It may feel like summer has just begun, but harvest for perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, and timothy is on the horizon.
Swath Timing
Producing forage and turf seed is different than more common crops like wheat and canola. Most grasses are ready to be harvested in late July or early August, but knowing the exact right time to get in the swather is crucial.
Watch for colour change in your plants — when your tall fescue or perennial ryegrass crop starts looking tanner in colour, you’re close to swathing. For perennial ryegrass specifically, you can test by grabbing a few seed heads and shaking the seed into your palm. If the crop is ready to be harvested, the seeds should shatter relatively easily, and you should end up with a handful of mostly tan-coloured seed. A few green seeds are OK, but lots of green seeds mean the crop isn’t ready to come off just yet.
If you think you’re getting close to swath timing, you can always do a test cut. The stubble should be tan or whitish in colour. If the stubble is mainly green, give it some more time.
For tall fescue crops, the seed heads will ripen, and the stem beneath them will start to turn colour, indicating it’s time to swath. In timothy, you’ll start to see what’s called “tipping”, which is when the tip of the timothy heads starts to shell seed, leaving a thin core sticking up from the top of the head, indicating it’s time to start swathing.
Crops can change a lot in a day, so when it’s getting close to swath timing, keep a close eye on your field so you don’t miss the ideal window. Its also recommended to swath early in the morning or late at night to help reduce shatter losses.
Harvesting
With good weather conditions, your forage or turf seed crop should be ready to harvest five to seven days after swathing. Combining the crops can be a slow process because you want to minimize plug-ups as there’s a lot of material moving through, but that doesn’t mean it’s a difficult one.
Grasses are dry at around 12% and can be around 20% dockage when they come off the field. It can be helpful to use a drop pan to help assess seed losses and reduce dockage when setting your machine .
If the weather doesn’t cooperate, grass crops can be harvested at slightly higher moisture if needed, then aerated to get the moisture down to where it needs to be. Forage and turf seed often needs to be turned to reduce the risk of any hot spots, as many species have small seeds and higher dockage that can reduce airflow.
| Crop Species | Signs of Maturity | Swath Timing | Harvest Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perennial Ryegrass | – Crop is tan in colour – Seeds shatter easily when shaken into palm – Mainly ripe seeds – Tan/white stubble when cutting | Late July – Early August | ~ 7 days after swathing |
| Tall Fescue | – Crop is tan in colour – Mainly ripe seeds -Stem below seedhead is tan in colour | Mid – Late July | 5 – 7 days after swathing |
| Timothy | – Crop is tan in colour | Early August | 5 – 7 days after swathing |
FAQ
How do I know when my forage or turf seed crop is ready to swath?
Look for changes in crop maturity. Perennial ryegrass and tall fescue should be tan in colour, while timothy will begin “tipping,” where the tips of the seed heads start to shell. In perennial ryegrass, ripe seeds should shatter easily into your hand when shaken.
When is the best time of day to swath forage and turf seed?
Swathing early in the morning or late in the evening can help reduce seed shatter and minimize harvest losses.
How long should I wait between swathing and combining?
Under good weather conditions, perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, and timothy are typically ready to combine 5 to 7 days after swathing.
What should I do if my seed is harvested at a higher moisture?
If weather delays harvest, seed can be harvested at a slightly higher moisture content and then aerated and turned in the bin to safely reduce moisture and prevent hot spots. A moisture tester is recommended to monitor storage conditions.
