Suitable forage variety selection for maximum production
Selecting the most suitable crop variety is a critical farm management decision. This also holds true for perennial forages. Seeding forages requires a significant financial investment. Producers planting perennial forages must live with their forage choices for many years after seeding. The time and effort taken to select suitable forage varieties that maximize onfarm production goals is well spent.
When selecting a forage variety, answers to initial planning questions can help in the selection process. The first question to ask is what is the intended use of the forage stand? Most forage stands are grown for hay, pasture or a dual role. When harvested as a hay crop, the forage stand may include a large proportion of alfalfa or grasses that have a higher yield potential and slower rate of regrowth. Tap-rooted alfalfa varieties provide greater hay yields. If the stand is used for grazing, it may include grasses with excellent regrowth potential and a low proportion of alfalfa. Creeping-rooted alfalfa varieties are better suited for grazing or in low moisture areas in the brown soil zone. Non-bloat legumes, such as sainfoin or cicer milkvetch may also be used. Non-bloat legumes can be used in mixtures with alfalfa and/or grasses to improve forage yield, quality and reduce risk of pasture bloat.
The next question to consider is what are the soil conditions of the area to be seeded? Forage species are not equal in their capability to tolerate conditions such as drought, flooding or salinity. For example, tall wheatgrass, slender wheatgrass, and western wheatgrass all have good salinity tolerance. However, if using bunch-grass type forage species to control salinity, consider seeding a forage mixture that includes at least one creeping-rooted, saline tolerant grass or legume. Including creepingrooted forage species in the mixture will increase ground cover, reduce sur- face evaporation and reduce surface salt deposits.
A third question a producer should also consider is the intended stand duration, or how long the forage stand will remain in production. Forage species differ in longevity. A short duration forage stand integrated into an annual crop rotation will contain different forage species than a long lived stand intended for ground cover, reclamation or restoration. For example if an alfalfa stand harvested for hay will be in production for five years or less, select a variety based on yield potential. If the stand will be used longer than five years, select a variety with stress tolerance and good disease resistance.
For more information on selecting the right forage species, refer to the Forage Crop Production Guide publication found on the Ministry of Agriculture website at www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca. For further assistance or to speak to a forage specialist contact the Ag Knowledge Centre at 1-866-457-2377 or the Outlook Regional Forage Specialist at 306-867-5559.