For Jerry Isaac, tall fescue has become a good fit for both his land and his mixed farming operation near Carrot River, Saskatchewan.
Isaac has been growing tall fescue with BrettYoung for more than five years after first getting into grass seed production with perennial ryegrass. Introduced to seed production through his brother Mike and BrettYoung Seed Production Specialist Doug Senko, Isaac eventually found tall fescue was better suited to the conditions on his farm.
A Fit for Heavy, Wet Soils
“We’re on heavy land, and we tend to get a lot of moisture, which can be challenging for some of our other crops, especially canola,” said Isaac. “Tall fescue handles those conditions really well.”
The crop helps draw down excess moisture reserves, which can benefit crops that follow in the rotation. Isaac said the goal is to lower moisture levels in the soil so the ground is better able to handle additional moisture later on.
Tall fescue also helps add tilth to the farm’s heavy clay soils, while providing another benefit beyond the seed crop. Isaac runs a commercial cow/calf operation as well as a winter feedlot and bales the tall fescue straw for use in his cattle operation.
Profitability and Added Value
Profitability has also helped keep tall fescue in the rotation.
“It can be quite profitable if we can get into the 800-to-1,000-pound range,” said Isaac. “It has been a really good profit point on our farm.”
This season, the crop came in surprisingly early and harvest went well, adding to another positive year for tall fescue on the farm.
Like any crop, tall fescue comes with its own management considerations. For Isaac, one of the biggest is keeping grassy weeds under control. Foxtail in particular can thrive under many of the same conditions as tall fescue.
“You have to keep your field super clean before you put it into fescue,” he said. While wild oats and broadleaf weeds can be easier to manage, turf grasses require growers to stay on top of them.
For growers considering tall fescue, Isaac recommends doing the research and starting with the right field.
“On a little more marginal land, it can be a really good fit,” he said. “Do your research, plant it on clean ground, and don’t be scared to fertilize it.”
Support Throughout the Season
Having a Seed Production Specialist to work with throughout the season has also been valuable. Isaac said having another set of eyes on the field gives him someone to check in with on crop maturity, field conditions and spraying options, while also providing a second opinion when questions come up.
For Isaac, that outside perspective can be especially helpful during the growing season.
“Having another set of eyes is really beneficial,” he said. “Sometimes they can pick up on things you might otherwise miss.”
After more than five years of growing tall fescue, its ability to handle his farm’s heavier, wetter conditions, generate a return and provide useful straw for his cattle operation continues to make it a natural fit for Isaac’s farm.
To learn more about integrating forage and turf seed production into your operation, connect with a BrettYoung Seed Production Specialist.
