Planting Winter Annual Grains & Forages
Winter annual grasses have two major purposes: to guard the soil as a cover crop in preparation for a subsequent grain crop and to provide a quick forage in the Spring. Whether you’re planting winter rye, triticale or wheat these winter hardy grasses also help to reduce soil erosion, to suppress winter annual weeds in the Spring and to pull up moisture and nutrients from moderate to deep depths.
The optimal time to plant winter annual grasses in the Northern hemisphere is September 1 - 15 and September 16 -30 in the Southern hemisphere. We recommend planting earlier if you want to Fall graze the forage but not too early to risk the plant making seed. We recommend grazing take place prior to heading and leave 3-5” above ground after grazing. While you’re Fall grazing, it is important to monitor your livestock so they don’t overgraze to ensure adequate cover and protection of the growing point during the vernalization period.
Winter rye is the most winter-hardy, cereal grain among winter annual grasses. It emerges quickly in the Fall and starts growing the fastest in the Spring. It provides high forage yields, a strong root structure and a natural allelopathic affect to inhibit the growth and / or reproduction of certain weed species. After Spring emergence, winter rye is ready to be cut in approximately 40-45 days. The average crude protein is 9-11%. Winter rye is a good consideration for preventive plant situations since it will green up quickly and start using moisture. It works well to address soil health concerns and works especially well in preparation for planting soybeans. Winter rye is not recommended to plant prior to corn as studies have indicated a yield reduction can occur in corn planted following winter rye.
Winter triticale is a cross between wheat and rye providing you the hardiness of wheat and the tonnage of rye all in one. We carry TriCal® Flex 719 which is a top contender in the Midwest for high quality and tonnage amongst other winter forages. The average crude protein is 10-12%.
Winter forage wheat is another winter annual cereal grain that can provide cover crop benefits as well as forage and / or grazing options. Winter wheat is slower to mature than other cereal grains, extending your work load later into the Spring. We offer the forage variety Willow Creek, a beardless winter wheat developed specifically for haying & grazing systems in the Northern United States. It is a great option for Spring grazing to delay turnout on your pastures. It provides high quality feed and an average crude protein of 13-14%.
While you consider planting a winter annual grass, consider your subsequent crop as well. If a small grain will be planted in that field next Spring, it’s important to terminate the winter annual effectively to avoid competition. If your subsequent crop is wheat or barley, it would be best to stay away from rye for contamination concerns.
