Southern Green ryecorn is an exceptionally fast establishing grazing option particularly when sown late into cold conditions. Southern Green can be up and ready to graze three weeks before oats and when managed correctly can offer multiple grazing opportunities.
Unlike common ryecorn, Southern Green produces high quality feed at a time when feed is in short supply. Southern Green can be used on its own or as part of a mixed pasture sward.
Highly palatable whilst in the vegetative stage, Southern Green is grazed preferentially before oats in early winter but can become unpalatable in spring because stems are more fibrous than those of other cereals.
Southern Green doesn’t require vernalisation to trigger the change from vegetative growth to reproductive growth. Vernalisation is the plants mechanism to survive cold periods thereby triggering the plant into the reproductive phase which in turn will produce seed heads.
Southern Green will establish best when sown at a depth of 10-25mm. If sown any deeper than this it will affect the rate of emergence and therefore potential yield in winter. Southern Green is a good companion to sow with an annual or Italian ryegrass as they both have the same sowing depth requirements.
Southern Green offers flexibility as to where it can be grown as well as what it can be grown with. It is suitable for areas where annual rainfall is as low as 400mm up to the high rainfall areas; it can also be sown into a range of different soil types while still offering quick winter feed.
Trial work has demonstrated Southern Green can produce excellent yields when mixed with an annual or an Italian ryegrass, extending the growing period as well as offering a cut of hay or silage.
To ensure that you get the greatest value and return when using cereals we recommend you consider using Southern Green in a programme with oats. A paddock of Southern Green with at least one paddock of Cooee® Oats will deliver increased feed over a longer period.
Minimum 400mm rainfall per annum unless irrigated