not grown red clover for a number 

 of years. 



CLOVER SEEDING 



In zone 1 and the higher eleva- 

 tions of zones 2 and 3, most red 

 clover is spring seeded in a crop 

 of fall- or spring-sown small grain. 

 In the early spring the soil alter- 

 nately freezes and thaws, and the 

 freezing and thawing action covers 

 the seed with soil. The small grain 

 holds the weed growth in check 

 while the clover is getting started. 



In the lower elevations of zones 

 2 and 3, make red clover seedings 

 about October 15. In any event, 

 make them no later than December 

 15. In these areas — particularly in 

 the lower elevations of zone 3 — red 

 clover is frequently sown without a 

 companion crop. 



In zone 2, late-summer seedings 

 can be successful if they are made 

 on a seedbed that has been fallowed 

 to prevent weed growth. 



CLOVER-GRASS SEEDING 



In zone 1, grass is extensively 

 seeded with red clover. Clover- 

 grass mixtures are superior to clover 

 alone. Clover-grass hay cures more 

 rapidly than pure clover hay, and 

 it produces more hay per acre. 

 Also, animals are less likely to bloat 

 on clover-grass pasture than on 

 pure clover. 



Timothy is the best grass to mix 

 with red clover. It has a high 

 yield, and it is ready to cut for hay 

 when the red clover is ready. 



Sow the grass in the early fall in 

 the small-grain crop; sow the red 

 clover in the small grain-grass in 

 the spring. 



When you harvest the grain crop, 

 remove the straw and stubble from 

 the field. Straw and stubble of 

 harvested small grain will smother 

 the clover and favor clover disease 

 development. Clover-hay yields 

 from fields where the straw and 

 stubble have been left are only about 

 one-half as large as the yields from 

 fields from which both the straw 

 and stubble have been removed im- 

 mediately after combining. 



STAND MANAGEMENT 

 First Year 



Small-grain companion crops 

 compete with red clover for mineral 

 nutrients, moisture, and light. This 

 competition can be reduced by graz- 

 ing or clipping the small grain in 

 late winter or early spring — just 

 before its stems begin to grow. 

 (Grazing or clipping after the 

 stems have begun to joint will re- 

 duce the small-grain yield.) 



The first year, graze or mow the 

 clover 4 to 6 weeks before the first 

 frost in the fall. For example, if 

 your average first frost date is Oc- 

 tober 20, graze or clip the red clover 

 about September 1. 



If you mow your stand of red 

 clover, remove the clippings unless 

 the total amount is quite small. 



Second Year 



The first crop of red clover, har- 

 vested early the second year, is al- 

 most always harvested for hay or 

 silage. Cut it in early bloom; at 

 that stage of maturity, red clover is 

 leafy and produces its largest yield 

 of protein per acre. If you cut it 



