C4 plants have evolved to photosynthesize more efficiently in dry climates/high temperatures to accumulate significantly more biomass than their C3 counterparts. This makes C4 plants ideal to sow as a short-season forage option (50-60 days) in late spring/early summer. Ideal for Sod Seeding.
To learn more about the value of C4 plant species, click here.
Light Blue: Warm Season Plants Dark Blue: Cool Season Plants
Warm & Cool Season
plant species in blend
We recommend sowing this blend from mid-May to early June when soil conditions are 8+ degrees and no chance of frost.
Seeding Rate: 50 Ibs/acre
Seed Tag: Learn More
Inoculant Required: Learn More
Best Practices: Learn More
FCC Financing is now available for 2023-2024 seed purchases.
WARM SEASON COVER
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Grow high-quality biomass in 50-60 days.
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We do have growers applying 20-40 Ibs/actual N who have had positive results. With that being said, most warm-season cover crops are sown with no fertilizer. (Only a multi-species rhizobium inoculant is required.)
Excess nitrogen fertilizer will inhibit legumes from establishing a relationship with rhizobium bacteria. This relationship needs to be established for later season vegetation and growth.
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You can harvest the Warm Season Cover for winter forage as dry hay or silage, swath grazing or late fall/early winter grazing.
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50-60 days after germination, the Warm Season Cover will reach maximum biomass. At this time, the crop can be left for grazing, cut for dry hay or taken as silage.
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Due to the waxy leaf surfaces of the warm season plant species (limited evapotranspiration) this makes the blend ideal in a swath for shedding moisture (rainfall) & avoiding spoilage.
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C4 grasses have greater growth potential and greater efficiency in use of water & sunlight. C4 plants photosynthesize most efficiently when soil and air temperatures are high.
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As we continue to learn from plant diversity, we pride ourselves on updating and improving blends based on our and our farm customers’ observations.
What was added?
White Wonder Millet. Why? Pairs nicely with the maturity of Golden German Millet.
Teff Grass. Why? Grows lower in the canopy with vigorous regrowth.
BMR Sorghum Sudan. Why? Less lignin, highly digestible feed source.
Mung Beans. Why? Warm season legume which acts as a vine, climbs other plant species for sunlight.
Non-GMO Forage Soybeans. Why? Early establishing warm season legume.
Flax. Why? Highest mycorrhizal fungi-dependent plant.
Right Context
The value of c4 plants
The Warm Season Cover is composed of primarily warm season (C4) plant species. This allows you to put the right plant species in the right context (warm season plants = summer months).
Warm Season Plants (C4) have evolved in hot/dry environments.
Cool Season Plants (C3) have evolved in cool/wet environments.
Click Here to view a Farmer Panel Discussion around swath grazing & the value these waxy leaf surfaces can bring to your operation.
Warm Season Cover
What is New for 2023?
The Warm Season Cover now includes Sorghum Sudan & Sorghum Sudan BMR. This is simply due to the reduced lignin content & higher digestibility of the BMR trait. When present, the BMR trait (mutation) is associated with reduced lignin content and higher forage digestibility. Source: Porter et al., 1978; Cherney et al., 1986; Pedersen, J.F. 1996; Casler et al., 2003.
We have also welcomed Teff Grass, White Wonder Millet, Mung beans, Flax & Non-GMO Forage Soybeans to the blend for 2023.
Warm Season Cover
Lower Input Costs
See the photos below from farmers across Western Canada who did not apply nitrogen fertilizer. We are able to accomplish this because of the nitrogen-fixing Non-GMO Forage Soybeans, Mung Beans & Forage Peas.
Agronomic Tip: Sorghum Sudan creates a relationship with free-living nitrogen-fixing bacteria in your soil. This is why we increased the rate & included the BMR variety for 2023.
Source: Identification of Nitrogen-Fixing Bradyrhizobium Associated With Roots of Field-Grown Sorghum
warm season cover
seeding scenarios
Sow after Cereal Rye, Winter Triticale, or Winter Wheat silage harvest. This is commonly referred to as Double Cropping.
Sow after the termination of a perennial hay stand.
Sow after a hail storm or prevent plant situation.
“Warm-season plants grow relatively slowly during the first four to five weeks after seeding due to the biological taxing process of cell division. Once the cell divisions are complete, C4 plants can grow quite rapidly. The optimum daytime temperature for growth is 30+ C. C4 plants are more water-efficient and drought-tolerant than C3 plants. C4s have a waxy leaf surface that reduces water evaporation from the leaf surface.”
Source: Government of Saskatchewan
Warm Season Cover
What to expect for feed value?
Expect the feed test to be higher energy due to the C4 grasses in the blend. (Sorghum Sudan, German Millet, Etc.)
Expect good to moderate protein > corn silage due to the legumes in the blend
Important To Note: Grazing or cutting for winter forage should take place before a killing frost due to prussic acid concerns.
Warm Season Cover
Farmer Testimonial/timeline
"This was a non-productive hay field in the middle of a drought. We weren't expecting much but we figured something would be better than nothing. Just for the cost of the seed/inoculant, we are pretty happy with how it turned out. "
~Mark Taylor. Mather, Manitoba
Image: June 30th. Accumulated rainfall: 16 mm
Image: July 27th. Accumulated rainfall: 29 mm
Image: September 14th. Accumulated rainfall: 143 mm
Warm Season Cover
Farmer Testimonial/timeline
“We seeded these two blends the first week in July. If we are being completely honest, we had no idea what we were doing. After last year’s drought, we decided to take the risk and try something new. Even with ideal growing conditions, the result by far exceeded our expectations.”
~Devin Waterhouse. Parkside, Saskatchewan
Image: Parkside, Sk. Picture taken on August 14th, 2022
Image: Parkside, Sk. Picture taken on August 21st, 2022
Image: Parkside, Sk. Picture taken on September 9th, 2022
Warm Season Cover
Farmer Testimonial/timeline
"The most economical practice i’ve found to date to overwinter cows. "
~Joseph Gardiner. Clearwater, Manitoba
Image: Warm Season Cover - Swath Grazing
Image: Warm Season Cover - Swath Grazing
Image: Warm Season Cover - Swath Grazing
wARM sEASON cOVER
Plant Species in the blend
See below for some general information regarding each plant species in the blend.
Remember To Apply
OFCAF FUNDING
Remember to apply for the OFCAF funding to receive up to $35.00/acre (max. $75,000) for the adoption of multispecies cover crops on your operation. Click here for help getting the process/application started.
Funding will differ across Manitoba, Saskatchewan, & Alberta.
DO YOU HAVE MORE QUESTIONS?
Contact US
Feel free to reach out to a member of Our Team to discuss where the Warm Season Cover might fit your operation.