Forage quality of smooth bromegrass compares well with other cool-season grasses, being affected primarily by stage of maturity. Smooth bromegrass one of the most widely used cool-season grass in North America especially in the corn belt and great plains. It survives periods of drought and extremes in temperature. It is generally hardier than tall fescue or orchardgrass. It can be grown on a variety of soil types, but grows best on well-drained silt-loam or clay-loam soils. It is fairly tolerant of alkalinity and somewhat tolerant of salinity and acidity but will perform best at a soil pH between 6.0 and 7.0.

A moist, firm seedbed is required for smooth bromegrass. Most often planted in spring, smooth bromegrass may also be planted in late summer, when weather conditions usually are more favorable. Seed may be either drilled or broadcast. Drilling is preferred because it provides a more uniform depth of planting. Plant seed 1/4 - 1/2 inch deep. Generally, when seeding bromegrass alone, rates of 12 - 16 lb per acre are sufficient.

Image credit: Robert Videki, Doronicum Kft., Bugwood.org

Blue Wildrye (Elymus glaucus) - It is a native, perennial, cool season bunchgrass native to North America which can can grow up to 5 feet tall. It can be used as a cover crop, particularly for conservation purposes, site rehabilitation, and erosion control. It establishes rapidly, making it effective for stabilizing soil on logging roads, burned areas, and steep hillsides. Blue wildrye can also provide excellent wildlife habitat for mammals, birds, and waterfowl. 

Blue wildrye grows well in both disturbed and undisturbed areas. It tolerates wide variations in soil and weather conditions, though grows best in good soils. Blue wildrye is a slow spreading grass that grows in dry, sunny areas or shaded areas. Unlike its name suggest, blue wildrye is not a ryegrass. It was given the common name "wildrye"for the bluish-gray hue of its leaves which is common among true ryegrasses. 

Blue wildrye’s native range extends across much of North America; however, it is most popular in the western United States of Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico. Branching out from these more concentrated populations in the west, small corridors of blue wildrye stretch east, making their way as far as New York state. This wide range of native habitat suggests blue wildrye is versatile with its requirements.  Consider planting blue wildrye on slopes to prevent soil erosion, add them to a mix of full sun or full shade loving plants to add texture, line paved or rocky areas to create a border, or plant it near shrubs to give birds easy access to blue wildrye’s seeds.

Seeding Rate: 20 - 25 lbs per acre

Filly Kentucky Forage Bluegrass - A premiere forage-type bluegrass, Filly is an enhanced variety produced for its supreme yielding abilities and drought resiliance. Exhibiting robust coverage, exceptional disease resistance and a fine stem, Filly is your ideal addition for both dryland and irrigated pasture mixes. It is very palatable with underground rhizomes that combat the traffic of livestock and weather.  Filly is a prolific forage that produces excellent forage with highly digestible nutrients.

Filly is a versatile grass that can be used for grazing, silage, or hay.  It is excellent for planting alone or blended with other forage grasses.  This variety is suitable for all species of livestock.  It’s very persistent grass and with early spring maturation and great leaf yields. Filly Kentucky Bluegrass is rated as high yield, so this makes it great with tall growing mixes.  It is one of the hardiest forage varieties on the market.  It can survive below zero climates to hot summers.

• Very quick establishment
• Early maturing
• Good persistence & winter hardiness
• Growth for a bluegrass is considered medium
• Excellent resistance to crown rust & other diseases
• High yielding and palatability
• Drought and cold tolerant
• High grazing tolerance

High Nutritional Value: Filly provides high-quality nutrition similar to other cool-season grasses, with crude protein levels often between 15% and 20%.

Persistent & Durable: Evaluated by the University of Kentucky, Filly has shown excellent persistence in forage trials, including a 98% stand after four years.

Grazing & Hay Potential: While bluegrass is typically low-yielding for hay, Filly is bred to be more productive. It is highly palatable for horses and cattle and holds up well under intense grazing.

Resilience: It shows high disease resistance, good summer stress tolerance, rapid recovery in the fall and well as snow tolerance.

Seeding Rate: 25 - 30 lbs per acre

Ease of Establishment

Our various pasture grass seeds are designed for quick germination and deep roots. These hardy varieties adapt to different soil conditions, ensuring strong growth with minimal maintenance. Establish a lush, dense forage area that stands up to grazing and adverse conditions.

Increased Productivity

Increase pasture yield with grasses that re-establish rapidly after grazing. Designed for continuous growth, our grass seed provide a steady food source for livestock, reducing the need for supplemental feeding. Strong regrowth ensures consistent forage availability throughout the season.

Improved Wildlife Value

Promote your pastures to various wildlife with grasses that improve soil structure, reduce erosion, and create a balanced habitat for wildlife. By nurturing soil health and improving drainage, our grasses help sustain long-term land productivity while supporting grazing animals.

Nutritious Forage

Boost grazing animals’ condition with high-protein, nutrient-rich, dense forage. Designed for optimal digestion and absorption, our grasses provide essential nourishment to support their health and well-being, contributing to steady growth and overall wellness in livestock.

Chilly Verde Forage Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) is a warm-season, perennial, sod-forming grass is a tall forage bermudagrass with wide, soft leaves. It shows rapid establishment from seed and aggressive spreading from stolons and rhizomes. Chilly Verde has persisted through cold winters in North Carolina, where it was developed, and has excellent heat and drought tolerance. Chilly Verde is adapted to a wide range of soil types and soil pH from 4.5 - 8.0.

When grass is 6 to 8 inches tall you may begin grazing. The best time for cutting is one month after last cutting to get the highest protein levels. Lowest cutting or grazing height should be 3 to 4 inches. Under ideal conditions, Chilly Verde will usually germinate within several weeks. It is hardy forage that is adapted to a wide range of soils from sand to heavy clay. This variety is very drought tolerant but performs best in moist soils.

Seeding Rate: 15 - 20 lbs/acre.
Seeding Depth: 1/8" - 1/4"

• Wide pH adaptation
• Extreme drought tolerance
• Fast establishment from seed
• Winter hardiness
• Wide, soft leafs
• Deep roots
• 3 - 5 tons/acre of dry matter
• Several cuttings
• Included water absorbing coating

Weeping Lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula) - A rapidly growing warm-season bunchgrass with narrow leaves emerging from a tight tuft with the tips almost touching the ground. The drooping leaf characteristic gives rise to the name "weeping" lovegrass. The plant itself rarely reaches above 12 inches; however, the seed heads reach a height of 30 to 40 inches and contain numerous small, fine seeds.

Weeping lovegrass is used as a temporary cover for erosion control purposes. It prefers a light-textured, welldrained soil, and will thrive on soils of low fertility. Climatic conditions determine its range of adaptation. Low winter temperatures will prevent regrowth and cause the grass to act as an annual or a short-lived perennial. Weeping lovegrass is distributed throughout the southern United States for erosion control and forage. Weeping lovegrass when fertilized properly will have good forage quality unless seedhead formation is allowed, upon which palatability declines rapidly.

Weeping lovegrass is easy to establish by seed. Seed alone at a rate of 3 to 5 pounds per acre. Seeds will germinate quickly and plant growth is rapid. The seed is extremely fine; therefore, if using a broadcast seeder, the lovegrass seed should be mixed with a carrier such as: cornmeal, sand, or fine sawdust for uniform distribution of seed. Do not cover seed more than 1/4 inch.  Normally, weeping lovegrass can be planted after danger of severe frost is over, and anytime throughout the summer with success as long as irrigation is possible.

There are 1,500,000 seeds per pound.

German Foxtail Millet (Setaria italica) - German Millet is a fast growing, warm-season annual grass and a foxtail type millet. German Millet is a fine-stemmed, leafy variety that is commonly planted as a single-cut hay millet and used for forage and birdseed. German Millet is quick maturing and works excellent in double cropping scenarios where time becomes limiting for the second crop. It can be ready to cut for hay in as little as 60 days from planting. It produces hay that will cure easily and be highly palatable for livestock. German Foxtail Millet is extremely drought tolerant and will grow rapidly during hot summer conditions reaching heights of 2 - 5 feet. It does well in light soils due to its high level of water efficiency.

Harvest can be delayed until millet is more mature, but palatability declines significantly with mature seedheads. Millets are less likely to have high levels of nitrates than other warm-season forages such as sorghum. Under drought conditions, nitrate levels may rise and caution should be used if haying or grazing.

• Forage/Hay: It is a single-cut crop that does not easily regrow after harvest. It should be cut for hay in the early head stage for best quality.
• Planting: Plant in late spring or early summer when soil temperatures are 60F or higher. Seeding rate is generally 20 - 30 lbs per acre, drilled 1/2 – 3/4 inch deep.
• Soil: Prefers well-drained soils with a pH of 5.5 – 7.0.
• Caution: Not recommended for horses as it can cause kidney and joint issues.
• Wildlife: Excellent for attracting birds, including quails and pheasants, and for food plots.

White Proso Millet (Panicum miliaceum) - Proso millet is one of the most drought tolerant and cost effective warm season annual grasses that produces large amounts of grain. It is the shortest growing millet and works best in grazing mixes the northern US. Proso millet is an excellent seed producing making it is a great plant for game bird or other wildlife mixes. It performs well in mixes for wildlife cover and is popular for dove, quail, turkey and duck fields. It is also sued as feed for cattle or forage for deer and rabbits.

Proso millet is also a gluten-free, drought-tolerant ancient grain used for human food and birdseed. Known for its mild, nutty flavor and quick cooking time. It's rich in protein, fiber, and minerals, making it a nutritious alternative to rice or quinoa, suitable for dishes like porridge, pilafs, and salads, and it thrives in warm, dry climates where other crops struggle.

Another great use of proso millet is as a cover crop. It is a fast-growing ideal as a short-term summer cover crop (60 – 90 days) for soil protection, weed suppression, and erosion control. It thrives in dry conditions, requiring low moisture to grow 3 - 6 feet tall, and is an excellent option for breaking up crop rotations to improve soil health.

• Application or Use: Cover Crop, Erosion Control, Cattle Forage, Livestock Grazing, Food Plot
• Germination Time: 5 - 7 days, under optimal conditions
• Growing Locations: Warm Season, Transition Zone, Cool Season
• Height: 3 - 6 feet
• Sunlight Requirements: 8+ hours, full sun for best results
• Advantages: Increased drought tolerance; high seed producer under hot, dry conditions.
• When to Plant: Recommend planting time is spring and summer when night time temperatures are consistently 65+ degrees.
• Maturity: 60 - 90 days
• Seeding Rate: 20 lbs per acre