1. Unit 8: Small Grains & Forage Grasses
Chapter 18

2. Unit 8: Small Grains & Forage Grasses
Unit 8 Objectives:
Describe the practices for growing oats
Understand necessary methods of forage grasses, selection
Knowledge of fertilizer needs

3. Unit 8: Small Grains & Forage Grasses
Growing Small Grains
Used as cash crop and livestock feed
Well-adapted to most soils and for cool-season growing conditions
May be used as a companion crop
Seed development
Contain carbos, fat, protein, vits, minerals
Can be harvested at 13-15% moisture
May be stored ~2 yrs at <13% w/ little spoilage

4. Unit 8: Small Grains & Forage Grasses
3 parts of the seed
Seed coat (pericarp)
Embryo
Endosperm
Germination & Early Growth
Germinates and anchors quickly under proper conditions
Roots
May be 3-6’ deep
3-4’ horizontal
Very susceptible to weather problems early in development

5. Unit 8: Small Grains & Forage Grasses
Growing point remains below the soil until the first visible node appears above the soil line
Plant has produced several additional shoot (tillers)
Growth of the main stem
Can withstand very cold temps early in life
Growth Stages
Seedling
Tillering
Side shoots appear from the crown
Jointing
Nodes begin to separate and can be felt on the lower parts of the plant

6. Unit 8: Small Grains & Forage Grasses
Boot
Head can be felt inside upper leaf sheath
Flag leaf has developed
Heading
Head spikes emerge
Fertilization and kernel development
Seedbed Preparation
Provide proper amount of tillage to promote adequate moisture, firm seedbed
Must have good seed/soil contact
Dry, loose soil is unsatisfactory

7. Unit 8: Small Grains & Forage Grasses
Selecting a Variety
High quality seed is essential
Selection factors
Yield
Maturity
Disease resistance
Straw strength
Shatter resistance
Plant height
Grain quality

8. Unit 8: Small Grains & Forage Grasses
Quality Factors
Protein content
Milling qualities
Plumpness
Test wt.
Straw strength?
Disease Resistance
Leaf rust, smut, tan spot, scab
Winter hardiness
Planting
Seed ASAP after frost is out in the spring
Germination begins at 24-36º
Best soil temp is 40º

9. Unit 8: Small Grains & Forage Grasses
Early planting leads to higher yields
Temps >90 will reduce pollination and yields
Want to complete development before hot weather
Seed from late April to early May for spring seeding
Seed early enough for good development before winter weather in fall (late August to September)
Plant ~2” deep, depending on soil moisture and temp
Grain drill may be best tool for seeding
Fertility Needs
Adequate amounts of N, P, K must be available (though not as much as corn, etc.)
Major portion of nutrients taken in between tillering and heading

10. Unit 8: Small Grains & Forage Grasses
Most N & P is removed w/ the grain
Apply P & N at planting
N application in the spring for winter varieties
Weeds
Many weeds can cause problems
Vigorous stand will compete effectively w/ weeds
Weeds to watch:
Foxtail, quack grass, wild oats, mustard, pigweed, lambsquarter, wild buckwheat
May need control w/ herbicides
Broadleaves may outgrow the crop, and must be controlled w/ herbicide

11. Unit 8: Small Grains & Forage Grasses
Diseases
Fungi, bacteria, viruses
Most spread by spores
Fungal diseases can overwinter on dead plant material, seed, soil
May attack leaves, developing heads
Leaf rust, septoria leaf blotch, smuts
Can be carried over to the next crop
Most can be controlled w/ seed treatment or resistant varieties

12. Unit 8: Small Grains & Forage Grasses
Oats
Can be removed early for forage
Used mostly in livestock feed, can be used in high-protein cereals
Grow on a wide range of soil types
Less sensitive to soil conditions than wheat
Grows better on medium to fine textured soils
Requires more water for development than any other small grain

13. Unit 8: Small Grains & Forage Grasses
More susceptible to higher temps, and limited moisture
N management is key to good yields
Spring oats should be seeded early (Mar 1-Apr 15)
Seeding rate & depth
lbs/ac
No more than 1”
Little crop residue is best

14. Unit 8: Small Grains & Forage Grasses
Sorghum
Usually cannot compete economically w/ corn
New varieties have higher yield potential
Grain can replace corn in animal rations
Good cash markets are limited
Hybrids
Bird-resistant varieties have been developed
Bitter taste to birds

15. Unit 8: Small Grains & Forage Grasses
Cultural Practices
Use bird-resistant varieties, if birds are a problem
Plant one wk later than corn
30” rows or slightly less
8-12 lbs/ac seeding rate
Fertilize according to needs
Control weeds effectively
Harvest at <26% moisture
Plan to dry the grain in most years
Market crop before planting to ensure profitability

16. Unit 8: Small Grains & Forage Grasses
Kentucky Bluegrass
Predominant pasture grass
Can survive severe droughts
Optimum temp for growth = 60-90º
Injury will occur at temps >100
Produces a dense sod
Relatively unproductive in midsummer
Can be increased or sustained
Favorable moisture
N fertilization

17. Unit 8: Small Grains & Forage Grasses
More energy/lb than smooth bromegrass
Extremely palatable
Carrying capacity can be increased w/ weed control, addition of legumes, fertilization
Don’t graze to <2-3”
Overgrazing will increase weed pressure
Reduces growth rate and vigor
Poor root & rhizome development
Controlling Pasture Weeds
Can be annual, biennial, or perennial
Ragweed, fleabane, sunflower can come back each year from seed

18. Unit 8: Small Grains & Forage Grasses
Dock, ironweed, etc. – common perennial problems
Mowing/clipping may help reduce weed stands
Early bud stage is best for mowing of perennials, annuals should be mowed before seed production
Bluegrass & Other Forages
Improves production and lengthens growing season
Bird’s-foot trefoil, ladino clover, red clover, alfalfa may be seeded w/ bluegrass
Trefoil may be best companion crop – produces heavily during summer
Fertilizing Bluegrass
Pure bluegrass – fertilize annually w/
May be able to omit potash if levels are high enough

19. Unit 8: Small Grains & Forage Grasses
If legumes are included in the pasture – omit N, use higher levels of P, K
Seeding rate
Pure – 10 lbs/ac
Mixed w/ forages – 2-4 lbs/ac
Canada Bluegrass
More tolerant of acid soils
Can be found in KBG pastures
Bluer foliage than KBG
Matures later, less productive, slow recovery after grazing

20. Unit 8: Small Grains & Forage Grasses
If present, good sign to soil test
Orchard Grass
Versatile, perennial bunch grass
Establishes rapidly
Good for hay, silage, or pasture
Rapid regrowth
Produces well under intensive cutting or grazing
More summer growth than other cool-season grasses
Tolerates drought better
Grows best in deep, well-drained soils

21. Unit 8: Small Grains & Forage Grasses
Especially suited for mixtures w/ alfalfa, red clover
Rapidly declines in palatability as it matures
Timely harvest mgmt is essential
Perennial Ryegrass
Bunch grass suitable for hay, silage, or pasture
Excellent quality, palatable forage
Vigorous
Long growing season
High yield
Moisture not lacking
Good fertility

22. Unit 8: Small Grains & Forage Grasses
Best seeded on combination w/ other grasses
Less winter hardy
Less competitive w/ legumes
Matures later than orchard grass
Sturdy
Hard to cut, slow to dry
Reed Canary Grass
Tall, leafy, coarse, high yielding
Hay, silage, pasture
Poorly palatable, low forage quality

23. Unit 8: Small Grains & Forage Grasses
New varieties making it more acceptable
Drought tolerant, grows well in various soils
Resistant to leaf diseases, persistent, responds to high fertility, tolerates flooding, low pH
Forms a dense sod
Establishes slowly
Quality declines rapidly after heading
Smooth Bromegrass
Leafy, sod-forming
Best suited for: hay, silage, early spring pasture

24. Unit 8: Small Grains & Forage Grasses
Spreads through underground rhizomes and seed dispersal
Good companion w/ cool-season legumes
Matures somewhat later than orchard grass w/ less summer growth
Winter hardy
Deep rooted
Drought tolerant
Excellent quality forage
Especially if harvested early
Harvest for hay in early heading stage

25. Unit 8: Small Grains & Forage Grasses
Grazing or cutting during jointing will decrease production
Tall Fescue
Deep-rooted, long living, sod-forming
Spreads by short rhizomes
Suitable for:
Hay
Silage
Pasture (beef, sheep)
Highly adaptable
Highly tolerant

26. Unit 8: Small Grains & Forage Grasses
Best grass for heavy livestock or machinery traffic
May contain a fungus (endophyte)
Reduces palatability
Animal performance
Severe health problems
Breeding problems
Endophyte-free varieties should be selected
Timothy
Hardy, perennial bunchgrass
Grows best in cool climates
Not suitable for drought conditions
Shallow root system

27. Unit 8: Small Grains & Forage Grasses
Most yield comes in the first crop
Summer regrowth is limited
Horse hay
Adversely affected by cutting or grazing during jointing
Perennial Warm-Season Grasses
Can produce good hay during warm, dry midsummer months
Initiate growth in April and early May
65-75% of growth mid-June to mid-August
Compliment cool-season grasses well

28. Unit 8: Small Grains & Forage Grasses
Bermuda Grass
Grown extensively in southern U.S.
Aggressive
Spreads quickly by: seeds, stolons, rhizomes
Used for:
Hay, pasture, lawns, turf
Best in fertile clays soil, warm full sun
Managing Forages
Seeding Year Management
Establish a good stand
Select varieties adapted to the target soils

29. Unit 8: Small Grains & Forage Grasses
Crop rotation will improve productivity
Reduces disease
Can fail an entire crop
Rotate out at least 1 yr
Insect problems
Fertilization & Liming
Essential for optimum production
Soil test
Pay close attention to soil pH and the preferences of the crop

30. Unit 8: Small Grains & Forage Grasses
Seed Quality
Use only high quality seed
Certified seed is best
Free from weed seed, or other crop seed
Weed Management
Establish and maintain a vigorous crop
Competition will contain most weeds in well maintained forage crops
Proper fertilization
Control insects
Proper harvesting

31. Unit 8: Small Grains & Forage Grasses
Weeds can reduce yields, quality, palatability
Control weeds w/ herbicides prior to planting, when needed
Check labels when used postemergence herbicides