Credit: Jeremy Kichler, Colquitt County
It the time of year to plan your winter annual forage program. Cool season annual grasses can offer temporary winter grazing during the late fall until spring depending on chosen species. These species are listed below in the order in which they tend to provide grazing and mature.
Cool season annual forages are typically overseeded into dormant warm season grass pastures to maximize productivity per acre. Much like summer annuals, forage yields are highly dependent on planting date and moisture. The recommended variety list is updated annually based on the UGA Statewide Variety Testing results.
Rye
Rye (Secale cereale L.) is the most drought tolerant and winter hardy small grain grown in Georgia. Rye generally matures by middle to late February, earlier than other small grains. Unfortunately, forage quality declines rapidly in the spring, but timely grazing and harvest management can negate these concerns.
Recommended varieties for Piedmont and Coastal Plains the 2026-2027 growing season include:
- Florida 405 (earlier maturing)
- Wrens Abruzzi (later maturing)
Kelly Grazer III, Bates RS4, Elbon, and FL 401 have performed well in the past, but have not been recently evaluated. No varieties have been recently tested in Limestone Valley.
Other varieties may provide satisfactory yields but were not submitted to the Statewide Variety Trial program.
Rye may be a host for Hessian fly but is much less susceptible than wheat.
Triticale
Triticale ([Secale or Triticum] × Triticosecale Wittm. ex A. Camus) is a hybrid of wheat and rye. It grows tall like rye and matures later in the season like wheat. Triticale was originally bred for grain production, so forage quality will decline rapidly after seedhead development. Newer varieties can produce high-quality baleage or silage if harvested on time.
Recommended varieties for the 2026-2027 growing season include:
- FL 1143
- Good early season production in Piedmont and Coastal Plains
- TriCal 344
- Good early season production in Coastal Plains
- Good season long production in lower Coastal Plains
- Not tested outside Coastal Plains
- Good resistance to Hessian fly
- TriCal Sprinter
- Good season long production in Piedmont and Coastal Plains
- Not tested outside Coastal Plains
- Most resistant option to Hessian fly
- TriCal Surge
- Good season long production in Piedmont and Coastal Plains
- Not tested outside Coastal Plains
Other varieties listed here may be susceptible to Hessian fly.
TriCal Merlin Max, TriCal HTF, TriCal HTS, and NCPT01-1433 have performed well in the past but not been recently evaluated. Other varieties may provide satisfactory yields but were not submitted to the Statewide Variety Trial program.
Oats
Oats (Avena sativa L.) are later maturing and can provide more spring growth than rye when grown in South and Central Georgia. Oats are not as winter-hardy as rye and can winter-kill in some years. Although it is difficult to quantify, the leaves of oats are “softer” than those of rye or other small grains.
Recommended varieties for the 2026-2027 growing season include:
- Gladiator
- Good late season production in Piedmont and Coastal Plains
- Horizon 214
- Good early season production in Coastal Plains
- Good late season production in Piedmont and Coastal Plains
- Good season long production in Coastal Plains
- Horizon 306
- Good early season production in Piedmont and Coastal Plains
- Horizon 578
- Good late season production in Piedmont and Coastal Plains
- Good season long production in Piedmont
- Horizon 720
- Good early season production in Piedmont and Coastal Plains
- Maximus
- Good season long production in Coastal Plains
TriCal Cadillac, Legend 567, and LA99016 have performed well in the past but not been recently evaluated. No varieties have been recently tested in Limestone Valley.
Other varieties may provide satisfactory yields but were not submitted to the Statewide Variety Trial program.
All these varieties may be susceptible to prevalent strains of crown rust, scout routinely. Avoid planting earlier than recommended for your region.
Wheat
Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) can be grown across the state, but it is not tolerant of acidic soils. This winter-hardy small grain can provide forage from winter to spring and makes a good grazing, silage, or baleage crop. Overall, wheat is the lowest yielding species in this list and should not be used except for cover or when low production is acceptable.
Recommended varieties for the 2026-2027 growing season include:
- SSI 30-06
- Good late season production in Piedmont and Coastal Plains
- Susceptible to Hessian fly
These varieties were not submitted for testing but were included on last year’s recommended list:
- SSI 30-06
- Good late season production in Piedmont and Coastal Plains
- AGS 2024
- Good early season production in Piedmont and Coastal Plains
- Good season long production in the Coastal Plains
- AGS 4023
- Good early season production in Piedmont and Coastal Plains
- AGS 4043
- Good late season production in Piedmont and Coastal Plains
- Good season long production in Piedmont and Coastal Plains
- Johnson
- Good late season production in Piedmont
- Good season long production in Piedmont
Dyna-Gro Plantation, Pioneer 26R10 and Pioneer 26R41 have performed well in the past but have not been recently evaluated. No varieties have been recently tested in Limestone Valley. Other varieties may provide satisfactory yields but were not submitted to the Statewide Variety Trial program.
Annual ryegrass
Annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) is one of the most productive forages we can grow. There are several varieties recommended for each region in Georgia that are early maturing, late maturing, or capable of providing growth throughout winter and spring. Overall, ryegrass is still later maturing than small grains so many producers will plant ryegrass in mixtures with a small grain to provide season long grazing. Ryegrass is an excellent choice for grazing, baleage, or silage. The biggest limitation of ryegrass is the rapid increase in herbicide resistance, specifically in the southern portions of the state.
- Centurion
- Good early season production in Piedmont
- Good late season production in Coastal Plains
- Good season long production in Coastal Plains
- Jackson
- Good late season production in Piedmont
- Lonestar
- Good season long production in Piedmont and Coastal Plains
- More
- Good early season production in Coastal Plains
- Nelson
- Good season long production in Piedmont and Coastal Plains
- Tetrastar
- Good season long production in Piedmont and Coastal Plains
- Wax Marshall
- Good season long production in Piedmont and Coastal Plains
- WMWL
- Good late season production in Piedmont and Upper Coastal Plains
- WMWL-2
- Good late season production in Piedmont and Upper Coastal Plains
- Good season long production in Piedmont and Upper Coastal Plains
Other varieties may provide satisfactory yields but were not submitted to the Statewide Variety program.