Forage First Guide I Summer Select Guide
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A mixture of diploid and tetraploid Italian ryegrass. This mix is recommended as a spring planting for boosting the production for this season. Either this fall, or next spring, this planting will need to be rotated.
Grasshance® can boost production as much as double compared to a field with 40% stand loss from winter damage. But even without damage, Grasshance® can boost dry matter by 30%.
CHARACTERISTICS:
Establishment: Fast
Persistence: Medium
Drought Tolerance: Medium High
Winter Hardiness: Medium
Palatability: High
Yield Potential: Medium 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: 25-30
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.
Ratings
Scale 1-9, where 9 = best or most pronounced
Persistence
Drought Tolerance
Winter Hardiness
Palatability
Yield Potential
Grazing Tolerance
- Blend of diploid & tetraploid Italian annual ryegrass
- Seeded in spring to boost season production
- Excellent establishment & improved persistence
- Highly palatable & highly digestible