So, traditionally Big Bluestem is considered king of the prairie grasses and is also a warm season bunch grass. This is the first I've heard of Tripsacum dactyloides usurping that title. It's definitely a nice early starter warm season but falls off in the Fall quite quickly and for grazing can't compete with a diverse mixture, especially in tonnage. Switchgrass is another fantastic warm season grass to place up there. I know Hamilton Outpost has some great resources regarding this for Missouri. :)
I'm going to plant some of both and see which one is king in my application. I did find some big bluestem growing natural not long ago--barely recognized it, but it was doing great in an old neglected pasture in the flood plain. Big Bluestem seeds are certainly cheaper than Eastern Gamagrass. I'm adding prarie mixes now so they can establish before I have grazers. Home made seeds are the best.
I cannot imagine a better looking pasture of grasses. Well done Greg! Love how excited you get to give the animals premium fresh and plentiful grazing. Wondering if Eastern Gama would work down here in Mid TN. Perhaps a grazing follower here knows first hand. It is warmer here.
We are getting some Gama Grass naturally here in North Arkansas that we didn't sow now that we are resting our land more than we used too. On 2 places 2 miles apart. It must've laid there since the Buffalo days in the seed bank. Good video
One of my favorite grasses! Growing specimen plants from seed would be a great educational project for kids! From harvest, or online shopping /purchase, through cold moist stratification in the fridge, to planting in a container, watching the roots grow through the bottom of the pot, to permanent placement in a landscape. What knarley roots!
We have spent the last 4 years transitioning our entire row crop operation to Eastern Gamagrass. Stand establishment is not for the faint of heart but the end result makes it all worthwhile. We’re now incorporating legumes into the community to add diversity and fix N.
I watched yesterday but didn’t have time to write a comment I am glad that I have watched it again. It’s like reading a good book you learn more each time you read it. I love to read I remember as a student being issued the books for my classes and reading them as if I had been given a pile of stories not a pile of work. I read everything that Mum had in her small library what stands out in my memory was the poetic versions of the Iliad and the Odyssey. One time she said I would prefer that you not read a certain book I had to say too late I’ve already read it but don’t worry I didn’t understand it ,didn’t like it and won’t read it again. I think that a photo of Elizabeth Taylor from a movie version was the cover but that is all I remember about it. My granddaughter and I planted seeds yesterday she chose two packets and I chose two too. Hers were beets and Swiss chard mine arugula (which didn’t get planted )and garlic chives . We sort of followed directions but I think we will have a lot of thinning to do some oopsies happened. All of the chive seeds are planted and I hope that our spacing will be good enough for this year and that they survive. My old chives didn’t survive the building of the large deck so it will be nice to have them again. Hopefully the three teenager deer will not return to walk through the beds . I have seen deer in the city before but never in my area I watched them walk up the middle of the road perhaps they found their way back to the nature park a long walk. One turned back for a moment but soon resumed walking once I waved at it. 👋👋👋🤷🏼♀️🍀💕🍀👍👍👍👍🍀💕🍀🖖🖖🖖🖖🍀💕🍀😘💞💕💞🙋🏼♀️
Thanks for the video! I’m just a little too far north for eastern gamma grass. It might make it but seed is a little to much for me to try. I saw prices from $19-27/lb.
Learning so much from this video. Wondering if you could strip plant gama (edge of field) in an established field so you wouldn't have to disk everything, then let it seed/spread naturally?
Hello greg! My grandfather planted and grazed gamma grass. He actually started to harvest, germinate and sell the seed. He ran May easter gamma grass in logan county Ky. Before his passing. My question is about sheep. How well will the sheep do? We just got done fencing around about 20 acres of a very thick gamma field. And we plan to rotate as often as possible. Look forward to hearing from you!
My understanding is canary reed grass is a COOL season grass, though it’s the first to die off in the fall and turns brown and loses its feed quality, I steer away from it if I can get a better cool season grass like fescue to outgrow it
So, rotational grazing keeps the size of this grass at bay? This is a subject I'd like to know more about regarding tropical pastures. In South America Easter Gamagrass gets hugemungous, and I tell you, it turns into a harsh mess like the elephant grass.
I went on a mountain bike ride today in the bay area California. The area is thousands of acres of rolling hills up to a 2k foot peak. We have a Mediterranean climate with micro climates all over. This area I was on today gets 25 inches if rain from late November to March. There are no ponds, that water just runs down into the bay. There are cattle bit they just walk around with 0 management. I wonder what that area could be with proper management.
I was going to plant some last year. I ordered it and the next day my seed guy called me and asked how bad I wanted it. He said it was over $900/50# bag. I decided I didn’t need it that bad. Sure wish it wasn’t so expensive.
I planted sprigs from other parts of my fields and it crawls out similar to a gigantic bahia grass. The seeds are as big as corn kernals so that's a ridiculous price. Get some sprigs from a neighbor
@@inharmonywithearth9982 They're selling out at 49$ a pound. No neighbors have any (that I'm aware-I've only identified Big Bluestem naturally growing in my area. I'll have to start with a few pounds and grow my own seeds.
Hey Greg Judy, I would love to know what you think of miniature cattle breeds such as the Dexter. Especially coming from the sustainability stand point.
I’d love to see a special season where you take on the challenges of No Man’s Land out here in the Panhandle of Oklahoma where my family farm is. I think you could help create a new legacy on this land with your passion.
They're doing great with rotational cattle grazing in the Chihuahuan Desert of Northern Mexico, up to TX. It's a bit arid there. I've seen more than one video on the place. Video quality is ok, accent is strong, the pictures are worth 10,000 words. Rotational managed grazing works everywhere. I found al sorts of good examples from Canada to Mexico to South America and Africa. Good luck.
Greg that's a great video especially no since I know what that is. Thanks for the back an forth the other night on email letting me know what it is. Well with big paddocks my sheep wont touch it. When you squeeze them down to small paddocks they enjoyed it. Now how do I control it so it dont take my whole 30A over?
Yes I understand. Is there away to control it from popping up all over the place? 5 years ago when we bought this place there was done, but each season change we always seem to have a little more. Thanks again. Have a good day
I'd try it. One seller claims that it's good from Interstate 35 all the way to the East Coast. 35 runs from around Laredo, Texas to the top of Minnesota.
Decades of success indicate to me that there's nothing to change, that things are working. When it works, WORK it, don't look for ways to fix what's not broken. Focus on broken things.
So, traditionally Big Bluestem is considered king of the prairie grasses and is also a warm season bunch grass. This is the first I've heard of Tripsacum dactyloides usurping that title. It's definitely a nice early starter warm season but falls off in the Fall quite quickly and for grazing can't compete with a diverse mixture, especially in tonnage. Switchgrass is another fantastic warm season grass to place up there. I know Hamilton Outpost has some great resources regarding this for Missouri. :)
I'm going to plant some of both and see which one is king in my application. I did find some big bluestem growing natural not long ago--barely recognized it, but it was doing great in an old neglected pasture in the flood plain. Big Bluestem seeds are certainly cheaper than Eastern Gamagrass. I'm adding prarie mixes now so they can establish before I have grazers. Home made seeds are the best.
😊you certainly have a beautiful paddock,big shout-out from Texas.
I cannot imagine a better looking pasture of grasses. Well done Greg! Love how excited you get to give the animals premium fresh and plentiful grazing.
Wondering if Eastern Gama would work down here in Mid TN. Perhaps a grazing follower here knows first hand. It is warmer here.
I'm very fortunate to have Eastern Gama Grass, my cows loved it! Hope you do a video of the cattle being turned on to it!
Planted mine 3 years ago after your recommendation. It’s candy.
We are getting some Gama Grass naturally here in North Arkansas that we didn't sow now that we are resting our land more than we used too. On 2 places 2 miles apart. It must've laid there since the Buffalo days in the seed bank. Good video
One of my favorite grasses! Growing specimen plants from seed would be a great educational project for kids! From harvest, or online shopping /purchase, through cold moist stratification in the fridge, to planting in a container, watching the roots grow through the bottom of the pot, to permanent placement in a landscape.
What knarley roots!
Great idea.
We have spent the last 4 years transitioning our entire row crop operation to Eastern Gamagrass. Stand establishment is not for the faint of heart but the end result makes it all worthwhile. We’re now incorporating legumes into the community to add diversity and fix N.
Where'd you buy seeds? EG is the $$$ one. One company has been selling out despite the pricing. I've only found a couple of places to buy it.
Greg the bottom looks really good!!
I watched yesterday but didn’t have time to write a comment I am glad that I have watched it again. It’s like reading a good book you learn more each time you read it. I love to read I remember as a student being issued the books for my classes and reading them as if I had been given a pile of stories not a pile of work. I read everything that Mum had in her small library what stands out in my memory was the poetic versions of the Iliad and the Odyssey. One time she said I would prefer that you not read a certain book I had to say too late I’ve already read it but don’t worry I didn’t understand it ,didn’t like it and won’t read it again. I think that a photo of Elizabeth Taylor from a movie version was the cover but that is all I remember about it.
My granddaughter and I planted seeds yesterday she chose two packets and I chose two too. Hers were beets and Swiss chard mine arugula (which didn’t get planted )and garlic chives . We sort of followed directions but I think we will have a lot of thinning to do some oopsies happened. All of the chive seeds are planted and I hope that our spacing will be good enough for this year and that they survive. My old chives didn’t survive the building of the large deck so it will be nice to have them again. Hopefully the three teenager deer will not return to walk through the beds . I have seen deer in the city before but never in my area I watched them walk up the middle of the road perhaps they found their way back to the nature park a long walk. One turned back for a moment but soon resumed walking once I waved at it. 👋👋👋🤷🏼♀️🍀💕🍀👍👍👍👍🍀💕🍀🖖🖖🖖🖖🍀💕🍀😘💞💕💞🙋🏼♀️
Absolutely amazing 🤩!!
Thanks for the video! I’m just a little too far north for eastern gamma grass. It might make it but seed is a little to much for me to try. I saw prices from $19-27/lb.
That's cheaper than I'm finding by a long shot.
Learning so much from this video.
Wondering if you could strip plant gama (edge of field) in an established field so you wouldn't have to disk everything, then let it seed/spread naturally?
Certainly worth a try!
Thanks for the informative video, Greg. Pasture looks great!
Looks great 👍
Hello greg! My grandfather planted and grazed gamma grass. He actually started to harvest, germinate and sell the seed. He ran May easter gamma grass in logan county Ky. Before his passing. My question is about sheep. How well will the sheep do? We just got done fencing around about 20 acres of a very thick gamma field. And we plan to rotate as often as possible. Look forward to hearing from you!
Sheep do fine on Gama Grass, just make sure you rotate them.
Greg I don't think Gama Grass will grow in Nova Scotia Canada, but i'm wondering if Canary Reed grass would be a similar forage?
My understanding is canary reed grass is a COOL season grass, though it’s the first to die off in the fall and turns brown and loses its feed quality, I steer away from it if I can get a better cool season grass like fescue to outgrow it
30 years not 40 😊
....please don't ever make me feel older than I am again
LOL
So, rotational grazing keeps the size of this grass at bay? This is a subject I'd like to know more about regarding tropical pastures. In South America Easter Gamagrass gets hugemungous, and I tell you, it turns into a harsh mess like the elephant grass.
I went on a mountain bike ride today in the bay area California. The area is thousands of acres of rolling hills up to a 2k foot peak. We have a Mediterranean climate with micro climates all over. This area I was on today gets 25 inches if rain from late November to March. There are no ponds, that water just runs down into the bay. There are cattle bit they just walk around with 0 management. I wonder what that area could be with proper management.
Bermuda is our mainstay in Arkansas.
Maybe 30 years Greg?
I was going to plant some last year. I ordered it and the next day my seed guy called me and asked how bad I wanted it. He said it was over $900/50# bag. I decided I didn’t need it that bad. Sure wish it wasn’t so expensive.
The seed is definitely pricey. I bought mine for $6.50 a lb back in 1992. I thouht that was high back then,
I planted sprigs from other parts of my fields and it crawls out similar to a gigantic bahia grass. The seeds are as big as corn kernals so that's a ridiculous price. Get some sprigs from a neighbor
@@inharmonywithearth9982 They're selling out at 49$ a pound. No neighbors have any (that I'm aware-I've only identified Big Bluestem naturally growing in my area. I'll have to start with a few pounds and grow my own seeds.
Hey Greg Judy, I would love to know what you think of miniature cattle breeds such as the Dexter. Especially coming from the sustainability stand point.
I’d love to see a special season where you take on the challenges of No Man’s Land out here in the Panhandle of Oklahoma where my family farm is. I think you could help create a new legacy on this land with your passion.
They're doing great with rotational cattle grazing in the Chihuahuan Desert of Northern Mexico, up to TX. It's a bit arid there. I've seen more than one video on the place. Video quality is ok, accent is strong, the pictures are worth 10,000 words. Rotational managed grazing works everywhere. I found al sorts of good examples from Canada to Mexico to South America and Africa. Good luck.
Greg that's a great video especially no since I know what that is. Thanks for the back an forth the other night on email letting me know what it is. Well with big paddocks my sheep wont touch it. When you squeeze them down to small paddocks they enjoyed it. Now how do I control it so it dont take my whole 30A over?
Grazing it lower than 8 inches will put severe pressure on it. I would be careful about not killing it, it is a great summer grass for grazing.
Yes I understand. Is there away to control it from popping up all over the place? 5 years ago when we bought this place there was done, but each season change we always seem to have a little more. Thanks again. Have a good day
Yeah, 1992-2022= 30yrs.
Greg what about sheep on that 6ft tall grass?
In a couple days it will not be 6 feet tall with our sheep grazing it.
31 years actually but no difference great it’s been in production so long
1992...30 Years.
👍👍
More Cow Belly !
Can we grow eastern gamma in north Florida?
Not sure
I'd try it. One seller claims that it's good from Interstate 35 all the way to the East Coast. 35 runs from around Laredo, Texas to the top of Minnesota.
30 years.....
Wouldn't it be wise to let them go to ssed at some point?
They go to seed every year in august
Decades of success indicate to me that there's nothing to change, that things are working. When it works, WORK it, don't look for ways to fix what's not broken. Focus on broken things.
If you turn them in on that you won’t get you gamma grass reseeded will you? There eat the seed head won’t they
No, the Gama grass plants are like trees, those plants have been there for 30 years.
The blades are sharp like Pr. Cordgrass and Blue Jointgrass