For the irrigated acres, a cool-season perennial grass mix can be quite productive for pasture or hay. This mix typically consists of orchardgrass, meadow bromegrass, smooth bromegrass, and creeping foxtail. A legume such as alfalfa or one of several clovers could be included. Production is directly related to the fertilizer and irrigation management program. Using less fertilizer and water will correspond to lower production but may make the most economic sense with high fertilizer and energy prices. For the dryland acres, a warm-season perennial grass mixture that includes big bluestem, indiangrass, sideoats grama, and switchgrass can make good pasture. These warm-season species will have much better summer growth than any cool-season species. Sorghum-sudangrass hybrids are another option for summer forage production, either pasture or hay. Brown mid-rib (BMR) types of sorghum-sudangrass hybrids have been found to be much more palatable for either hay or grazing than the standard types.
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I am thinking of planting something other than corn on some irrigated and dryland areas. What types of grasses, hybrids, sudan grasses, and other plants are available that would make decent hay for stock cows?
Last Updated: October 27, 2008
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