Forage First Guide      I      Summer Select Guide

Greater Value. Good Move.  Yield and quality matter. But there’s more. Our goal is to provide a higher standard for forage to maximize ROI– while keeping your wallet in mind. We take pride in delivering proven products that increase the bottom line at a good price.

 

GrassLopata

ColdSnap Annual Ryegrass

Heavy dry matter producer, outstanding quality. Great for extending alfalfa or legume stands.

ColdSnap™ Annual Ryegrass is a winter-hardy variety bred for root mass and biomass production. Although it is used across the Midwest in cover crop plantings, ColdSnap™ Annual Ryegrass is a good fit in hay and grazing systems across the majority of the Corn Belt.

 

CHARACTERISTICS:

Establishment: Fast
Persistence: Low
Drought Tolerance: Low
Winter Hardiness: High
Palatability: High
Yield Potential: High
Grazing Tolerance: High

 

SEEDING:

Seeding Rate:
Alone (lbs./acre): 20-40
Mixes (lbs./acre): 5-10
Seeds/lb.: 227,000
Depth (in.): 1/4-1/2

Planting Time:
Mar.-May; Aug.-Sept.
Emergence (days): 5-14
Life Cycle: Annual

Adaptation:
These grasses have a wide range of adaptability to soils, but thrive best on fertile soils with pH between 5.5-6.5. They produce well in regions having mild climates and do not withstand hot, dry weather or severe winters. They will stand fairly wet soils with reasonably good surface drainage.

Establishment:
Plant seed ¼-½ in. deep in well prepared seedbed. In general, annual ryegrass component of a mix should be 20% or less since it is very competitive, due to rapid germination and good seedling vigor.

 

MANAGEMENT:

Rotational Grazing:
Begin (in.): 8-12
Stop (in.): 3-6
Avg. Days Rest: 7-15

Hay or Haylage Harvest:
Cut boot to mid-bloom

Ryegrass is generally cut for hay when seed heads start to emerge. Pastures should be rotationally grazed when spring growth is 3-4 in. high. Allowing 7-10 in. of regrowth between grazings benefit yields and persistence. On new seedings, harvest or grazing should be delayed until plants are 10-12 in. tall. Ryegrass responds well to good management, such as intensive rotational grazing and fertilizer applications.

Masterline

Ratings

Scale 1-9, where 9 = best or most pronounced

Persistence
Drought Tolerance
Winter Hardiness
Palatability
Yield Potential
Grazing Tolerance
  • Suitable for grazing or silage in fall (&/or spring in areas where it overwinters)
  • Heavy dry matter producer with outstanding quality
  • Great for extending legume stands or emergency forage
  • Widely adapted for forage production in Upper Midwest through transition zone