permaculture

["Eric C. Atkinson" <marmotsedge@vei.net>]

Greetings--

I've just subscribed to this list, so my apologies if this topic has been 
thoroughly discussed previously.  Here is our situation, and I'd be more 
than pleased to hear some insights.

We have a 160 acre flood irrigated farm in southcentral Montana.  Previous 
to our acquisition, as well as through this growing season, 3 fields 
totaling 82 acres have been leased to neighbors for the growing of sugar 
beets (2 fields) and malt barley.  Each crop has been intensely herbicided 
(Stinger on beets, Curtail on barley, plus the usual and multiple (2x) 
applications of Roundup) and the the beets were hit early with an 
insecticide.  Both the former herbicides show strong residence which puts 
the stop on my planting of a mixed grass/forb pasture/hay crop (we're 
moving to intensive rotational grazing for a grass-based dairy, beef, and 
sheep/chickens/turkeys).

So, my questions to you are:  from a point of the best method to reduce the 
residual herbicides, would you suggest drilling grass mixtures in this 
fall?  Waiting till next spring for such a mixture, then following the next 
year with interseeding of our forbs?  Or let the fields rest with 
mechanical (mowing) removal of weeds next summer?  Any suggested cover 
crops to help reduce the herbicide amounts in the soils (oats?, forage 
barley?, rye?).  Soil amendments?  Each of the fields show characteristics 
of low organic matter and few soil macroorganisms (avian point counts also 
show very low diversity and abundance compared to our extant hayfields 
(orchard grass, western wheatgrass, meadow brome, smoothbrome, timothy, KY 
bluegrass, with red clover, Dutch clover, and alfalfa, and some common 
sagewort and plantain).

For information, the soils are clayey, depleted of Ca, I believe 
(quackgrass does well as do Canada thistle, field bindweed).  We're 
approximately zone 4 with little permanent snow cover.  Most water comes 
from irrigation (between mid April and mid Oct with TDS generally of 290 
and pH ranging from 7.8-8.3.  Precip averages 6-8" (but, not lately).

I appreciate your input.

Thanks.

Eric
Eric C. Atkinson
Marmot's Edge Conservation
Coon's Age Farm
HC 46 Box 17
Belfry, MT 59008
406-664-3155
marmotsedge@vei.net

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