Winter annual forage crops, which produce good forage yields and high quality forage during some of the coolest months of the year, are planted in two basic ways. They can be overseeded on the dormant sods of summer species such as bermudagrass or bahiagrass, or planted on a prepared seedbed. While the latter is more expensive, yields are better and grazing can be obtained earlier. Because of extreme drought and scarce hay, the acreage of winter annuals will likely be much higher than usual this year. This article will focus on prepared seedbed plantings.

Site Selection: Winter annuals planted on a prepared seedbed should normally be located on the type of land that would be well-suited for growing summer row crops. Maximum forage production depends on a sound soil fertility program. The place to start such a program is with a soil test to determine fertilizer requirements. If the soil pH is below 5.8, lime will be recommended. If lime is needed, it will be most effective when incorporated into the soil after the land has been broken, but prior to seeded preparation.

Planting Decisions: Potential benefits can be reduced by poor decisions as to what species of winter annual forages to plant. Small grains (rye, wheat, oats), ryegrass and annual legumes (arrowleaf clover, crimson clover, vetch, etc.), are the basic types of forages used for winter grazing in Alabama. Mixtures of two or more species are usually more productive and profitable than using a single species, because mixtures usually provide in a longer grazing season.

Most producers who plant winter annuals for grazing will benefit by including annual ryegrass as a component of the winter grazing mixture, regardless of other species used. The exception is when grazing of winter annuals is to be terminated in early spring. Ryegrass makes a great deal of high quality growth in the spring, and also helps form a thick sod that is beneficial during wet weather.

The primary contribution a small grain makes to a winter annual mixture is more fall and winter growth than ryegrass or annual clovers. As compared to ryegrass alone, small grain increases autumn and water growth more in North Alabama and Central Alabama than in South Alabama. Near the Gulf Coast, an argument can be made for planting ryegrass only (or ryegrass and a clover).

Wheat or rye can be used successfully for grazing throughout Alabama. In the case of wheat, variety selection is particularly important since some varieties were developed strictly for grain production. In addition, some wheat varieties that make good season-long forage yields are not good producers in fall and early winter. In Central and Southern Alabama, many producers have been successful with oats, but oats are less cold hardy than wheat or rye and also tend to have more disease problems. However, animal performance on a healthy, thick stand of oats is superior to that on wheat or rye. Some producers plant an equal number of pounds of rye and oats along with annual ryegrass. Small grain and ryegrass variety information is available on the website www.alabamaforages.com. Click on "Experiment Station Forage Publication List" and scroll down to find small grain and ryegrass variety information.

Crimson clover and arrowleaf clover are the most commonly used annual legumes in Alabama. Crimson clover makes most of its growth from mid-February to mid-April and thus is best suited for use in fields where grazing will be terminated early. Arrowleaf clover makes most of its growth in April and May. Both clovers can be grown statewide (except in wet areas or soils having a pH outside the range of 5.8-6.5), but do especially well on the sandy, Coastal Plain soils in Central and South Alabama.

Seedbed Preparation and Planting: Preparation of a good seedbed should be accomplished just before planting. Ideally, final land preparation and planting should be done while there is still enough moisture available for seed germination. If the seedbed prepared is "loose" or "fluffy," it is highly advisable to cultipack the area prior to planting, especially if a small-seeded legume is to be planted.

Seed placement is critical. Small grain seed should be covered with 1 to 2 inches of soil, while ryegrass and annual clovers should be covered with no more than 1/2 inch of soil. Probably the best way to plant a winter grazing mixture is to plant small grain with a grain drill and plant ryegrass and clover seed with a cultipacker-seeder pulled in tandem behind the grain drill. Regardless of the method of planting, great care should be taken to use the proper seeding rate and place each type of seed at the proper depth (see table below).