ColdSnap Annual Ryegrass

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.