Questions about Growing Winter Rye

[Charlesaf3]

Hmm. When you consider how much extra we usually pay for everything in Mass, I guess I'm not getting hit that bad. Our stuff comes out of oregon also - seems like all grass does. They don't have much of an irrigation issue out there I'm thinking!

And yeah, fertilizers up, diesel for shipping is up, diesel for tractors is up... So makes sense ag stuff will be up.

 

[Bird]

Our stuff comes out of oregon also - seems like all grass does.

In August, 1991, we were gradually coming south from Alaska, living at that time in a 32' fifth-wheel travel trailer. I saw in the local news that the grass seed producers usually burned off the fields after the harvest to get rid of any weed seed, but that they were in the process of changing to new methods because of the air pollution (smoke) that the burning caused. We stopped for a few days at an RV park that was out in the country and surrounding by farm land. I had just washed the truck and trailer, so they were nice and clean, and the weather was such that we could have had the windows open. No such luck. They were using the new method, which was a vacuum machine with a big enclosed trailer behind a tractor. And you could barely see that trailer for the cloud of dust all around it. We had to keep our windows closed and within an hour or so had a thick layer of dust on the truck and trailer. Couldn't blame the farmer, of course, but if we'd have known, we sure would not have stopped there.

 

[Highbeam]

Perennial ryegrass is all I plant these days. This makes a nice dark lawn and most importantly the wetland guys tell me that this is the one grass that is not a "wetland indicator". I had planted plain old K31 tall fescue for the wildlife and it turns out that I created a wetland by doing it. "Till that under and plant rye".

 

[N1ST]

Thanks for all the information guys. The ucdavis web site is a good source of information. The Agway near me said a 56 lb bag of winter rye is $17. I'll believe it when they have it in, in August.

I have a hand spreader. It's bigger than the kind you hold with one hand. It has a strap that goes around your shoulder and it holds about 20 lbs of seed. So I plan to spread the rye with that, then drag something behind my tractor. What do folks use for a drag? ...would a piece of 6ft x 6ft chainlink work or should I go bigger?

About cutting.... I have nothing that will do that, so what can you suggest for a scythe? Is there a size or type that's best? What price should I expect to pay?

Once it's cut, how about bailers? Are there small bailers available for 25 hp tractors, that aren't junk? The size of the bale isn't an issue for me. Is there an alternative to a bailer? ...I suspect a bailer isn't cheap.

 

[Charlesaf3]

$17!!

Please find out if true, I'd swing by Enfield next time I'm driving to NYC.

I seeded it with a walk behind plastic rotary spreader - I'd think that would be easier?

Are you looking to cut it as cover crop, or for feed?

 

[Egon]

[so what can you suggest for a scythe? Is there a size or type that's best? What price should I expect to pay?

/QUOTE]

You realize these are hand operated cutting implements?

Mine cost about $150 for the snath and a grain blade. There are different blades for different cuttings.

 

[MrWoodChips]

I've heard that people who raise cattle have to be careful about letting their cows get into it, since they will eat too much and it will kill them. Something about digesting it, but except for seeing dozens of dead cows on the news and them saying it was from the rye grass, I don't know any more then that. I've tried it in food plots, but never seen anything eat it. Again, that might be a local thing.

The cause of deaths from rye might possibly be ergot. Its a fungus that can grow in rye. I've read that it may even have been to blame for the Salem witch trials.

Ergot of Rye: History

John

 

[TedLaRue]

The Agway near me said a 56 lb bag of winter rye is $17. I'll believe it when they have it in, in August.

I paid $40 something for 50 lbs which is close to what others have posted, but more than twice what you say they offered? There's probably some miscommunication going on.... And isn't 56 lbs an unusual weight (it's close to 25 kilograms, but...)?

I have a hand spreader....it holds about 20 lbs of seed. So I plan to spread the rye with that, then drag something behind my tractor.

I'm assuming you have a fairly small area to cover. You'll probably be inclined to put a lot more seed on than is recommended (I know I am). If you follow the recommended seeding rate (from ag extension service websites), the 20 lbs of seed in your spreader should cover an area approximately 75 feet by 75 feet if you broadcast it (I did the math). If you rake it in, you can use even less seed.

Here's an example:
Determine the length and width of your garden in feet and multiply them to get the area in square feet.

Multiply that number by 0.00344.

The result is the number of pounds of seed you need to cover your garden.

I think you'd be better off broadcasting the seed with your hand spreader and leaving it alone. If you try to rake it in with your tractor you'll be driving over the seed, compacting the soil where the tire tracks are, and then trying to rake that in. I think you'd be better off tilling first (to loosen up the surface) and then broadcasting the seed and leaving it alone.

About cutting.... I have nothing that will do that, so what can you suggest for a scythe?

I'm still not sure whether you want this to be a cover crop or an actual crop. If you are only trying to suppress weeds and improve the soil, just mow it off with your mower. If it's tall, you may have to go over it more than once, but it'll be mulched up and easier to plow/till into the soil. And it's a whole lot easier than swinging a scythe.

If you want the grain, Egon gave you a good answer about the scythe. No carbon footprint and good exercise to boot!

 

[Egon]

One bushel of rye weighs in at 56 pounds.

My mention of a scythe was sorta tongue in cheek! It is hard work.

 

[LoneCowboy]

You guys need to find a new seed dealer.
Annual rye is UP to $14/50lbs (28 cents a pound) here this year, last year it was $12. Annual rye is literally the cheapest grass seed you can throw.

Ted is right on, it's a nice cover crop, it comes up very fast (7 days germination) and helps hold the ground in place. If you plow it under, ti's a nice green manure crop.

You sow it in the fall, it takes hold, grows a few inches, winter comes, but the ground doesn't blow away. Then in the spring it explodes. (literally, like to 12-18inches in a few weeks). Rye is a cool season grass, once it gets hot (90's) it goes dormant, but it's still alive. Annual rye will typically dye all the way back, but perienial rye will stay around (dormant though)

I've also throw lots of Triticale. it's a rye/wheat mix and it works a little better esp with some heat. But again, it's mostly just a cover crop. Triticale runs about $18/50lbs.

And yeah, Rye surpresses it's competitors, so you'll end up with a lot of rye.