Authors: Dianne Shoemaker, Mark Sulc, Bill Weiss, Sarah Noggle
With the forage shortage we are experiencing, below are listed good options to plant now and into early September for forage production yet this year. The focus of this article is for mechanical harvest. Another article lists options to consider for grazing.
For more information on establishment details and other agronomic guidelines and characteristics, click HERE.
Species for planting by mid-July |
Comments |
Corn plant silage |
Highest single cut forage yield potential of all choices. |
Forage sorghum |
Best harvested as silage. |
Soybean silage |
Reasonable alternative to replace alfalfa forage. |
Teff grass |
Best suited to beef and sheep; lower yield than sorghum grasses. |
Millets |
Best suited to beef and sheep; many produce a single harvest. |
Mixtures of annual grasses with soybean |
Best harvested as silage. |
Species to plant from July 24 to mid-September |
Comments |
Oat or spring triticale |
Can be mowed and wilted to correct harvest moisture. |
Oat or spring triticale plus winter cereals |
Winter cereals (Winter rye, Winter wheat, Winter triticale) can be added to oat or spring triticale to add a forage harvest early next spring. Winter rye can also contribute a little extra autumn yield to the mixture. |
Oat or spring triticale plus field peas |
Field peas can improve forage quality (especially crude protein content) but will increase seed cost. |
Italian ryegrass |
Earlier planting dates provide more autumn yield. |
Note: The forage grass options all require adequate nitrogen to maximize yield potential, either as fertilizer or manure (about 60 lbs of actual available nitrogen per acre). Check any potential herbicide restrictions from the previously planted crop. Work with your nutritionist to incorporate these alternative forages into properly balanced rations.
For more detailed information about each of these options, refer to this Fact Sheet:
Consult the Ohio Agronomy Guide for management details, available HERE.