I'm looking for some horse safe, weed and feed for my pasture. It isnt large....maybe 3-4 acres? This winter/spring has been pretty tough on it so far with all of the melting snow/rain/mud. What do you all do every year to keep your pastures from being over-grazed? I know rotating pastures help, which I can do but how often? Located in Northern MN.

I run 6 head on 10 acres of pasture that was former crop acres. It is flat and square.  I just put on 32% liquid fertilizer.  100 units of actual nitrogen to the acre.   Later i will spray it with 2-4-D. I am in northern Iowa.  They run on it from April 20th to Nov 15th.   Remember that you are not running cows and calves on this pasture and you are not taking a lot of weight or in other words nutrients off of your pasture like other livestock does.

The first thing to do is get a soil sample done.  Your local extension service can do this.  It might cost $10.  Also, sometimes the fertilizer companies will do it for free. 

Then go from there and see what it needs. 

I have some more reading to do!

Previous owners had 3 horses on it and it is in really poor shape right now. I'd eventually like to plant some orchard/rye grass but I know I need to get rid of the weeds first. They have completely taken over the pasture.

I agree with a soil sample.  We had our pasture tested for the first time this year.  We are in Central Texas and needed a large amount of Lime.  This has helped our pasture tremendiously already.  We also will put down specific fertilizer in a few weeks.

I am definitely getting a soil sample done soon. Do you know if Lime gets rid of weeds? I have a lot unfortunately due to overgrazing.

To rid yourself of weeds, you will have to spray.  To control them, you need to keep the pasture mowed.  Regular mowing (to 5 - 6 inches) will greatly help control weeds and will actually rid you of some of them (you must mow often enough to not allow the weeds to go to seed).  We mow at least every 2 weeks during spring / summer.  More often if we've had rain and it's grown a bunch.

Soil test first.

Your local Co-op will do this for you.

They will give you recommend amount of Lime if you need to correct Ph of soil.

They will also give you a recommended rate and analysis of fertilizer to use for a pasture that will have horses on it.

One of the reasons pastures get overrun by weeds is because of over grazing.

Grass needs Nitrogen to make a fast healthy growing pasture.

Most people don't put near enough nitrogen on.

That is exactly my problem. The pasture has been over grazed for years before I got it and now own the property. They are all low lying weeds. I now have the opportunity to set up a temporary pasture for them and for rotating. I'm just not sure what order do all of this in! Soil test is number one. More than likely need to lime, then weed, then seed? I'm assuming I'd go that route depending on what the soil test tells me.

You might try to locate your county Ag. extension office as they would be able to help you with knowledge and concerns regarding what is best to plant in your area, how to plant and when.  They should also be able to come out and check / help with soil sample or tell you where to send.  There should also be a Noxious Weed department that could help you with eradication of what weeds you have and working to help you turn the area into good pasture.

My extension officer gave me a whole plan for my pasture that was overgrazed/infested with fescue. It’s beeb about 6 months and looks amazing!,

+1,000,000

sent you a PM