FORAGE CROPS FOR SOUTHERN OREGON

Grange Co-op is southern Oregon’s leading supplier of seed for forage crops. Because forage crops such as pasture, hay, green chop and silage are so important to the agriculture economy of southern Oregon, Grange Co-op strives to provide our customers with the highest quality seed at competitive prices. We are also committed to providing customers with the information necessary to select the forage seed best suited to their needs as well as their growing environment. Grange Co-op stocks the types and varieties of seed that have proven best adapted to the soils and growing conditions in the Rogue Valley. (Many more varieties of seed in-store in addition to those at the previous link.) Information gathered from Oregon State University, Southern Oregon Experiment Station, the Extension Service and local farmers is carefully considered in determining the varieties of seed we provide our customers. This evaluation assures positive results, when seeds are planted in properly prepared soil following good Management practices.

SEED QUALITY

The most significant measurements of seed quality are purity, viability and freedom from disease. Oregon law requires that each bag of seed display a tag showing the following information:

1. Percentage of pure seed
2. Percentage of other crop seeds
3. Percentage of inert matter (dirt, chaff, etc.)
4. Percentage of weed seeds
5. Percentage of germination (how many of the seed will grow)

Certified Seed

Seed labeled “Certified” indicates that the purity of the seed has been certified by an independent agency. Oregon State University is the certification agency for all seed produced in Oregon. To meet certification requirements, seed fields are inspected by representatives of O.S.U. while the crop is growing. Inspectors look for varietal purity of the crop, noxious weeds disease and any other factors which might affect seed quality. At harvest, the seed is identified, cleaned and analyzed by O.S.U. for purity and germination. This process assures the buyer that the seed purchased is as represented. The cost of certification is paid by the grower.

Uncertified Seed

Seed growers can and do produce good quality seed which has not gone through the certification process. This seed is usually less expensive because the grower has not incurred the additional cost of certification. The quality of uncertified seed is dependent on the integrity of the grower and the reliability of the supplier. Grange Co-op’s customers can be confident that all the seed we sell is good quality – whether it is certified or uncertified.

PLANTING FORAGE CROPS

The true value of any seed is how well it grows! SEED BED PREPARATION: The most important thing you can do to establish a stand of alfalfa, grasses or legumes is to provide a fine textured, firm seed bed. This takes time and effort but pays off in the long run in terms of quality and yield. Coarse, rough seed beds result in seeds placed much too deep, preventing many of them from emerging. Shallow soils will not support very many plants per square foot. Deep soils and irrigated soils can support a good number of plants per square foot. If you have an understanding of the limits of your soil, you can base seeding rates on the potential for a good crop. There is no wisdom in wasting large amounts of seed on poor soil. Grass seeds should be drilled no more than a half inch deep and legume seeds less than a half inch. Broadcast seedings on a good seed bed can be successful if lightly harrowed, and rolled after seeding. It is good practice to broadcast two ways, using half of the seed each time to help eliminate skips in the seeding. Weather plays an important roll in planting. Seeding either too early or too late can significantly affect the results. WEED CONTROL: Your task is to eliminate or control undesirable species that may compete with your newly planted crop. Most sites have a wide variety of weeds which means you will need both tillage and herbicides to control the weed load. First, use tillage equipment to attack existing growth well in advance of optimum seeding time. Perennial weeds, both grasses and broadleaves, can be troublesome to control. If you have land with a history of lax management, you may need a brush-hog approach to work on the brush and small trees, supplemented with herbicides. Be cautious because many brush killers result in time restrictions on harvesting or grazing. Our store employees and Field staff can make the proper recommendations for the use of herbicides. FERTILIZING: New crops need to be fed! A soil analysis can determine the nutritional needs of your soil and serve as a guide for adding effective amendments. Lacking a soil test, growers should provide a minimum of 50 units of nitrogen per acre. If the crop mix includes legumes, the addition of phosphorus, potassium and sulfur will be necessary. Some soils will also need boron and other micronutrients. Our Grange Co-op field staff can help you determine what fertilizer materials are needed. Check with your local Grange Co-op for current seed availability.