The McClure hay operation on Moccasin Wallow Rd. When I took over the management approximately three years ago, the ranch was virtually idle with very little improved pastures. Three years ago, I stared pasture renovation with Ona stargrass and a lot of advice from the Range Cattle Research and Education Center at Ona. Today, I can boast of nearly 700 acres of Ona stargrass hayfields and another 300 acres divided between Floralta limpograss, Florico stargrass and Florakirk bermudagrass.
Pasture establishment follows a tomato crop.
After repeated disking to obtain a clean seed bed, Mr. Newsome sprigs fields with freshly harvested planting material at 1,500 pounds per acre. Then Clay ensures that the soil is packed firmly around planted material. A flood irrigation system from the previous tomato operation is at a stand-by to ensure moisture availability and successful establishment even when the weather turns dry. Water for the irrigation system is provided inexpensively from the effluent of Palmetto City sewage treatment system. Fertilization follows IFAS recommendations.