Are you planting annual ryegrass (ARG) this spring? There are a few things to keep in mind to ensure a productive, healthy crop.
Annual ryegrass is different than other forage and turf species because it’s not a perennial. Just like its name says, it’s an annual like wheat or canola that’s planted in spring and produces one crop in the same year it’s planted.
Seed Production Specialist (SPS) Cord Ferguson said it’s ideal to plant ARG in early spring, with most producers having the crop in the ground by mid-May, weather permitting.
“You can plant the crop using conventional seeding equipment,” he said. “It’s typically seeded at 18 lb/ac at a depth of ½ inch. As ARG is a 90-day crop, the early planting also helps to ensure an earlier harvest.”
Many growers plant ARG as soon as they can get on the land because ARG handles cold temperatures well. Ferguson said the grass seed crop has the potential to withstand frost down to -10 degrees Celsius and show no significant signs of damage.
Fertilizing your ARG crop is similar to growing a wheat crop. Ferguson recommends a fertility rate of 100-30-25-5.
“When it comes to weed control, there are lots of options for broadleafs,” he said. “But for grassy weeds, we are limited, so we recommend planting ARG on clean fields free of grassy weeds like quack grass, foxtail barley, wild oats, and annual bluegrass.”
Annual ryegrass is typically harvested at the beginning of August, often being one of the first crops off the field. Your BrettYoung SPS will help you time swathing your ARG crop as this part is extremely crucial as the crop can shell very easily if left too long. Around seven to 10 days after swathing, your ARG crop will be ready to harvest, ideally at a seed moisture level of 14% or lower. After harvest, Ferguson said the seed needs to be aerated until it’s under 12% moisture for long-term storage.
Ferguson said there’s no better time to start growing ARG as demand for the crop continues to grow.
“It’s a very lucrative seed crop that can be very beneficial if added to the rotation on a mixed grain and livestock farm,” he said. “It produces a lot of straw residue, which can be used for feed and bedding, and the regrowth provides high-quality fall grazing with excellent feed quality and palatability.”
To learn more about producing seed with BrettYoung, reach out to your Seed Production Specialist.
