Wintergrazer 70 Rye Secale cereale Adapted Risk of Winter Injury * This adaption map is a general guideline. Consult a pasture or range specialist in your area for local recommendations. TYPE: Cool season small grain ADAPTATION: Productive in areas where other winter annuals are grown. The most cold tolerant of the cereal grains and more tolerant of soil acidity than the other small grains. USES: Late fall and winter pastures, hay, cover crop and green chop. Can be overseeded into warm season pastures (bermuda and bahia) alone or in mixtures with clover or annual ryegrass to extend the grazing season. Excellent for wildlife food plots especially when mixed with Durana or Patriot white clovers. BENEFITS: Providing cool season winter annual grazing in combination with stockpiled perennial pasture grass can reduce reliance on stored feed. Under favorable fall conditions, Wintergrazer 70 establishes quickly to provide grazing within 6-8 weeks after planting. It grows at lower winter temperatures than other cool season grasses, thereby extending the grazing season. In southern areas of adaptation, it can provide grazing in December, January and February when other grasses are dormant. NUTRITION: With good management practices, rye can produce crude protein levels of 15-16% and Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN) content of approximately 65%. However, environmental conditions and management practices will determine individual results. PLANTING: Rate: 90-120 lbs/acre drilled or 125-150 lbs/acre broadcast. Date: North - August 15 – October 15; South - September 15 – November 15 Drill seed into a well-prepared and firm seedbed or use a no-till drill to overseed it into closely clipped or grazed warm season perennial pastures at a depth of 1/2" to 3/4". Seed may also be broadcast over a prepared seedbed and lightly disked in. Planting too deep or too shallow can result in poor stand emergence. Can be mixed with ryegrass and/or clover. If planted in a mixture, do not plant deeper than 1/4" to ensure establishment of ryegrass or clover. Lime soil to a pH between 6.0 and 7.0 and follow soil test recommendations for nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Small grains respond well to high rates of nitrogen fertilizer. MANAGEMENT: Top-grazing rye in late fall and early winter and rotationally grazing it in early spring offer optimum growth and utilization of forage. Begin grazing when forage growth reaches 6-8 inches in height and roots are well anchored. Remove livestock when 3 inches of growth remains. Grazing on wet, poorly drained soils can result in plant damage and reduced spring growth. Rotational or strip grazing greatly improves utilization efficiency of rye forage particularly during spring flush. SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS For top quality hay or silage, harvest when Wintergrazer 70 is in the flag leaf stage of growth. If grazed, provide animal access to high magnesium mineral to reduce incidence of grass tetany