As fall approaches, cattle growers need to think about winter annual forages. Please establish winter annuals on well-drained, fertile soils when possible. If your pasture or field is poorly drained consider ryegrass as it is a better option than the small grains. Growers should consider treating seed with an approved fungicide before planting. Seedling diseases such as Phytophthora, Rhizoctonia, Pythium, and others reduce stands when planting in the warmer months of September and October, especially in South Georgia.
These forages can be seeded in late September to late October in the Coastal Plain region. If late fall and early winter grazing are desired (lower Piedmont and Coastal Plain regions only), plant during the earlier side of the planting window and into a prepared seedbed. During the late fall and early winter, growers should avoid overgrazing these pastures. For best results, maintain at least 2 ½ in. of stubble height of the winter annuals.
If planting into a prepared seedbed, prepare the seedbed two to three weeks before planting, if practical. This will allow the soil to settle and firm, thus improving seed germination and seedling development. Although deep soil preparation is not necessary for the grazing crop, deep tillage may benefit row crops planted in the spring.
Drilling or using a cultipacker seeder allows for more precise seed placement than broadcasting or disking. It is recommended that if you are broadcasting seed, to increase the seeding rate by 25–30% to allow for variable seed placement. The planting depth for rye, oats, and wheat should be 1 – 1 ½ in. deep in moist soil. It is recommended to not plant ryegrass seed deeper than ½ in. When planting mixtures of ryegrass and small grains, it may be easier to control the seeding depth of these species by broadcasting ryegrass seed and then drilling the other small grains into the seedbed. If grown alone, seeding rates for rye, wheat, oats, and triticale are 90-120 lbs per acre, but in mixtures, seeding rates drop to 60-90 lbs per acre. When grown alone, ryegrass seeding rates range from 20 to 30 pounds per acre, but in mixtures, seeding rates drop to 15-20 pounds per acre. Use higher seeding rates when broadcasting and lower rates when drilling into a prepared seedbed or existing sod (overseeding pasture).
Growers need to split their nitrogen applications to maximize forage growth. Apply 40 – 50 lbs of nitrogen per acre at planting or soon after the plants emerge to promote growth, tillering (stand thickening), and earlier grazing.The second application of 40 – 50 lbs of N per acre should be applied in mid-winter to increase winter and spring forage production. If ryegrass is in the forage program, then a third application of 40 – 50 lbs of N per acre may be needed in early spring.
I must emphasize to producers who overseed into perennial pastures the importance of removing excess summer crop growth before seeding winter annuals. Thin stands are usually the result of failing to get over seeded crop seed in contact with soil and plant nutrients. Warm-season perennial forage crops like bermudagrass and bahiagrass provide forage for five to six months. Overseeding these pastures with winter annuals adds 75 to 100 days of high-quality grazing in late winter and spring. Overseeding occurs in the fall after cooler temperatures have slowed the growth of summer grasses.
If you have questions about seeding rates of these winter annuals or variety questions please call the Extension office.