Harvest window for quality winter rye forage is small
The rapid maturation of winter rye makes the timing of harvest critical to ensure optimum nutrient content for livestock. (NDSU photo)
As the days get longer, grass growth is fast in the Northern Plains. Among the cereal grains, winter rye has one of the fastest growth rates, quickly moving from the vegetative stage to stem elongation and head emergence in the blink of an eye. This impressive rate of growth rate makes winter rye difficult to manage if the goal is to harvest for high-quality forage, says James Rogers, North Dakota…
