1149 North Vine Street
P.O. Box 286 Arthur, IL 61911
217-543-3476

KITCHEN SEED COMPANY, INC.

Forage Grasses

KSC Forage Grasses

Kitchen Seed Company has a vast lineup of forage grasses to meet the needs of any project.  We offer varieties that can be used for pasture, hay or silage, or mixed with legumes to diversify your stand.  These varieties have excellent disease resistance, seedling vigor, moderate to quick recovery after cutting, and high yield potential.

KSC "Equine Elite" Pasture Mix

100% grass blend built with high quality grass varieties. Can be used for grazing or dry hay. Economically priced with no fescue. 

KSC Grasswaterway/Pasture Mix

An aggressive blend of deep rooted grasses that withstand heavy traffic, moving water, and can be used for dry hay. 

Horse-Mate Professional Pasture Mix

 High-quality pastures can provide much of the feed needed by horses, while providing the most natural and healthy environment for exercise and rest. Establish this type of productive environment a health, safe, and attractive pastures for your horses by using the quality components in Professional Horse Pasture Mixture.

Farm Science Genetics Professional Horse Pasture Mixture is a forage blend specially formulated to meet the nutritional needs of horses, while withstanding their intense grazing pressure.

Professional Beef Pasture Mix

Professional Beef Pasture Mixture was created to meet the needs of producers who want to optimize animal performance and maximize per acre return. It’s also a good choice for hay producers who want a high quality, balanced hay.

Timothy

 Timothy is usually seeded in mixture with legumes. This mixture may be drilled with a small grain drill. If planted with a winter grain, the Timothy is seeded with it, and the legume is planted early the following spring. Seeding depth of timothy should be 1/2 inch. A firm, weed-free seedbed is key to a successful planting. Common seeding rates are 6 to 12 pounds per acre when seeded alone and 2 to 6 pounds per acre when seeded in mixtures.

Management

Timothy is highly responsive to fertilizers, which should be applied frequently in ample quantities. Fertilizers, especially nitrogen, is important when legumes have almost disappeared from the hay or pasture mixture. Timothy stands become weak under close and continuous grazing. A fundamental reason for the decline of timothy under poor grazing practices is injury to the corms. These corms from in the spring at the same time the stem  elongates. Food materials are stored in them, and they may be destroyed by tramping of grazing animals. Timothy can be initially grazed before jointing and again between early  head to full head. Second and successive grazing should also occur before jointing and when basal sprouts appear a the soil surface. After the second grazing, plants usually do not joint. Timothy should be cut for hay or silage from early to full head. Make successive harvest for hay or silage from early to full head. Make successive harvest for hay and silage when basal sprouts appear at the soil surface. Sterile seed-heads may be 15 to 20 inches up the stems when sprouts appear at the time of second cutting. Growing points stay below ground after a second cutting. Graze or cut to a minimum height of 3 inches or more.

Summit II Timothy

Summit II is a new early-type timothy with maturity similar to Clair and 10 days earlier than Climax. Summit II was bred for higher yields, faster spring green up and better summer regrowth. Summit II is ideally suited for pasture mixes, especially when used with alfalfa. Summit II can tolerate moderate continuous grazing, pasture grass of choice for horse owners and others who demand high quality forage.

  • Superior for hay or grazing
  • Early matuirty
  • Great palatability
  • Perfect for pure stands or with legumes and other grasses
  • Improved summer regrowth
  • Superior leafiness
  • Excellent spring vigor
  • Very winterhardy

Tall Fescue

Tall Fescue is easy to establish due to its rapid germination and good seedling vigor. It may be planted by any common method such as grass seeders, hydroseeding and broadcasting. Seeding rates are 15 to 20 pounds per acre if drilled and 20 to 25 pounds per acre if broadcast. The seeding depth is 1/2th inch.

Management

While tall fescue is tolerant of abuse and low fertility, it does respond to fertilizer inputs. Follow the soil test recommendations. Endophyteinfected tall fescue will tolerate grazing abuse better than most cool season grasses. If the tall fescue is endophyte-free variety, it should not be grazed closer than 3 inches, and will not tolerate overgrazing. Tall fescue can be grown with white clover, red clover and alfalfa. First cutting for hay should be at the late boot stage with further cuttings as regrowth allows. Tall fescue is one of the best grasses for stockpiling in the fall.

Orchardgrass

A clean, firm, weed-free seedbed is recommended. Range and erosion control seedings should be made in the late fall or very early spring. Do not seed after the spring moisture period is well advanced or a failure may occur because of drought and hot summer conditions before the grass is well established. A deep furrow or ranges drill with press wheels may be used. Orchardgrass is easily established with grain drills or by broadcast seeding. The seeding rate is 8 to 12 pounds per acre. For range and critical area treatment, a seeding rate of 3 to 4 pounds per acre is recommended. If broadcast double the seeding rate. Adjustments in seeding rate should be made when seeding in mixtures. Seeding depth should not be more than 1/2 inch.

Management

Under irrigation and higher rainfall areas, orchardgrass should be cut a boot stage for the first cutting and then at 4 to 6 week intervals depending on regrowth. Rotation grazing is best for production, persistence and quality. Fields should be grazed heavily and frequently during the spring, but do not overgraze. Leave a 3 to 4 inch stubble so plants can recover quickly. Heavy grazing during the late fall should be avoided to prevent depletion of root reserves. Under dry land conditions, orchardgrass should not be grazed until late summer or fall of second growing season. The plants may be severely damaged by overgrazing especially during the winter seasons or 50% during the growing season. This plant responds well to rotation grazing systems. Orchardgrass responds to good fertility management. One strategy, to even out the forage production, is to fertilize the stand after the first and second cutting or grazing to boost late spring and summer production. Apply fertilizers based upon soil tests.

FSG 506G Orchardgrass

  • Early – medium maturing
  • Excellent foliar disease resistance
  • Great forage yield potential
  • Improved stand persistence
  • Selected for seedling vigor
  • Quick recovery
  • Excellent color

Planting Suggestions

  • Planting rate (pure stand)     15-20 lbs/A
  • Planting rate (mixture)           4 to 6 lbs/A
  • Planting depth                       1/4 to 1/2 inch deep

Extend Orchardgrass

  • Superior yield
  • Late maturity
  • Stem rust resistance
  • Great Palatability
  • Perfect for alfalfa or clover mixes
  • Increased stand persistence
  • Excellent plant vigor
  • Responds to irrigation

Planting Suggestions

  • Planting rate (pure stand)      10-20 lbs/A
  • Planting rate (alfalfa mix)          3 -6 lbs/A
  • Planting rate (clover mix)            10 lbs/A
  • Planting depth                          1/4 to 1/2 inch deep
  • Seeding (Spring)                      March 1 to May 15
  • Seeding (Summer)          August 1 to September 15
  • Soil type                              Moderate to well-drained
  • Minimum pH                                             5.5