We will be moving to a new Farm in May and was looking into putting a couple of padocks down to oats or barley in preperation to planting lucerne(alfalfa) the following year .I would like to get some winter grazing off it then lock it up and cut some hay .Has anyone any preferance for oats or Barley if so why? Our current farm is all hill country with native pasture and not really suited to tractor work so it will be a bit of a learning curve for me I will probably be asking some silly questions over the comeing months please treat me gently.
Oats is hardier than barley, esp in wet conditions just after seeding. If barley remains wet for too long it drowns out easily. Oats will also likely give you a bit more yield.
Just seed the alfalfa With oats or barley This Spring. they both work as good cover crops to start the alfalfa. with a good start you'll have foot tall alfalfa to cut with your oats/barley hay AND have some good winter grazing too on dormant alfalfa later.
