Albert Lea Seed House 2018 Farm Seed Guide | Page 26

Orchardgrass
Bromegrass
Timothy

Cool Season Grasses

* = variety not stated
Orchardgrass
A bunch-type , tall-growing , cool-season perennial grass . It is one of the most commonly used and productive cool season grasses , tolerant to shade , fairly drought resistant with good winter hardiness . It regrows quickly and is a common component in pasture and hay mixtures .
Best Use : Suitable for hay or pasture . Begin grazing at 6-8 ”; stop when grass gets to 3-4 ”. Adaptations : It is better adapted to well-drained soils and is especially well adapted to mixtures with legumes such as alfalfa or red clover . Requirements : Generally persists longer than most cool-season grasses in frequently cut , properly managed alfalfa mixtures . Close grazing in the fall is consistently associated with winter-kill so leave 3-4 ”. Its high palatability to all classes of livestock makes it susceptible to over-grazing . A minimum requirement is a re-growth period of no less than 28 days when rotational grazing . Planting Date : March-May , August 15th-30th . Seeding : 8-12 lbs / acre alone or 3-5 lbs / acre in a mix Suggestions : For alfalfa-orchardgrass mixtures , carefully select both varieties . The alfalfa variety should be a quick recovery type ( high FD ) to help it compete with the fast-growing orchardgrass . Select later-maturing orchardgrass varieties ( HLR , Echelon , Luxor , Niva ) for mixing with alfalfa .
Bromegrass
A leafy , deep-rooted , sod-forming , perennial grass that is very persistent . Forage quality compares well with other cool-season grasses . It matures somewhat later in the spring than orchardgrass and makes less summer growth , but is much more winter hardy .
Best Use : Suitable for hay or long term pasture . Begin grazing at 8-10 ”. Stop when grass is 4 ”. A re-growth period of 28-35 days between grazing periods is optimal . Adaptations : Grows best on well-drained silt-loam or clay-loam soils . Requirements : Slow to establish . Rarely provides a productive crop until the second year . Low tolerance to 3 and 4-cut hay systems . Will survive but go dormant during periods of drought and extremes in temperature . Brome requires early spring and fall applications of N to maintain high yields in a pure stand . Planting Date : March-May , August 1st-30th . Seeding : 15 lbs / acre alone or 2-5 lbs / acre w / alfalfa . Suggestions : Seed meadow brome or Alaska brome for haying applications , smooth brome for long-term pastures
Timothy
A shallow-rooted , perennial , cool-season grass well adapted to the Upper Midwest . Very winter hardy and very palatable .
Best Use : Its energy storage pattern makes it a better hay crop than a pasture species . It is usually mixed with alfalfa or clover for hay or pasture . Preferred grass in horse hay . Frost seeds well . Adaptations : Best production is on heavy ground and cooler climates . Requirements : Its shallow root system makes it a poor choice on droughty soils . Sensitive to high temperatures and its mid-summer growth may be limited . Planting Date : March-May , August 1st-30th . Seeding : 8 lbs / acre alone or 1-2 lbs / acre in a mix .
26 Cool Season Grasses
Amba
Climax
• Leafy , rust resistant
• Early maturing , common alfalfa companion Conventional ____ $ 0.82 / lb $ 41 / 50 # bag Organic _____$ 2.00 / lb $ 100 / 50 # bag
Barpenta
• Later maturing , highly palatable
• Winter hardy with good resistance to rust
• Very high yielding Conventional ____ $ 2.40 / lb $ 120 / 50 # bag
NEW !
• Medium maturity , early growth
• High yields of dry matter ; excellent forage quality
• Highly digestible and very winter hardy Conventional _______$ 3.20 / lb . $ 160 / 50 # bag
HLR
• Late maturing ; less clumpy than traditional varieties
• High in digestibility
• Good winter hardiness , rust resistant Conventional _______$ 4.40 / lb . $ 110 / 25 # bag
Echelon NEW !
• Very late maturity
• Very good forage yield ; excellent winter hardiness
• Very good disease resistance / seasonal growth pattern Conventional _______$ 3.80 / lb . $ 190 / 50 # bag
Smooth Brome
• Sod forming , very persistent Conventional _______ $ 2.50 / lb $ 125 / 50 # bag Organic _______ $ 3.40 / lb $ 85 / 25 # bag
Fleet Meadow Brome
• Exceptional winter hardiness
• Leafier and more palatable
• More fall production than smooth brome
• Heads out 7-10 days later than Smooth Brome Conventional ________$ 2.80 / lb $ 70 // 25 # bag Organic _______ $ 3.40 / lb $ 85 / 25 # bag NEW !
Niva
• Very large root mass ; excellent drought tolerance
• Later-heading gives it a wider cut or graze window
• Excellent persistence and winter hardiness Organic ___________$ 5.20 / lb . $ 260 / 50 # bag
Luxor
NEW !
• Very late maturity
• Very good forage yield ; excellent winter hardiness
• Very good disease resistance / seasonal growth pattern Organic ___________$ 5.20 / lb . $ 260 / 50 # bag
Hakari Alaska Brome
Grass Species Quick Selection Grid
• Yields more and recovers faster than smooth brome
• Non-sod forming , excellent alfalfa companion
• Fast to establish and high quality
• Not as persistent as smooth brome
• Seed 8-15 lbs in a mix or 35 lbs alone Conventional _______ $ 3.80 / lb $ 190 / 50 # bag
E = Excellent ; G = Good ; F = Fair ; P = Poor
Species
Yield
Potential
Pasture
Grazing
Hay
Cutting
Heat / Drought
Wet Soil
Tolerance
Tolerance
Winter
Survival
Smooth Bromegrass
E
G
G
F
G
E
Meadow Bromegrass
E
E
E
F
G
G
Mountain / Alaska Bromegrass
G
G
E
G
F
G
Orchardgrass
E
G
E
F
F
G
Perennial Ryegrass
G
E
F
P
G
F
Timothy
F
F
G
P
G
E
Tall Fescue
E
E
E
E
G
G
Meadow Fescue
G
E
G
G
E
G
Festulolium
G
E
F
F
G
F
Annual Ryegrass
F
F
P
P
G
P
Italian Ryegrass
G
G
F
F
G
P
Kentucky Bluegrass
P
G
P
P
G
E
Reed Canarygrass
E
F
G
E
E
E