Winter in the rye

The success of winter pastures is in direct correlation to the amount of rainfall. Last year’s incredibly mild winter in Marion County brought ample sustenance to the perennial Bahia and Bermuda grasses, leaving the county rich in greenery. Annual Ryegrass is often used with the warm-season grasses to extend the grazing season. 

To the end of the year and throughout the coming winter, the Old Farmer’s Almanac is predicting colder than normal temperatures for Florida. Before the winter solstice, tropical moisture is expected to meet colder, more stable air sweeping southward as frontal storms. Annual Ryegrass grows best when nighttime temperatures drop below 60 degrees. With the first gratuitous cold front in November, plan to overseed warm season perennial lawns and permanent grass pastures with Ryegrass. This emerald green herbage will grow over a wide range of soil pH levels but grows best at a pH level of 6.0 to 7.0. 

Only buy seed varieties adapted to the Southeastern United States as northern varieties will be easily damaged by leaf rust in Florda’s milder temperatures and heavy dew. Seeding rates range from 20 to 30 pounds per acre. Shop around for the best prices. The feed and hardware stores in and around Ocala tend to price 50 pound bags much lower than the nurseries at the big name brand stores.

Last year, the first blast of genuinely cool autumn air showed up in Florida on Oct. 29. The hardy high-quality forage needs four to six weeks in North Central Florida to establish before a hard frost and two full months to grow deep roots which benefit crop farmers by naturally aerating compact soils with a prolific root system that the summer plant roots can follow. Up north, farmers plant Winter Rye shortly after harvest to prevent erosion. Before broadcasting seed and in the transitional period, having the Bahiagrass short is the key to success. Although tolerant of frequent and intense grazing, reducing foraging until the winter grass is established is recommended.