COOL SEASON ANNUALS
Annual forages can be included into designed crop rotations, and increase overall productivity and profitability. Less herbicide and insecticide need, can also be a benefit.
Late Winter to Early Spring Seeded Crops
Pea Oat DP
A 50:50 mix of Kame oats and peas. Can be used for both forage and grain.
Late Summer Seeded Crops
Double Play
A mixture of TriCal 815, Jerry Oats, and Marshall & MO1 Annual Ryegrasses. Jerry Oats boost fall yield but will winter kill. The next spring, harvest two aggressive cuts of excellent forage.
Oats Plus Mixture
A mixture of our popular Jerry Oats (60%) and Marshall and/or MO1 Annual Ryegrass (40%).This mix combines the strength of each product and can be planted in early spring and late summer. When planted in late summer, Jerry Oats and ryegrass provide productivity for fall harvest. In the following spring, either graze or harvest using an aggressive two cut system.
TritOats
A new mix of TriCal 815 and Jerry Oats designed for one fall cut and one spring cut. Does not contain annual ryegrass. Recommended seeding rate is 150 lb/A.
Oats
Jerry Oats
A very popular tall and leafy western oat that is excellent for fall seedings. Summer seedings should be completed by about September 7 in southeast PA. Mix with peas as a nurse crop in alfalfa, or with Marshall Annual Ryegrass for quick feed in the fall. It has wider leaves, grows taller, and yields much more forage than "feed mill" oats. Jerry is also a good grain oat. Very popular with our customers. Makes lots of straw.
BADGER OATS
A high yielding oat with high test weight grain. Works well for grain or forage.
Forage Maker 50 Oats
A high yielding Canadian forage oat variety that is taller and very leafy.
ProLeaf 234
A leafy new forage oat that replaces Viking.
Reeves
A medium maturity, taller, high yielding oat variety. Good overall disease resistance.
Brassicas
Best to mix with oats at this time of seeding. See Brassica Section for more information
Late Summer to early Fall Seeded Crops
Triticale
Triticale is a cross between wheat and rye. There are many differences among varieties in both their appearances and digestibility. We are offering Trical™ products which have been bred for fiber digestibility. In addition to excellent forage quality, the heading date is similar to wheat - about two weeks after rye.
TriCal® 815
This leafy winter triticale was bred for high forage yield and quality. 815 consistently has the superior NDF digestibility in our test plots! Its maturity date is similar to most winter wheats. Very wide harvest window allows you flexibility in attaining both forage quantity and quality. Harvest before head emergence. Can be no-tilled into thin alfalfa stands to increase first cut tonnage. Also a great grain and straw product. Ask for our brochure.
TRICAL® 718
A brand new, extremely high yielding triticale. If seeded in late summer has potential of both a fall harvest and spring harvest. We have seen spring yields in our research plots over 4 tons of dry matter. Quality is a little lower than 815 but yield is incredibly high. Note: This variety is taller than 815 and is not very compatible in a mix with annual ryegrass.
Triticale Plus Mixture
A mixture of triticale, italian ryegrass and annual ryegrass. Designed for one or two spring cuts of haylage. This mixture will have excellent NDFd when harvested prior to bootstage. Even more tonnage than triticale by itself. Works great to thicken old alfalfa fields in the fall for one huge cutting the following spring. The triticale will add some bulk to the forage for easier silo unloading. Plant at 100 lbs per acre. Can be seeded as late as early October in southeast PA.
- Great forage for double cropping
- Utilizes lots of nutrients
- Great for baleage or grazing
- Higher Sugars for better fermentation and VFA profile
- More energy than Triticale
- Cut approximately May 5 in Lancaster Co., PA.
Barley
Valor Barley
A new winter barley released from Penn State with excellent winter hardiness and yield potential. This new variety is awnletted (very shorts awns) and is a taller variety making it an excellent multipurpose crop. An excellent choice for grain, straw and forage at either flag or soft dough stage.
Spelt
Spelt is a late maturing small grain closely related to wheat. Most varieties are taller and more aggressive in growth than wheat. Spelt is managed similar to wheat. For nurse crop seeding rate must be lower and forage must be harvested before spelt surpresses main crop. Seed at 110 to 150 lb/A with 150 lb being a goal for forage use. Most drills need to be wide open because of the seeds’ bulkiness. More fall growth than triticale.
Comet
A shorter variety with high grain yield and less lodging due to shorter height. Ideal for feeding grain to livestock.
Oberkulmer
A true spelt containing no wheat germplasm.This variety is tall and robust which makes it a great variety for forage harvest prior to flag leaf emergence. Oberkulmer forage quality is very good and can also be used for grain and straw. Very late heading date with a very wide harvest window.
Maverick
A taller variety with excellent grain characteristics for growing grain for baking. Great for farm use as well for cover crop or small grain harvest.
Rye
Rye is cereal crop grown for grain or forage. Rye grain is used for flour and rye bread, as well as animal fodder. Nearly half of the rye grown in the United States is harvested for grain with the remainder used as pasture, hay, or as a cover crop. Winter rye is planted in the fall to provide ground cover and can be harvested as a crop or tilled directly into the soil in spring to add more organic matter.
Huron
A later-heading cereal rye. Better for forage than Aroostook. Use as a rolled straw mulch for no till, forage or grain.
Aroostook
Slightly earlier heading than Huron. Fairly tall growing, with narrow, dark leaves. Use as a rolled straw mulch for no till, straw or grain. Better selection for a cover crop rye because of its cold tolerance and its ability to take later planting.
Late Summer Nurse Crops
We have found that using TriCal 815, Oberkulmer Spelt and Oats help suppress chickweed and other winter annual weeds in pasture and hay seedings. These nurse crops also help protect the desired crop from winter kill and heaving especially if seeded late. Spelt and Triticale also add to your spring production. Spelt is the easiest to dry in the spring. Important: Keep seeding rate low (about 25 to 30% of full seeding rate) and don’t let nurse crops get too tall.
Wheat
W1566
W1566 is a new awnless red winter wheat release from Syngenta that is a true multi-purpose variety. Excellent grain and straw yields. W1566 grain yields are among the best of the industry, but straw yields are about 50% higher than most wheat varieties. Expect about three tons of straw per acre. This taller variety also has excellent forage potential, but is not as high yielding as our TriCal triticale varieties. Although a taller variety, W1566 does have very good standability. In areas with fusarium head scab, a fungicide is recommended.
Malabar
A new Mid-Season, beardless wheat, with consistent yields and excellent disease resistance. Moderate resistance to fusarium head blight.
Winter Annual Legumes
With nitrogen prices going up in recent years, interest in winter annual legumes have increased dramatically. Much research by universities and other organizations is currently in progress. Many farmers are also experimenting with much success. However, we are still learning much on this topic. Lots of nitrogen can be produced during flowering of these nitrogen fixing crops. Some of our dealers are doing test plots to try to fine tune management.
Crimson Clover
A high quality winter annual that can be used for both forage (usually mixed with a small grain or annual ryegrass) or as a nitrogen fixing cover crop. Will be ready for plow down in Lancaster in early May. Adapted to warmer parts of Pennsylvania and south. Crimson clover also has a beautiful crimson colored flower. Plant by September 1st for best results in Lancaster, PA. Ready to plow down 2 to 3 weeks earlier in spring than hairy vetch.
Hairy Vetch
A winter annual that can provide both a cover crop and produce nitrogen during late April to late May. Do not plant where small grains are to be used as a grain crop as it can become a weed. Plant by mid-September in Lancaster, PA.
Watch "Annual Ryegrass - Discovering the benefits"
Annual Ryegrass
Both annual and Italian ryegrasses make superior quality forage that is excellent in providing energy through high sugars, pectins and digestible fiber. Management is critical for success and occasional winter injury may occur if winter arrives “overnight”. However, it seems we get very little injury if seeded with small grains. For those without experience with annual ryegrass, we suggest that these ryegrasses be incorporated into your system through our mixtures. See our Management of Annual and Italian Ryegrasses as a Double Crop.
Note: We constantly are looking for the most winter hardy products. For folks in Northern Pa and further north, Barenbrug’s Green Spirit Italian Ryegrass makes excellent forage without heads if seeded in the spring.
MARSHALL
Marshall has consistently been in the top first cut yields in the western Maryland trials. Marshall is a diploid variety with excellent winter hardiness. It best fits in a double crop program where corn is to be the following crop. Auburn University research singles out Marshall Annual Ryegrass as supporting the greatest stocker cattle weight gain of tested winter annuals
KB Royal
A newer quick emergence and cover ryegrass that is high yielding and very winter hardy. Great for grazing, haylage, or a cover crop.
MO1
This is an excellent new annual ryegrass that was bred in Missouri and selected for improved winter hardiness. Winter hardiness is a major consideration of annual ryegrasses.
Italian Ryegrasses
Fox
A true Italian ryegrass, diploid variety. Bred in Europe, Fox has high dry matter content, good lodging tolerance and disease resistance. It continues to produce in hot summer months.
Green Spirit
This is a premium, late-maturing blend of Tetraploid and Diploid Italian Ryegrass, benefitting from the diversity of the two, and performing well over the last 5 years. Less headiness in Summer.
Late Winter to Early Spring Seeded Crops
Oats
Everleaf 126
Our top pick for spring seedings of straight oats. A true forage oat with delayed heading (about 2 weeks later in Lancaster, PA). They are very bushy and leafier than Jerry and have a softer stem. Forage quality is extremely high. 24 hr NDFd test were 75%. Protein was also slightly higher. Our samples on Everleaf Oats were the highest forage quality of all the small grains we have ever tested. The leaves may get to 1.25 wide. Warning: Keep seeding rate low when using as a nurse crop. NOTE: Not recommended for grain.
Jerry
A very popular tall and leafy western oat. Jerry is very good in forage production and quality as well as a good grain and straw producer.
ProLeaf 234
A leafy new forage oat that replaces Viking.
Forage Peas
Forage peas produce extremely high forage quality and very high crude protein. Makes a good companion crop with oats and triticale. Performs best in cool weather.
Admiral
A new pea bred especially for grain. Dry peas are an excellent protein and energy source. Excellent source of protein on organic farms where peas are adapted.
Austrian Winter
A winter pea most suited in VA and NC.
Windham Winter
Windham is a semi-dwarf, upright winter hardy feed pea.
Brassicas
Best to mix with oats at this time of seeding. See Brassica Section for more information
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