Forage Seeding Equipment

Good forage stands start with good seed placement. The tool you use, and how carefully you set it up, often matters as much as the seed you buy.

Key points

Choose a drill or a broadcaster by seed type, ground cover and field size.
Rent or share a no-till drill if the purchase does not pay off.
Calibrate each machine for the seed you are planting.
Test soil and prepare the seedbed before you seed.
Clean and store the equipment dry with an empty hopper.

What equipment is used to seed forage?

The main choices are a no-till drill, a conventional grain drill, a broadcast seeder and a drop spreader. Packers and harrows help with seed-to-soil contact. Small seeded forage crops need shallow, accurate placement, and large seeds can go deeper.

Pick equipment based on the seed, the existing ground cover and the size of the field. A 30-acre hay field and a half-acre horse paddock call for very different tools.

Seed size changes everything. Tiny seeds such as many clovers and some grasses can be lost if buried deep, while larger seeds need more depth to find moisture. Read the seed tag and ask your extension office about the planting depth for each species you choose.

When does a no-till drill make sense?

A no-till drill cuts a slot through sod or residue and places seed at a set depth. It limits soil disturbance and erosion, and it works well for overseeding a thin pasture. The machine is heavy and needs a tractor with enough power and hitch capacity, which is listed in the operator's manual.

Because these machines are costly, many farms rent one from a conservation district, a dealer or a neighbor. Ask your local NRCS or extension office whether rental drills are available in your area.

When is a broadcast seeder enough?

Broadcast seeders spread seed on top of the soil. They are quick and cheap and suit small areas, rough ground or frost seeding where freezing and thawing work seed into the soil. Seed placement is less exact, so results depend more on weather and follow-up packing.

Mounted units on a tractor, ATV or hand-cranked spreaders all fall in this class.

Frost seeding, spreading seed in late winter so freezing and thawing pull it into the soil, is a low-cost option on thin pasture. Timing and species matter, so ask your extension agent if it fits your region.

Good for small, rough or steep areas.
Often paired with a harrow or a packer.
Depends more on rainfall for good results.
Check evenness with a pattern test.

Why does calibration matter?

Seeding too heavy wastes seed, and too light leaves gaps. Calibrate each machine for the seed you are planting, using the manufacturer's instructions and the seeding rate recommended by your extension office for your region. Do not guess a rate from a neighbor or an old habit.

Different seeds flow differently. Small, fluffy or mixed seed can bridge in a hopper or separate. Stir mixes and check the flow as you go.

Run a catch test before you go to the field. Lay out a tarp or pans, make a pass and weigh what lands, then adjust and repeat. It takes a few minutes and can save a lot of seed.

How do you prepare the ground?

Soil test first, then correct lime and fertility as the results recommend. Control competing growth by mowing, grazing down or label-directed herbicide. Herbicide use follows the label, which is the law, and applicator licensing rules vary by state.

A firm seedbed matters. Seed on loose, fluffy soil can be placed too deep or dry out. A cultipacker or roller firms the soil after seeding and improves contact.

Moisture is the other big factor. Seed into dry ground with no rain in the forecast often fails, so check the weather and your extension office's planting window.

What safety points apply to seeding work?

Use ROPS with the seat belt, and keep PTO shields in place. Drills are wide and heavy, so be careful on slopes and when turning. Keep people clear of the hitch, markers and folding parts, since folding wings and markers can swing down with force.

Seed may be treated with chemicals. Read the tag and follow handling instructions, and wear protection as directed.

If you rent a drill, ask for the manual and inspect the openers and shields before you leave.

How do you take care of seeding equipment?

Clean out seed and fertilizer residue after use, since it holds moisture and corrodes metal. Inspect seed tubes, openers, press wheels and metering parts for wear. Grease bearings and pivots per the manual and replace worn disc blades.

Store the machine dry, with the hopper empty, so rodents do not chew the tubes and wiring.

When to get help: Ask your extension office for seeding rates and timing in your region, your NRCS office about rental drills and conservation programs, and your state agriculture department about herbicide applicator rules. Have a dealer check hitch and power requirements.

Sources and further reading

Organization homepages are linked so you can search them for current guidance on this topic.

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