New field work up

I just purchased some land worth rough pastures that I would like to work up as hay fields. The pastures have lots of brush that has grown up in the past decade and I am wondering if the plow I have access to will work here. The brush is rose hips and some other short bushes.
My plan is to plow then either disc or rotortill before seeding next spring.
I have a drum mower and was thinking about mowing it first?

What do you think? I’m worried the bushes will stop the disk from cutting in.

Offhand, I would be inclined to mow it first.

A bunch of large woody debris will tend to foul haying equipment. It will just get in your way.

I would qualify this -- if you have a heavy duty breaking disc and a large tractor, several passes will chew up this material quite well.

The disk I have is a bit light. Theoretically, the woody material should be below the sod at that point though?

I'm leaning toward mowing as well.

Thanks

There is no substitute for on-the-ground testing. Make a few passes through a corner of your problem area and see if the disc gives you the results you want. Nothing to lose, I think. It's not like you're going over Niagara Falls in a barrel.

Can I ask why you wish to grow hay?
There is a case which details growing ha=y removes nutrients from the soil and maybe even your farm.

Hi Joel;
Have you considered burning it off before disking it?
The char would be good for your ground and the woody debris would be gone.

Hay is to feed my animals. It does remove nutrients if done incorrect. But need the animal feed. At this point it's just wasted land multiplying noxious weeds.

Burning won't work here now because the brushes are green. They would have to be cut, let dry, piled to burn.
Initially the char can deplete the soil, creating a huge patch of thisles.

I would plow it and then disc it, especially if you don't have a heavy duty disc.