Establishing a forage stand can be tricky. While there are no guarantees for success, Saskatchewan Agriculture food forage development specialist Al Foster says steps can be taken to remove much of the risk.
It starts with selecting varieties that are winter hardy and adapted to a producer’s particular soil conditions.
“The seedbed should be firm below the surface, with a minimum cover of loose soil,” Foster said.
He recommended seeding into standing stubble only if the straw has been well spread. Be aware of the risks that herbicide residues pose in the soil.
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“Ensure you seed shallowly,” he said.
“There is probably more seed wasted because of seeding too deep than for any other reason. Keep in mind that an emerging seedling is totally dependent on the food reserves in the seed to get it to the surface and sprout leaves.”
Because most forage seeds are small, they won’t have enough stored energy to reach the surface if planted deep in the soil, he added.
“The smaller the seed, the shallower the seeding. For most forage crops, aim for less than a one-inch (2.5 centimetres) seeding depth. When a cereal cover crop is used, it may be best to seed the cover crop and the forage crop in two separate operations. This way, you can ensure that each crop is placed to its appropriate depth.”
If producers are mixing the forage seed with a cover crop, Foster suggested they seed shallowly, even though this may reduce the establishment of the cover crop. Cover crops are not necessary for good forage establishment, but if producers use a cover crop, Foster advised reducing the seeding rate to 50 percent of the normal rate to reduce competition.
Producers should cut the crop for greenfeed, bale it and remove the cover crop as soon as possible. Cut the crop high to ensure that new seedlings are not defoliated. They will be protected from the wind and the stubble will catch snow to insulate new seedlings from low winter soil temperatures.
Foster also recommended ensuring the seedbed is free of weeds, especially perennial weeds.
“Weeds will compete heavily with the small, slow-growing forage seedlings. Where weeds become a problem, mowing or chemical weed control measures may be necessary. If the forage is a grass-legume mixture, the number of registered herbicides for weed control is limited.”
