Cover crop for reclaimed pasture

[fernnj]

I'm looking for suggestions for a good cover crop to plant this spring. I have about 20 acres of very overgrown pasture that I have been clearing over the past two years. It has everything from tall grasses and weeds, shrubs to small trees. I'm planning to finish it off with a skid steer brush hog this spring. The land was used for hay 20-30 years ago and then used for cattle for 5-10 years. My goal is to revitalize the soil and cut down on the weeds at the same time. I plan on planting all of the primary food plot crops once everything is under control. After some research, buckwheat and sudangrass are high on my list.

[growalot]

I can not say enough good things about buck wheat...and with than many acres...I'd look into finding a local bee keeper who might want buck wheat honey...make a deal/trade...then seeing it hasn't been work for some time and you'll have heavy equipment on it..... think about hog radish in the fall....winter wheat is a good weed suppressor but read up on the radish

This all said the more the soil is turned the more weed seed is exposed...that's a many year process...let the plants do the work(deep roots) and stay on the surface with equipment ...IMO and experience

[mxsmitz201]

yea buckwheat is the way to go for spring summer. keep winter rye in mind too for a fall planting it will grow anywhere, and is a very good natural herbicide. if you blend it with some clovers/chicory i think youll be impressed.

the sudangrass wont appeal to a deers diet much, its very similar to corn but without the corn lol but does act as very good cover, and as a screening tool. ive heard of people planting it around a foodplot to make the plot more secure to the deer.

[NYBowhunter]

I had looked into buckwheat however never had the chance to get a plot of it in, its an great attractant for game and is excellent as a green manure crop. Plant it in the spring and then plow it under come fall, then you can put in a brassica/clover or wheat for a fall/winter plot.