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  February 8, 2010  
What is Annual Ryegrass? Minimize

Annual Ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) is sometimes confused with Cereal Rye (Secale cereale).  They are very distinct from one another.  Cereal Rye is a grain, related closer to wheat than to a grass.

Annual ryegrass has become popular as a cover crop, especially in the Midwest. Used in No-Till farm operations over the winter,  annual ryegrass benefits soil and adds value to cash crops like corn and soybeans.

Oregon's Willamette Valley produces more than 90% of the annual ryegrass seed grown in the USA and is the primary source of quality annual ryegrass seed being used for cover crops in the Mid-West.
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Ryegrass Cover Crop

Welcome to RyegrassCoverCrop.com

Annual Ryegrass has many benefits as a cover crop.   The number of acres planted each year in Annual Ryegrass - especially in the Midwest US -  has expanded rapidly over the past decade. 

Annual ryegrass has been used in forage applications for generations. Its use as a cover crop was well established through more than a decade of university research and field testing. To this, there is the experience of many thousands of Midwest growers who continue to enjoy the benefits.

If this is your first time to the web site please consider the following pages:

The purpose of this web site is to provide a knowledge base for growers, consultants, and researchers.

 

Special Feature:

 

Jamie and Jim Scott of Pierceton, Ind., talk about how they've found success growing an annual ryegrass cover crop in a cooler climate. Special Thanks to No-Till Farmer

 

No Till Farming in Northern Climates

 

The pictures below are screen shots from our FREE DVD.
If you would like a FREE copy of our DVD;
"Annual Ryegrass as a Cover Crop", click FREE DVD.

To watch the documentary video about Annual Ryegrass
as a cover crop in 5 segments go here
or go to our Youtube site and view it in 5 segments.

Click on the pictures below to enlarge and to see their captions.
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Ryegrass field Ryegrass in fall Ryegrass in No-Till boosts crop yields Ryegrass growing in old crop residue
Ryegrass prevents erosion Ryegrass prevents errosion Ryegrass is a better environment for crop roots Ryegrass Root system
Ryegrass Roots in Hand Ryegrass Roots shown by Dan Towery Ryegrass root system Ryegrass root system close-up
Ryegrass field
Ryegrass in fall
Ryegrass in No-Till boosts crop yields
Ryegrass growing in old crop residue
Ryegrass prevents erosion
Ryegrass prevents erosion
Ryegrass is a better environment for crop roots
Ryegrass Root system
Ryegrass Roots in Hand
Ryegrass Roots shown by Dan Towery
Ryegrass root system
Ryegrass root system close-up

Seasonal Management Tips Minimize

Spring Burndown Tips:

When using glyphosate to kill off your annual ryegrass cover crop, pay attention to:

  • plant growth: kill the annual ryegrass before it reaches the joint stage
  • temperature: above 50 during the day; nightime in the 40s for best uptake
  • climate: dry is best with sun; cloudy and wet will slow absorption

For more details, check out the "Growing ARG" tab at the top, then select "Management of ARG" in the pull down menu.

The information provided on this site comes from many sources, including:

  • Our own research
  • Other scientific research
  • Field experience from crop consultants, extension agronomists, and most importantly growers themseleves.
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