MSU CARES logo

Forage

Species, Varieties, Planting Dates, and Rates

Forages produced in Mississippi are either legumes or grasses. However, these can be grouped as annuals or perennials plus either warm-season or cool-season depending on the time of year they are growing. Annual legumes or grasses must be grown from seed each year; perennials continue to grow back each year from an established root system even though they may also produce seed .

Several of the grasses and legumes can be grown in mixtures and at different seasons to improve production and forage quality. For example, a perennial warm-season grass such as bermudagrass might be seeded in the fall with either crimson (annual) clover or white (perennial) clover. By using combinations, more days of forage production may be added to fit specific production needs.

The following is a list of forage species, varieties within species, planting dates, and seeding rates for most of the forages grown in Mississippi. Varieties change frequently; this listing is not complete. If you have questions about other forage varieties not listed, feel free to contact your county Extension agent. Planting varieties that have been carefully evaluated gives the grower an advantage in forage production.

Forage Crop Establishment Guidelines

Species	Varieties*	Planting dates	Seeding rate per acre
Bahiagrass	Pensacola, Tifton 9 Argentine-South	February–June(best) Or September-November	15-20 lb seed(Tifton 9, lower rate)
Bermudagrass (from seed)	Common and other seed types	March–June	5–10 lb hulled seed
Bermudagrass (from sprigs and top growth)	See current Mississippi Forage Crop Variety Trials Bulletin	February–June Or April–August (top growth)	20,000 sprigs (20 bushels) or 1400 lb fresh hay clippings
Dallisgrass	Commercial	February–June	15 lb live seed
Johnsongrass	Commercial	April–May	20–30 lb
Millet (Browntop)	Commercial	May–July 15	25–30 lb
Millet (Pearl)	Tifleaf 3, Pennleaf and other commercial	May–July 15	20-30 lb 15 lb seed in rows
Small Grains (oats, wheat, rye, barley, triticale)	See current Mississippi Small Grains Variety Trials Bulletin	September–October	90–120 lbs
Ryegrass	See current Mississippi Forage Crop Variety Trials Bulletin	September–November (September 25 South)	25–40 lb
Sorghum-sudangrass hybrids	Commercially available varieties	April–June	35 lb broadcast 15 lb in rows
Tall fescue	See current Mississippi Forage Crop Variety Trials Bulletin	September–November	20–25 lb
Alfalfa	Apollo Supreme, Alfagraze, Florida 77, Cimarron VR, Southern Special, WL 320 or 322HQ	September–October	12–25 lb
Alyce clover	Commercial	May 15–June 15	15–20 lb
Arrowleaf clover	Meechee, Yuchi	August 25–October 15	5-10 lb
Ball clover	Commercial	August 25–October 15	2-3 lb
Crimson clover	Tibbee, Dixie Autauga, Chief	August 25–October 15	20 lb
Lespedeza (Korean)	Climax, Summit	March–April	25-30 lb hulled
Lespedeza (striate)	Common, Kobe, Marion	March–April	30–35 lb hulled
Lespedeza (sericea)	Serala 76, AU-Donnelly, AU Lotan, Interstate 76	March–April	12–15 lb hulled
Peas (caley)	Commercial	September–October	50–55 lb
Red clover	Redland III, Cherokee, Cinnamon, Kenland, Kenstar, Redman	September–October	12-15 lb
Subterranean clover	Mt. Baker, Meteora, Woogenellup, Tallarook, Nangella	August 25–October 15	15–20 lb
Vetch	Cahaba White, Vanguard, Vantage Hairy(Americus, Common), Nova II	September–October	20-25 lb
White clover	La. S-1, Regal, Osceola, Nolin	September–October	2-3 lb
Berseem clover	Bigbee	August 15–October 25	20–25 lb

* Reference to commercial and university varieties is for educational purposes only. No discrimination of others, which may also be suitable, is intended. All legume seed should be well inoculated with specific inoculant. Variety trial bulletins can be obtained from your county Extension office.

By Malcolm L. Broome, Ph.D., Extension Forage Specialist, and David Lang, Ph.D., Associate Forage and Pasture Specialist

Information Sheet 1168
Extension Service of Mississippi State University, cooperating with U.S. Department of Agriculture. Published in furtherance of Acts of Congress, May 8 and June 30, 1914. JOE H. MCGILBERRY, Interim Director

(rev-1M-8-01)

Copyright by Mississippi State University. All rights reserved.

This document may be copied and distributed for nonprofit educational purposes provided that credit is given to the Mississippi State University Extension Service.

Visit: DAFVM || USDA
Search our Site || Need more information about this subject?
Last Modified: Wednesday, 12-Sep-07 14:15:44
URL: http://msucares.com/pubs/infosheets/is1168.htm
Mississippi State University is an equal opportunity institution.
Recommendations on this web site do not endorse any commercial products or trade names.