August 27, 2010

Wheat, rye, or triticale all offer benefits as spring forage. When selecting the best small grain forge option for your operation, consider the characteristics of each.

Cereal rye is your best choice for the earliest pasture possible. It also may be the best match for double cropping. Some varieties provide quite a bit of fall growth, too, if planted early. Rye also may be the most reliable when planted under stressful conditions. But it has some drawbacks. It turns stemmy and matures much earlier than wheat or triticale, losing feed value and palatability earlier in the spring. Plus, wheat grain producers won’t want it contaminating fields next year.

Triticale holds its feed value well into late spring, making it well suited for hay and silage, or for stretching grazing well into June if you don’t mind starting two or three weeks later; however, triticale tends to be a bit more susceptible to winter injury.

Winter wheat has been the small grain of choice for winter and spring grazing in the southern plains where higher winter temperatures allow growth to continue, although slowly. In areas like Nebraska where wheat goes dormant, its carrying capacity is not as high as triticale or rye, but it is top quality before stems develop. It's also the clear choice if you want the double use as early pasture and for grain.

In a nutshell, consider rye for early pasture, triticale for hay, silage, and later grazing, and wheat for grazing plus grain. Each of these small grains has its advantages and disadvantages so consider your goals and operation when selecting.

Bruce Anderson
Extension Forage Specialist