Description:

• Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) is a fast-growing biennial ryegrass considered an "annual" in the upper Midwest.
• Italian ryegrass provides excellent quality forage, depending on climate and available moisture.
• Due to its quick regrowth, very early development in spring, and a prolonged growing period in the fall, this species usually has greater overall productivity than other cool season grasses.
• When planted in the spring, Italian ryegrass will usually not go to seed in the seeding year which results in high quality forage production without the low quality stems and seed heads during the first year.
• Crops that follow a cover crop of Italian ryegrass also show higher yields, compared to other green manure crops.
• We offer Green Spirit, a combination of both diploid and tetraploid Italian ryegrass varieties
• Approximately 227,000 seeds per pound

Best Uses:

• As a cover crop for new alfalfa seedings
  
• Perfect rotation crop for plow down or emergency feed.
  
• Perfect option for extending a grass or alfalfa stand's longevity.
  
• Because ryegrasses establish easily, they are also well suited for pasture renovation and minor field repairs.

Adaptation:

• Thrives in all kinds of soils but prefers those with moisture-holding capability.

Management considerations:

• As with perennial ryegrass, the tetraploid varieties of Italian ryegrasses have higher fresh yield, lower dry matter content, broader leaves, and are often more disease resistant, where as diploid varieties are more persistent and winter-hardy.
  
• No drought tolerance.

Planting Dates:

• Early to late spring, late summer.
  
• In southern MN: March 15 – May 15, August 1st - August 15th

Seeding Rate:

• 30-40 lbs/acre alone. 6-10 lbs/acre in a grass mix.
  
• 4 lbs/acre as nurse crop with alfalfa.
  
• Use of a Brillion seeder; a no-till drill or a cultipacker is ideal. Frost seeding and broadcast seeding in early fall, timed with moist soil can work well, especially if the animals are allowed to "hoof" it into the existing pasture. Seed to soil contact is vital to having a successful stand. Take caution to not plant the seed more than ¼" deep. Green
• Spirit establishes rapidly, but plants should be firmly rooted prior to first grazing.
  
• About 14 days to emergence

Fertility requirements:

• Protein content is highly influenced by nitrogen fertility. Apply commercial fertilizer or manure at a rate of 50 lbs N/acre at planting time and after every other grazing.
• If machine harvesting, 50 lbs N/acre should be applied at green-up and after each cutting.
  Always follow soil test recommendations.

Pasture management

• Green Spirit is highly palatable; avoid over grazing.
  
• Graze at approximately 6-8 inches and remove animals when at 2-3 inches.
  
• When grazing, reduce grain levels and consider adding more fiber to the ration.

Management for Hay

• If machine harvesting, note that cutting ryegrasses with a sickle bar can be difficult. Disc mowers and drum mowers are highly preferred.
  
• For high hay quality, cut first time at boot stage.
  
• Take first cutting 60 days after seeding.

Recommendation:

• Alfalfa is often established with an oat cover crop in the Midwest and Northeast. Oats control weeds, reduce soil erosion, and either increases forage yield or results in oat grain and straw production. However, oats have lower forage quality and palatability than often desired. Ryegrass has shown potential as another cover crop that could be seeded with alfalfa.

Ryegrass Types for Pasture and Hay
http://www.uwex.edu/ces/forage/pubs/ryegrass.htm

Italian Ryegrass as a Companion for Alfalfa Seeding
http://www.uwex.edu/ces/crops/uwforage/ItalRye-FOF.pdf

Italian Ryegrass as a Nurse Crop for Perennial Forage Establishment
http://www.extension.umn.edu/cropenews/2005/05MNCN14.htm

Annual (Italian) Ryegrass Frost Seeding Trial
http://www.ansci.wisc.edu/

No-till Planting of Alfalfa with Italian Ryegrass
http://winnebago.uwex.edu/files/2010/09/No-TillPlantingofAlfalfawithItalianRyegrass.pdf