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Spring is the recommended time for seeding perennial forages, but they can also be planted later in the year.
The following article was prepared by Sarah Sommerfeld, the Agri-Environmental Specialist with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture in Outlook.
Timing is critical when fall seeding forages. A rule of thumb is to seed forages prior to August 15th or wait until mid to late October and consider dormant seeding.
The August 15th calendar date is used as a guideline to ensure seedling survival. Seedlings need a minimum of six weeks prior to a killing frost to germinate and establish a root system that will survive the winter. The risks associated with seeding in late summer-early fall include: low soil moisture which may limit quick seed germination, the potential for high daily temperatures which may burn-off new seedlings, and the risk of an early frost that can limit root development prior to winter.
Alternatively, perennial forages can be seeded in mid to late October as a dormant seeded crop. The term dormant seeding is used when seed is placed in the ground in late fall (between Oct. 15 and freeze-up) with the expectation it will remain dormant until the following spring. Again, timing is critical for success. Average daily air and soil temperatures should be five degrees Celsius or less before seeding. Seeding too early when temperatures are warm enough for the seed to take on moisture and germinate can result in seed and seedling mortality.
Dormant seeding can provide the advantage of accessing land that is prone to spring flooding or saline conditions. Seeding saline areas is desirable in the fall as early spring snow melt can temporarily reduce soil salinity concentrations. Late fall seeding also allows greater control of perennial, hard to control weeds such as dandelions, Canada thistle and quack grass, which can hinder forage production. An additional benefit is that some forage species have increased establishment success when dormant seeded.
Dormant seeding may not be a good fit in all situations. Land that is prone to soil crusting may result in poor spring emergence. Rodents may also feed on forage seeds throughout the winter months and this will result in fewer seeds available for spring germination. Finally, some species such as alfalfa, sweet clover and intermediate wheatgrass have reduced establishment success when dormant seeded. A general recommendation is to increase your dormant seeding rate by 20 per cent compared to spring seeding to combat some of the aforementioned issues.
Producers intending to fall seed perennial forages on land that has previously been in annual crop production may be eligible to apply for funding through the Farm Stewardship Program Permanent Tame Forage BMP. This BMP provides cost-shared funding to cover 50 per cent of the eligible expenses up to a maximum of $10,000 to eligible Saskatchewan producers.
For further information on CAP programs or for technical assistance regarding a specific on-farm project, contact your closest Ministry of Agriculture Regional Office or call the Agriculture Knowledge Centre at 1-866-457-2377.
