A bunch-type , tall-growing , cool-season perennial grass . It is one of the most commonly used and productive cool season grasses , tolerant to shade , fairly drought resistant with good winter hardiness . It regrows quickly and is a common component in pasture and hay mixtures .

Best Use : Suitable for hay or pasture . Begin grazing at 6-8 ” and stop when grass gets down to 3-4 ”. Adaptations : It is better adapted to well-drained soils and is especially well adapted to mixtures with legumes such as alfalfa or red clover . Requirements : Generally persists longer than most cool-season grasses in frequently cut , properly managed alfalfa mixtures . Close grazing in the fall is consistently associated with winter-kill so leave 3-4 ”. Its high palatability to all classes of livestock makes it susceptible to over-grazing . A minimum requirement is a re-growth period of no less than 28 days when rotational grazing . Planting Date : March-May , August 15 th -30 th . Seeding : 8-12 lbs / acre alone or 3-5 lbs / acre in a mix Suggestions : For alfalfa-orchardgrass mixtures , carefully select both varieties . The alfalfa variety should be a quick recovery type ( high FD ) to help it compete with the fast-growing orchardgrass . Select later-maturing orchardgrass varieties ( HLR , Latar , Niva ) for mixing with alfalfa .

Potomac

• Early heading

• Excellent grazing tolerance Conventional ___________ __$ 3.48 / lb . $ 174.00 / 50 # bag

HLR

• Later-maturing than Latar and less clumpy than traditional varieties

• High in digestibility

• Good winter hardiness , rust resistant Conventional ___________ ___$ 3.88 / lb . $ 97.00 / 25 # bag

Latar

• Heads out seven days later than Potomac

• Good persistence and palatability

• Good choice for hay or grazing Conventional ___________ __$ 3.78 / lb . $ 189.00 / 50 # bag

Niva

• Very large root mass and excellent drought tolerance

• Later-heading gives it a wider cut or graze window

• Excellent persistence and winter hardiness

Organic _______________ __$ 5.80 / lb . $ 290.00 / 50 # bag

A leafy , deep-rooted , sod-forming , perennial grass that is very persistent . Forage quality compares well with other cool-season grasses . It matures somewhat later in the spring than orchardgrass and makes less summer growth but is much more winter hardy .

Best Use : Suitable for hay or long term pasture . Begin grazing at 8-10 ”. Stop when grass is 4 ”. A re-growth period of 28-35 days between grazing periods is optimal . Adaptations : Grows best on well-drained silt-loam or clay-loam soils . Requirements : Slow to establish . Rarely provides a productive crop until the second year . Low tolerance to three and four-cut hay systems . Will survive but go dormant during periods of drought and extremes in temperature . Brome requires early spring and fall applications of N to maintain high yields in a pure stand . Planting Date : March-May , August 1 st -30 th . Seeding : 15 lbs / acre alone or 2-5 lbs / acre w / alfalfa . Suggestions : Seed meadow brome or Alaska brome for haying applications , smooth brome for long-term pastures

Smooth Brome

• Sod forming , very persistent Conventional __$ 3.50 / lb $ 175 / 50 # bag Organic ______$ 5.40 / lb $ 270 / 50 # bag

Fleet Meadow Brome

• Exceptional winter hardiness

• Leafier and more palatable

• More fall production than smooth brome Conventional __$ 3.90 / lb $ 195 / 50 # bag

Hakari Alaska Brome

• Yields more and recovers faster than smooth brome

• Non-sod forming , excellent alfalfa companion

• Fast to establish and high quality

• Seed 8-15 lbs in a mix or 35 lbs alone Conventional __$ 3.40 / lb $ 170 / 50 # bag

A shallow-rooted , perennial , cool-season grass well adapted to the Upper Midwest . It is very winter hardy and very palatable . Best Use : Its energy storage pattern makes it a better hay crop than a pasture species although new varieties are showing better tolerance to grazing . It is usually mixed with alfalfa or clover for hay or pasture . Preferred grass in horse hay . Adaptations : Best production is on heavy ground and cooler climates . Requirements : Its shallow root system makes it a poor choice on droughty soils . It is sensitive to high temperatures and its mid-summer growth may be limited . Planting Date : March-May , August 1 st -30 th . Seeding : 8 lbs / acre alone or 1-2 lbs / acre in a mix .

Climax

• Leafy , rust resistant

• Early maturing , common alfalfa companion Conventional ___ $ 0.86 / lb $ 43 / 50 # bag Organic ______ $ 2.40 / lb $ 120 / 50 # bag

Barpenta

• Later maturing , highly palatable

• Winter hardy with good resistance to rust

• Very high yielding Conventional __ $ 2.86 / lb $ 143 / 50 # bag