* = variety not stated * = variety not stated
Other Forage Legumes Brassicas
CLOVER , LEGUMES , & BRASSICAS
Alsike Clover *
Non-spreading winter-hardy legume that can persist 1-3 years . Very tolerant of occasional flooding and poorly drained soils . White or pale pink blossom .
Best Use : Best suited for pastures or silage mixes . Good choice for cover cropping . Adaptations : Performs best on wetter ground . Alsike clover will grow in moist and acid soils ( down to pH of 5.0 ). Requirements : Can be difficult to dry and should not be used in horse pastures . Do not cut or graze closer than 2 inches . Avoid droughty soils . Introduce grazing animals to alsike-heavy pastures slowly to avoid bloat . Planting Date : February – May , July 15th - August 30th . Can be frost-seeded Seeding : 1-3 lbs / acre in a mix , 6-10 lbs / acre for a cover crop . Drill or broadcast and roll . Plant ¼ in . deep Conventional Uncertified ________ $ 3.80 / lb
$ 190.00 / 50lb bag Organic Alsike + 7 % YB Sweet _____ $ 2.80 / lb
$ 140.00 / 50lb bag
Birdsfoot Trefoil *
A deep-rooted , winter-hardy perennial legume with yellow blossoms . Does not cause bloat when grazed . It stockpiles well , holding onto its leaves at maturity better than clovers and alfalfa . Good N fixer . Excellent use for permanent pasture . Allow self-seeding every 3 years to maintain stand life .
Best Use : Grazing or long-term pasture . Good cover plant for roadsides , ditches and wildlife . Adaptations : Tolerant of poorly drained , saline , acid or alkaline soils . Requirements : Slow establishment and potential invasive habits . Challenging to dry and harvest for hay . Planting Date : February – May , July 15th – August 30th . Can be frost-seeded . Seeding : 2-4 lbs / acre in a mix , 6-10 lbs / acre straight . Drill or broadcast and roll . Plant ¼ in . deep . Conventional Uncertified _________$ 4.00 / lb
$ 200.00 / 50lb bag
Brassicas are generally used to lengthen the grazing season . All have highly digestible cell walls and very high protein levels . Graze brassicas carefully ; too much intake can cause health problems in cattle . Allow livestock time to adjust a change in diet . Brassicas are excellent for cover cropping . High dry matter production both above and below ground builds organic matter in the soil ( see cover crop section ). Brassicas are also very attractive to deer for food plots
Forage Kale *
The best cold tolerance of the brassicas with a survival tolerance down to 10 0 F . High feed quality ; will compare favorably with alfalfa as pasturage . Kale is very leafy and will produce high yields far into late fall / early winter . Excellent for cattle and sheep grazing . Ready to graze in 110-150 days Planting Date : May to August .
Seeding : 4-5lbs / acre , ¼ to ½ inch deep . __________________________$ 4.60 / lb
$ 230.00 / 50 lb . bag
Kura Clover *
An extremely persistent , spreading , perennial legume . Unique among clovers , it has an extensive rhizome system allowing it to vegetatively propagate itself and stand up to heavy field traffic and frequent intensive grazing .
Best Use : Excellent in high-use pastures ; living mulch Adaptations : Well drained , fertile soils . Requirements : Very slow to establish ( 2-3 years ). Do not seed with nurse crop . Weed pressure must be managed for 2-3 years until stand is established . Avoid droughty , shallow soils . Do not intensively graze past Sept . 1 st . Planting Date : April 15 th - June 1st , July 15 th - Aug . 15 th Seeding : 6 lbs / acre straight . Broadcast or drill . Plant ¼ - ½ in . deep . Conventional Uncertified ( LIMITED SUPPLY )___ ASK / lb
Sanfoin *
Deep rooted , drought resistant legume with hollow stem and many leaflets . Not as winter hardy as alfalfa . Non-bloating , excellent quality and palatability . Best use as pasture and / or single-cut hay crop . Intolerant to flooding , wet soils . Retains leaves and quality well at bloom .
Best Use : Dryland grazing crop or pasture species Adaptations : Well suited for drier soils Requirements : Do not exceed 1 cutting for hay in a season . Avoid wet or poorly drained soils . Planting Date : March – April
Seeding : 2-5 lbs / acre in a mix , 30-40 lbs / acre straight . Drill or broadcast and roll . Plant ¼ - ½ in . deep Conventional Uncertified ___________$ 2.80 / lb
$ 140.00 / 50lb bag
Crimson Clover *
See page 45 for full description Conventional Uncertified ___________$ 1.28 / lb
$ 64.00 / 50lb bag
Forage Rape
A succulent plant related to cabbage , which makes excellent forage for hogs , sheep , and young stock . Can be grazed multiple times and persists well after the first frost . Should be ready to pasture in 6 to 8 weeks . Will rarely overwinter in Upper Midwest .
Best Use : Ready to graze or chop in 80-95 days . Supplement perennial cool season pastures in August and September or interseed warm season grasses to improve their feed quality . Requirements : Keep it cut or grazed down so it doesn ’ t get tall and woody . Can blister white pigs . Planting Date : Early spring until August . Seeding : 3lbs / acre , 1-3 lbs in a mix . ¼ inch deep
Dwarf Essex Rape
• _ Highly palatable and nutritious , excellent protein Conventional ________________ $ 1.10 / lb Organic _______ Available August 2017 / Ask
Barsica Forage Rape
• Tall variety with high yields and resistance to lodging
• Resistant to powdery mildew , improving _ palatability Conventional _________________$ 1.66 / lb ____________________ $ 41.50 / 25lb bag
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Crown Vetch *
Cool-season , spreading perennial legume with pink flowers often used as permanent ground cover on hillsides and ditches . Very aggressive once established .
Best Use : Permanent cover and erosion prevention on hillsides , ditches and other disturbance projects . Adaptations : Prefers well-drained soils but can tolerate acidic and shallow , low fertility soils . Requirements : Invasive habits once established . Will outcompete other desired species . Forage quality and suitability for livestock unknown . Planting Date : February – April Seeding : 15-20 lbs / acre or 1 lb / 1000 ft 2 . Broadcast or drill . Plant ¼ - ½ in . deep Conventional Uncertified ( LIMITED SUPPLY )___ $ 28 / lb
White Blossom Sweet Clover *
A tall-growing , biennial legume used mainly by bee keepers for its abundant white blossoms and high nectar content . Later maturing than yellow blossom sweet clover .
Best Use : Bee forage Adaptations : Prefers well-drained soils Requirements : Avoid acidic soils . Can become a volunteer weed if allowed to set seed . Planting Range : February – April Seeding : 8-12 lbs / acre . Broadcast or drill . Plant ¼ to ½ in . deep . Conventional Uncertified ___________$ 4.40 / lb
$ 220.00 / 50lb bag
Berseem Clover *
See page 45 for full description Conventional Uncertified ___________$ 2.12 / lb
$ 106.00 / 50lb bag
Balansa Clover *
See page 45 for full description Conventional Uncertified ___________$ 2.50 / lb
$ 125.00 / 50lb bag
Forage Turnips
Hardy , large rooted brassica that produces abundant high quality forage below and above ground . Roots grow about ½ out of the ground and are high energy feed with 85 % TDN and 10 % protein . They have been pastured successfully with up to a foot of snow . Can yield up to 4 to 6 tons an acre of dry matter .
Best Use : Ready to graze in 60-90 days Requirements : 50-100 lbs . N and medium rates of K and P for best results . Planting Date : May to August . Seeding : Seed 2-3lbs / acre , ¼ to ½ inch deep
Purple Top Turnips
• Most common variety in US
• Good choice for low fertility ground Conventional ________________ $ 1.60 / lb
$ 80.00 / 50 lb . bag Organic _______ Available August 2017 / ASK
Barkant Turnip
• Improved variety- 50 % more dry matter than purple _ top turnip and almost 5x leaf production
• Ideally suited for grazing with sheep and cattle Conventional _________________$ 1.92 / lb
$ 48.00 / 25 lb . bag