a good thing. It will soak the pasture swart into the ground.

White Clover · 06-03-2023 7:15pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120322162#Comment_120322162

All you need is a mist or a good dew. A lot of rain will see the fertilizer on it's way to the nearest river.

How soon can I put out pasture swart (Munster region)?

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