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Perennial Grasses
Timothy
Orchardgrass
Reed Canary Grass
Fescues
Bromegrass
Ryegrass
Red Top
Kentucky
Bluegrass
Reclamation Specialty/Conservation
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Timothy
Well known grass doing best on bottom lands, rich moist loams and clay
soil, but not loose, sandy ground. Makes a good pasture when sown with
hulled orchardgrass and Ladino clover. A perennial, semi-bunch growth habit
used primarily for hay.
Timothy Seeding
Date: 30 days prior to the average date of the last killing frosts. Sow
in September, Harvest in June.
Rate: (Alone) 6-8lbs. per acre, (In Mixes) 1-2lbs. per acre
Fertilization: 40-60lbs. N; 30-40lbs. P; 30-60lbs K
pH level: 5.8-6.2
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- Clair Timothy (Earlier)
A vigorous, early maturing variety that matures 1-2 weeks earlier than
other varieties, or about the same time as red clover or alfalfa are ready
for first cutting. Good second year production. Also superior in first
year production and aftermath yield.
- Climax Timothy (Later)
Leafy, high-yielding, rust resistant variety. Heads out about 7-10 day
later than common Timothy. Best when used with legumes.
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Orchardgrass
A vigorous perennial grass known for its longevity. Planted extensively
by cattlemen because of its good grazing from spring until fall, demanding
very little. Can be used for pasture, hay or silage. When cutting for hay,
orchardgrass should be cut in the bloom stage. Does best on well-drained
loam soil.
Orchardgrass Seeding
Date: Early fall or spring. Harvest in May or June
Rate: (Alone) 14-21lbs. per acre, (In Mixes) 8-14lbs. per acre
Fertilization: 40-60lbs. N; 30-40lbs. P; 30-60lbs K
pH level: 5.8-6.2
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- Orchardgrass 90/85 (Early)
Early maturing bunch grass with good early growth. Grows very well in
spring. Good recovery after cutting hay or grazing. For pasture or hay.
- Pennlate Orchardgrass (Later)
Late heading, high yielding. Recommended use with legumes with adaptive
maturities. Somewhat winter hardy. A good late orchardgrass.
- Potomac (Cert) Orchardgrass
(Early)
An improved early maturing variety. More resistant to leaf diseases than
common Orchard. Very productive and persistent; recommended with clover.
- Hulled Orchardgrass
Super quality, finely cleaned; outer seed coat removed. Faster
germinating, lower seed rate (1/2 as much as regular seed). Works ideally
with other grasses and legumes. When seeding with Alfalfa, the rate per
acre should not exceed 1 1/2lbs. Provides more consistent seeding through
drill box.
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Reed
Canary Grass
Description: Tall, coarse, sod-forming
cool-season grass; grows 2-5' tall; spreads underground by short, scaly
rhizomes; semi-dense, spike-like panicle. Use for hay, pasture, and silage.
Weight per bushel: 45lbs.
Seeds per pound: 430,000
Germinating time: 21 days
Fertilizer: Establishment - 50lbs. N, 120-140lbs. P205
and 120-140lbs. K20
Maintenance (pasture) - 40-60lbs. N, 30-40lbs. P205
and 30-60lbs. K20
Maintenance (hay) - 120-200lbs. N apploied 1/2 in early spring and
the
other 1/2 after 1st cutting plus 40-90lbs. P205
and 85-185lbs. K20
When seeded with clover - nitrogen rate should be reduced to 20lbs.
For maintenance where there is more than 35% clover, no nitrogen is
needed.
pH Range: 5.8-6.2
Soil Adaptation: Tolerates poorly drained soils. More drought
tolerant than many other cool-season plants.
Planting: Early fall or spring. Often slow to establish. Plant
12-14lbs. alone; 6-8lbs. in mixtures. Plant in 6-8" rows or solid seeded.
Harvesting: 1st cut when heads begin to emerge.
Approximate harvest dates: Hay, May 15 to June 15
Approximate yield: Hay, 2-4 tons per acre.
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- Palaton (Forage) Canary Grass
Vigorous, high yielding, nutritious, newly
developed variety. Excellent feeder for livestock that withstands both wet
and drought conditions. Low alkaloid content for better digestion. Winter
hardy, leaf disease resistant. Provides outstanding pasturing when
combined with legumes. Multiple cuttings; excellent with alfalfa.
- Venture Reed Canary Grass
Another improved variety much like Palaton, Low
alkaloids levels.
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Fescues
Description: Long lived, tufted,
deep-rooted; noted for early spring and late fall growth; dark green leaves,
shiny, barbed along the edge; leaves rolled in bud, very short ligule,
sheath reddish pink below ground. Most existing tall fescue stands are
infected with a fungal endophyte that induces fescue toxicosis in cattle.
Varieties: Endophyte-free varieties are somewhat less hardy than
endophyte-infected tall fescue, requiring more careful management. Modern
endophyte-free varieties are stronger than earlier varieties. Endophte-enhanced
varieties have postential.
Uses: Pasture, hay and turf. Excellent when seeded at high rates for
turf. Widely used for winter grazing.
Weight per bushel: 24lbs.
Seeds per pound: 220,000
Germinating time: 14 days
Fertilizer: Establishment - 40lbs. N, 120-140lbs. P205
and 120-140lbs. K20
at
medium soil test levels
Pasture topdressing - 30lbs. P205 and 30-60lbs. K20 annually or
40-125lbs. P205 and K20 every 3-4 years. For winter grazing, apply
60-75lbs. N in mid-August.
Hay topdressing - 120-200lbs. N, 40-90lbs. P205 and 85-185lbs. K20
pH Range: 5.6-6.2
Soil Adaptation: Adapted to practically all tillable soils. Tolerant
to both dry and wet soils.
Planting: Early fall or spring at 15-25lbs. when seeded alone, and
6-12lbs. in mix for pasture; 4-6lbs. per 1000 square feet for turf.
Harvesting (hay): 1st cut when heads begin to emerge. Stems and
seedheads of endophyte-infected fescue are highly toxic. Approximate yield:
2-6 tons of hay per acre.
Harvesting (seed): When field takes on yellowish brown cast and heads
droop.
Harvesting (pasture): Tolerant of continuous stocking. With
rotational stocking, turn in at 8", remove cattle at 2-3". Keep vegetative
to reduce potential problems with endophyte. Remove pregnant mares from
endophyte-infected fescue during last 3 monts of gestation!
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- Teton Tall Fescue Forage
Many quality problems of tall fescue are associated with the presence
of an endophytic fungus growing in the plants. New varieties of tall
fescue which contain no endophyte fungus are available and should be used
when establishing new or renovating old pastures. Exclusive grazing of old
fescue varieties during the summer occasionally leads to a condition known
as "fescue syndrome", in which cattle retain their winter coat, breathe
rapidly, and gain poorly. Using low-endophyte tall fescue varieties
eliminates this risk.
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Bromegrass
Description: Sod-forming since it
spreads by underground rhizomes; leafy and grows to height of 3-4'; head is
an open panicle; stem smooth and round; fused leaf sheath.
Uses: Hay and pasture-drought tolerant.
Weight per bushel: 14lbs.
Seeds per pound: 137,000
Germinating time: 14 days
Fertilizer: 100-200lbs. N. Lower levels required when used as pasture
in split applications, 40-90lbs. P205, and 85-185lbs. K20 annually on soils
testing medium.
pH Range: 5.8-6.7
Soil Adaptation: Well drained, vertile soils.
Planting: Early spring, or with small grain in fall, seeded at 10lbs.
in mixture. Do not seed alone!
Harvesting: Early bloom stage. Do not graze or cut during stem
elongation.
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Ryegrass
Ryegrass Seeding
Date: When soil becomes appropriately warm. 1-2 weeks after corn.
Rate: 10-12lbs. in rows
pH level: 5.8-6.2
A perennial grass, less winter hardy and less palatable than other
forage grasses. Survival is better when planted with alfalfa. 10lbs. in
mixtures.
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- Amazon Tetraploid Ryegrass
Highly palatable bunch grass. Heads out earlier than others. High yielder,
good forage ryegrass. Tetraploid ryegrasses are considered to be much more
digestible and palatable than tall fescue, bromegrass and Timothy, with
higher protein content.
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Red
Top / Herbs Grass (Perennial) Agrostis Albi
Description: Produces numerous stems from a well-developed base. Spreads
by rhizomes but does not produce a strong sod; flat, light green,
sharp-pointed leaves; lacks leafiness under close grazing; long prominent
ligule.
Uses: Primarily for erosion control and soil stabilization.
Weight per bushel: 14lbs.
Seeds per pound: 5,100,000
Germinating time: 10 days
Fertilizer: 40-60lbs. N, 60-100lbs. P205 and 60-100lbs. K20. The N is
for annual application, the P205 and K20 are rates for 3-4 years.
pH Range: 5.8-6.2
Soil Adaptation: Well drained and moderately well drained loams and
silt loams. Tolerant to wet conditions.
Planting: August to September. May be seeded in spring. Plant 3-5lbs.
alone; 3lbs. in mix. Plant in 6-8" rows or solid seeded.
Harvesting (hay): Shortly before full bloom.
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Kentucky Bluegrass
Description: One of the earliest grasses
in spring, yielding valuable pasture if planted on limestone or stiff soil.
Low growing, solid forming perennial. Will withstand closer grazing. Since
it requires a year or two to become firmly established, it is best to sow
bluegrass with orchardgrass, ryegrass and alfalfa.
Planting: Sow 10-15lbs. per acre or 5-8lbs. in mixes.
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Reclamation Specialty/Conservation
Description: Native / Warm Season. These
species are basically known for their warm season growth habit, but are
becoming more and more adaptive to moderate and transitional climates. Grows
best from July to September.
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- Switchgrass
A tall perennial bunch grass 3' - 5', with sod forming capabilityies.
Tolerates poorly drained soils. Primary growth is in mid-season and can be
used to compliment as cool season forage program. Does well as a summer
pasture or hay. Persists close and frequent grazing. Native wildlife
stands. Seed at a rate of 6-8lbs. per acre. Varieties include
Cave-In-Rock, Blackwell, and Trailblazer.
- Big Bluestem
A tall bunch grass, 4' - 6' tall, that is tolerant to excessively drained
soil with poor water holding capacity. Characteristics much like
Switchgrass in that it is ideal for summer pasturing and complementary to
cool season programs. Wide soil adaptation. Very palatable with high
protein value. Provides choice wildlife cover. Plant 25lbs. per acre.
Variety: Niagra
- Buffalograss
Perennial sod forming grass that grows to height of 5" or less. Well
suited for erosion control because of its strong root system. Native warm
season grass with drought resistance. Highly nutritious and palatable for
live stock. Use for lawns, roadsides, pastures and low maintenance areas.
For pastures, seed at a rate of 15-25lbs. per acre.
Non-Stocked Item.
- Tioga Deer Tongue
Perennial warm season grass with wide range of soil and fertility
adaptations. Excellent for turkey and wild game. Birds eat the seed; deer
eat the seed and graze on the foliate. Plant 10-15lbs. per acre.
- Smartweed
Best duck feeding available. Suggest hulled or scarified seed for good
germination. Grow n marshy areas up to 18" high. Plant 20lbs. per acre.
Non Stocked Item.
- Lathco Flatpea
Industrial waste areas, roadsides, mine reclamation, any utility
situation. Will persist on steep banks and slopes. Good cover for all deer
and small game. Seed for pigeons, doves, quail and pheasant. Plant
25-30lbs. per acre.
- Weeping Lovegrass
Perennial bunch grass that generally grows to a height of 2' - 5' but
usually does not remain upright. Limited hay and pasture use, relatively
low in palatability. Excellent soil stabilizer. Can be used for livestock
forage but not recommended for wildlife. Heat and drought tolerant. Good
for reclamation due to its ability to grow well in sandy and waste areas.
Plant 3-6lbs. per acre.
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