Mow Overgrown Pasture for Soil Health

What happens here

Driving the TYM T1104 tractor with the Woods Batwing mower, the farmer begins clearing a large, overgrown pasture. He explains that this specific area is not suitable for baling hay due to the presence of 'garbage' hay, native grasses, weeds, briars, and broom sedge. Instead, the mowing process serves as 'green manure,' feeding biological material back into the soil to improve its health and structure. Broom sedge is identified as an indicator of poor soil pH (around 4), and mowing helps to rehabilitate the land. He navigates carefully around planted pine trees, highlighting the mower's power and versatility. The process involves meticulous turning, favoring right-hand turns to prevent the PTO shaft from binding and damaging equipment. He acknowledges that mowing this extensive and challenging pasture will take approximately 2 to 2.5 hours.

Goal: The farmer operates the tractor and Batwing mower to clear thick, overgrown pasture, explaining this process as 'green manure' to improve soil quality rather than harvesting hay.